Don’t expect Philip Rivers of St. Michael or Norman Joseph of McGill-Toolen to downplay Friday night’s first football meeting between the two Catholic high schools on the Gulf Coast.
“I think it’s huge,” Joseph said.
Rivers even went a little further.
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“Starting this week, I know some coaches would say, ‘Hey, it’s just another game, guys,'” he said. “Well, it’s not just any game. It’s a big problem. It is a big problem for the Catholic community.”
On paper, there is a huge difference between the growing St. Michael, the relatively new Catholic school in Baldwin County, and the tradition-rich McGill-Toolen, the Catholic school of Mobile.
The Cardinals played their first varsity football game in 2017. They have a total of 14 wins under three head coaches. Rivers, the NFL’s longtime quarterback, has won nine of those games in his second season as head coach.
McGill played his first football game in 1920. The Yellow Jackets have had 518 victories under 26 head coaches. They have won 10 regional championships – all since 1986 – and the 2015 Class 7A state title. Joseph, a longtime college coach, has won nine games in his sophomore season at the school.
St. Michael plays in class 4A, McGill in class 6A.
“There’s no question that we are and should be the underdog,” Rivers said this week on Sports Talk 99.5 FM in Mobile. “You’re talking about the tradition they’ve had there for many, many years, and of course a 6A high school. We’re the underdog and I’m okay with that.
“The one thing I will always believe and any player who dresses for us will believe is that we can go there and win the game. That doesn’t mean we will always do that, but our guys will go there with that approach and mentality, and that explains something. If you think you don’t have a chance, then you really don’t. They get our best chance, I know that.”
Both teams seem to be heading in the right direction halfway through the season. The Cardinals (3-2) have taken two straight wins since a narrow road loss to regional rival Bayside Academy on Sept. 2. Their only other loss came against Class 5A Gulf Shores (34-27) in the season opener.
“Wow. It’s clear that they are a well-coached team at all stages,” said Joseph. “They give you some really hard stuff to work on. They are difficult to defend. It’s going to be a great game. There should be a great crowd there. I know we are looking forward to the opportunity.”
McGill (2-2) has also won two games in a row after a 0-2 start. The Yellow Jackets rolled over Robertsdale (38-7) and Murphy (34-14) to equalize their record. Joseph’s team continues to rotate a pair of young quarterbacks in freshman Aaden Shamburger and sophomore Andrew Murchison. Both have the same goal: to get the ball to South Alabama wide receiver Anthony Eager.
“We have two young quarterbacks who are both playing well,” Joseph said. “If you’re the defensive coordinator for opposing teams, you need to come up with two game plans for McGill based on which quarterback is the game. They have some similarities, but they are also different in some ways, and I think that works in our favor.”
St. Michael counters with senior QB Josh Murphy and playmakers Ezra Sexton and Braylan Green. Murphy threw 1040 yards and 9 TDs and was intercepted twice. Green has 30 receptions for 500 yards and 3 TDs. Sexton has 392 yards rushing and 5 TD’s to go with 4 receiving TD’s. Clay Barr (45 tackles, 3 sacks, 9.5 TFL) and Tyler Cella (51 tackles, 2 TFL) lead the defense.
“We need to get there and settle in early,” Rivers said. “We can’t have big plays or give up crazy turnovers or try a touchdown and all of a sudden we’re down 14-0. What is already an arduous task would be even more difficult if something goes wrong early on.
“So, settle in, and then the keys to the game will be the same: stop the run and eliminate big plays defensively and run the football and protect it on offense. We keep it about that simple. We will have to do more than that to win the game, but if we do those things right, we should have a chance, and that goes for every level of football.”
This will not be a one-off meeting between the two Catholic schools. McGill is scheduled to visit St. Michael next year, and both coaches hope the rivalry continues annually even after that.
“It could certainly be a nice rivalry,” Joseph said. “Maybe one day we’ll end up in the same region. This could be like the Murphy game which is still a great ongoing rivalry and a classic game. I could see the same here if we can continue to play as non-regional schools. Then if we are ever in the same region, that would of course increase its size.”
Rivers admitted he didn’t necessarily intend to play McGill-Toolen in Year 2 of his time at St. Michael. It just happened.
“When the opportunity presented itself, I thought, ‘Heck, why not? We might as well start now,’ he said. the right way, whatever it will be.
“The teams will pray together before the game. I think it could be a good deal. Of course there will be passion and emotion and they want to put little St. Michael in his place, and we want to say, ‘Hey, we belong up here.’ It’s going to be a great evening. Whatever happens at the end of the day, hopefully on Monday, we will play better against them and go to Orange Beach next week.”
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