Romulus Summit Academy North 2024 football season preview

When talking about some of the more consistently successful football programs in the Downriver area over the past few years, you have to include Romulus Summit Academy North in that conversation.

The Dragons managed a second straight eight-win season last fall, making it their seventh straight winning season, and have reached the state playoffs in the last five of those seasons, including 2023, where they again faced a familiar playoff opponent, local rival Flat Rock, in the Division 5 district final round.

Matt Swain has been on the Summit coaching staff every year for the past nine seasons, including the last seven as head coach. While he knows there is no shortage of talent in the program, Swain is very open about what more the Dragons need if they want to reach the next level.

“We have quality players coming into the season and a number of players talented enough to play at the next level,” Swain said. “None of that matters if we don't commit to playing as a team with discipline and responsibility.”

All three factors – talent, discipline and responsibility – will be put to the test on a regular basis in the upcoming season as Summit must find its way in a new charter school conference. The upper Gold Division of the league, in which Summit is represented, welcomed three new additions, including Ecorse, a program partner from the Downriver region.

While they must try to replace two All-News Herald Players of the Year in 2023, Michael Bethune and Kalab Harris, the Dragons are bringing back many key starters in 2024. Among them is Desmond Murphy, another All-Area award winner from last season.

Murphy is one of the top returning athletes in both the CSC and the entire Downriver region. As a junior last year, he amassed over 600 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns on offense and recorded over 30 tackles, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and nine pass breakups on defense.

Murphy is one of five players returning on offense for Summit. The only other senior on that unit is Dresean Jones, who will be used as a possession option in the backfield.

A trio of juniors – fullback Donavan Ewing and linemen Brian Crawford and Aaden Gallmore – also return as starters on the Dragons' offense. Ewing and Murphy are also two of the team's seven returning starters on defense.

The secondary in particular could be the Black and Blue's strongest and most experienced unit in 2024. In addition to Ewing and Murphy, the unit also features senior Donavan Cruz and junior Keyan Phillips as starters, who are returning from the 2023 season.

The core linebacker should also perform well for Summit, with seniors De'andre Jones and Michael Iwu guarding that second level. And in the trenches, expect another Class of 2025 player in Gabe German to be a threat from the outside.

Even though a dozen starters return from last year, including two-way players Ewing and Murphy, Swain is confident and excited to see how many young players will come forward on his path.

“We've always done a good job of developing our young talent,” Swain said. “A strength of our team will again be how many of our younger players will play big roles and contribute.”

The Summit boss stressed the importance of “continued commitment and discipline” throughout the fall campaign, something that could be the difference between the Dragons reaching and perhaps exceeding their goals, which Swain said may include their first-ever district title.

“Our goals remain the same: win our conference and make the state playoffs,” Swain said. “I think this can be a special season. We have a special coaching staff and special players.”

Summit Academy Football Schedule 2024

(*denotes league game)

Week 1 | at Warren Lincoln / August 29

Week 2 | at Harper Woods Chandler Park / September 6*

Week 3 | vs Detroit Edison / September 13*

Week 4 | at Detroit University Prep / September 20*

Week 5 | vs Ecorse / 27 September*

Week 6 | vs. Detroit University Prep Science & Math / October 4*

Week 7 | at Warren Michigan Collegiate / October 12*

Week 8 | at Detroit Voyageur Prep / Oct. 19*

Week 9 | vs Ann Arbor Skyline / October 25

Originally published: August 15, 2024 at 12:00

Romulus Summit Academy North 2024 football season preview – The News Herald

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