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Spees answers call for CJ

Many have contributed, but QB has been a huge part of Eagles’ success.

From left, Chaminade Julienne football players Darian Reynolds, Sam Spees, Marco Gresham, head coach Marcus Colvin, Brandon Payne, Christopher Darden and Darrien Howard.

Teesha Mcclam/Staff photo From left, Chaminade Julienne football players Darian Reynolds, Sam Spees, Marco Gresham, head coach Marcus Colvin, Brandon Payne, Christopher Darden and Darrien Howard.

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By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer 11:54 PM Wednesday, October 26, 2011

DAYTON — This football season couldn’t have started any worse for Chaminade Julienne senior Sam Spees.

Previously, the senior excelled mostly on defense and backed up three-year starting quarterback Michael Simpson. But everything changed when Simpson transferred to Trotwood-Madison for his senior season and Spees inherited the starter’s role.

A 30-0 season-opening setback to Troy wasn’t encouraging. Week 2 resulted in a 21-0 blanking by Thurgood Marshall. Uh-oh.

“After the first two games, I realized that I can do this,” Spees said. “No one gave up on me.”

Good thing, because the Eagles haven’t lost since.

CJ (7-2) brings a seven-game winning streak into Friday’s final regular-season game against unbeaten rival Alter (9-0) in the Dayton Daily News Game of the Week at Trotwood (7:30 p.m., ohiosportsline.net).

At stake is the Greater Catholic League North Division championship. Both teams are 6-0 in the division, both are rolling and both have wrapped up playoff spots.

It’s been awhile since so much was at stake in the game between the longtime Dayton rivals.

“Everything’s on the line for both of us,” CJ coach Marcus Colvin said.

CJ has a deep cast of evolving contributors, none more unlikely or more valuable than Spees.

• Darrien Howard, a 6-foot-2, 248-pound junior, is a fullback/linebacker whose recruitability has rocketed.

• Brandon Payne, a 5-10, 215 junior, has been the go-to running back, accounting for a team-high 891 yards and nine touchdowns.

• At 5-10, 225, junior Chris Darden was an undersized defensive lineman. But his helmet is full of skull decals for hammer hits. He now splits time at fullback with Howard.

• Senior Darian Reynolds is a speedy receiver who leads the Eagles with 27 catches (392 yards).

• Strong safety Marco Gresham is a shutdown defender who also is a breakaway receiver.

As good as those main cogs are in CJ’s revitalization, Spees is the high-impact wild card. The elusive 5-11, 165-pounder has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also punts (38.6 average), kicks and is the team’s emotional leader. The only thing he doesn’t do anymore is play defense, but that’s not of his choosing.

“He’s a big part of the program,” Darden said. “When (Simpson) left, we all thought that Sam was the next-best person for the job and he’d do it right.”

Colvin is even more to the point about that.

“Sam Spees is the reason we are where we are,” Colvin said. “He just gives you a chance. Next year, we’ll miss that kid. No disrespect to our backup guys, but Sam Spees is a special kid.

“As long as he’s taking snaps the coaching staff, the players, the school believes in us.”

In many ways, Spees’ rapid ascent as the team’s leader has mirrored that of Colvin’s. CJ’s offensive coordinator last season, he landed the head coaching job following the departure of Andy Helms. It didn’t take long for Colvin to win over the Eagles.

“He brings so much energy to every practice and every game,” Spees said. “That’s his greatest quality. He preaches about team unity. That’s what has made our team so much stronger and for us to progress this year.”

CJ will find out if that progression has topped out against Alter. The Knights have won all five North titles since the GCL realigned in 2006. They’re also an incredible 40-1 in division play in that time. The only setback was a 13-6 upset by CJ last season.

CJ’s winning streak has helped Troy (7-2) and Marshall (8-1) lock up playoff bids with valuable second-level computer points.

This special moment is not lost on Spees.

“This means the world to me,” he said. “I never pictured myself, any of us at this moment, playing Alter for the league championship. Both teams undefeated in the league. It’s something I’ve dreamed about ever since I was a little kid.”

Contact this writer at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton@DaytonDailyNews.com.

DDN Game of the Week: Chaminade Julienne vs. Alter

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