Longtime NFL quarterback Philip Rivers is in the win column as a high school football head coach.
Coaching his first official game at St. Michael Catholic after a prolific 17-year pro football career, Rivers watched the Cardinals score 27 points in the first quarter and cruise to a 49-0 victory of undermanned McIntosh on Thursday at Fairhope Municipal Stadium.
“It was a good win,” Rivers said. “We did some things that were a little sloppy that I’m probably glad they happened now. We can clean them up and the boys can see, ‘Hey, that’s not going to cut it in region play.’ But all in all, we had a lot of different guys touch the ball. All the wideouts touched the ball. We ran it well. It’s a good start, but we have a long way to go.”
For Rivers, it was a true family affair. His dad, former Athens and Decatur High coach Steve, and mom Joan were in the stands. His brother, Stephen, is on his staff. His two sons, too young to play on the varsity just yet, were on the sidelines spotting the ball.
“Tonight was special,” he said. “I’m looking over and Dad is standing on the track. Mom is in the stands. My boys are spotting the ball. My brother is here coaching. I have nephews and daughters and nieces running around. It was that kind of night, just thinking ‘Wow, what has happened in 25 years.’ Then it was really all about the boys. I told them I was excited to watch them play, and I really was. They had a different approach than they did last week because they knew it would count.”
There were some obvious differences in Thursday’s game and what Rivers has experienced for the past two decades. First, because his team led 42-0 at the half, both coaches agreed to play a pair of six-minute quarters in the second half with a running clock. That resulted in two McIntosh offensive possessions and none for the Cardinals.
Also, Rivers stopped at one point to joke with reporters, who were covering the game on the sideline instead of in an NFL stadium press box.
“Hey, you guys can just walk through the coach’s box?” he asked jokingly. “That’s new.”
He had plenty of time to relax in this game.
Six different players scored for St. Michael. Ezra Sexton scored the first two TDs on runs of 11 and 6 yards. Bray Green scored on a 35-yard end around. Josh Murphy threw a pair of short touchdown passes – 2 yards to Calvin Caron and 1 yard to Micah Farrell. Martin Corte scored on a 22-yard run, and Zachary Taylor returned a fumble 55 yards for the final score. Taylor’s return was the only time a St. Michael player touched the ball in the second half.
“Anytime you win 49-0, it’s good,” Rivers said. “I think we know what is ahead. We are going to play two top 10 teams in 4A in the next few weeks, starting with Jackson next week. We know what’s coming. As a young program growing, to have a game scheduled like this – no disrespect to McIntosh – but as we continue to grow this thing, those aren’t games we are going to play.”
St. Michael hosts Class 4A No. 10 Jackson next Thursday, then travels to Mobile to play No. 3 Williamson on Sept. 10.
McIntosh was called for 10 penalties, while St. Michael was not flagged. The Cardinal defense forced three turnovers and held the Demons to just 28 yards rushing on 26 carries. Nine McIntosh running plays went for a loss of yards. The longest gain of the night was 14 yards. The Demons were 2-of-7 through the air for minus-2 yards.
Despite the lopsided matchup, Rivers still reflected on the significance of the moment and on high school football in general.
“After playing 50 something college games and 250 something NFL games – those Thursday and Friday nights in high school, being around it at Decatur High growing up and playing, they are some of my favorite memories,” he said. “They are in the top 10. I can think of a handful right now. It’s awesome. I’m trying to remind these kids of that because most of them aren’t going to play beyond high school football. We have a handful that can play at the next level and want to, and I want them to want to. But I also want them to appreciate experiences like this. You won a football game. Be excited. It’s awesome, and I’m enjoying the heck out of it.”
St. Michael scored just 111 points total in six non-COVID games a year ago.