Stevenson football caps year with eight signings

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Sports Writer

In his 35th and final season leading the Utica Stevenson football program, coach Rick Bye is still experiencing new things.

The Titans’ coach, who will retire from coaching and teaching at the end of the 2009-10 school year, saw eight of his players ink National Letters of Intent Feb. 3, marking the biggest haul the program has ever had.

“Still setting records,” Bye said on signing day Feb. 3 at Stevenson. “It’s big deal for us this year because we had eight kids sign.”

The fact that there were so many Titans signing together made a special occasion even sweeter.

“As a kid, you don’t even think about something like that,” senior receiver D. J. Mershman said of the chance to play college football for Northwood University. Through high school, though, it seemed more and more likely that it would happen.

“On the actual day, it ended up being eight guys, and I’ve never heard of eight guys from one school signing, so I was happy all my friends would be there to sign with me.”

Following a year in which the Titans finished 13-1 and played in the Division 1 state-championship game, there were plenty opportunities for colleges to become interested in the Stevenson players.

“Because we went so far, we had more chances to show our skills,” Stevenson senior kicker David Brown, who signed a National Letter of Intent with Northwood University.

“In the playoffs, we all shined. I was kicking the ball a lot farther, and everyone was stepping it up, so (college coaches) really got see how we were going to play in crunch time.”

While Brown was one of the eight total Titans to sign, he and Mershman were two of four Stevenson players to sign at Northwood, joining quarterback Jason Fracassa and defensive lineman Corey Stone.

“I just found out a week ago how many kids I knew were going there,” Mershman said of the 14 players from C & G Newspapers’ coverage area who signed with Northwood.

“Tony Zerafa from (Utica Eisenhower) and Jason (Fracassa) is going to be with me, so we get to stick together as quarterback and receiver.”

Along with the future Timberwolves, the Titans had senior defensive lineman Carl Davis sign with the University of Iowa, senior running back Justice Wright sign with Grand Valley State University, and senior receiver Marcus Beaurem and senior linebacker Charlie Walker sign with Bowling Green State University.

“Signing with people that I played with since I was a sophomore was a great feeling,” Beaurem said. “Knowing that me and seven of my friends have a scholarship to play football at the next level is a great feeling.”

You can reach Sports Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1029.