Defense has been the name to the game for the Pilots throughout their 2021 playoff run so far, and it proved to be a huge difference-maker once again Saturday afternoon at Tom Adams Field. 

De La Salle (11-0), aided by six forced turnovers, defeated the Roseville Panthers, 45-14, en route to capturing the MHSAA Division 2 Regional 4 championship. 

Through three games this postseason, the Purple and Gold have outscored their opponents, 124-34. 

Sophomore Rhett Roeser did it all in the Pilots victory, accounting for two scores and the recovery of a fumbled Roseville punt late in the fourth quarter. 

He started the contest off with a bang, too, with a 90-yard kickoff return for touchdown on the game's opening kickoff. 

"Rhett's a very special football player, and our special teams unit has continued to improve all year long," Pilots head coach Dan Rohn said after the game. "The unit came through with a big-time performance today, and Rhett's play was one of the many highlights." 

It was the definition of a team effort for De La Salle Saturday, with contributions from a myriad of players, including junior defensive backs Jamari Allen and Griffin Phillips. 

"Jamari Allen and Griffin Phillips, and some guys you haven't heard a lot of this season, were big for us today," Rohn said. "We know we've got the Mason's (Muragin) and the Brady Drogosh's and a guy like Will Beesley, but it was great to see some of the young guys step up and make plays today. You know, when you've got 98 kids dressed on the sideline and every one of them gets in, you've got to be very happy about that." 

After the game-opening score from Roeser, Rohn's team was in control, and it took a 31-0 lead into halftime. 

Junior quarterback Brady Drogosh played a significant role on two long scores in the opening half of play. 

The first came on a fourth-down play, when he connected with fellow junior Triston Nichols on an 18-yard TD pass. It gave the Pilots a 14-0 lead with 5:09 to play in the first quarter. 

The score was set up by a fumble forced by Allen and recovered by senior Will Beesley. 

Drogosh punched it in the end zone for a second time at the beginning of the second quarter. He took a QB keeper 83 yards for the touchdown, gifting the Purple and Gold with a 21-0 advantage. 

De La Salle scored twice more in the opening half, via a 5-yard rushing TD from Roeser and a 31-yard field goal made by senior Brady Lowe as time expired in the half. 

Rohn & Co. experienced the best of both worlds Saturday: They were able to move the football down the field with relative ease, and they were able to stymie the Panthers, which was sparked by a turnover-happy bunch on defense. 

The Pilots, in fact, produced three turnovers in each half of play -- the first of the opening half being the aforementioned fumble recovery by Beesley. It was followed by an interception from senior Devin Schmelter late in the first quarter and a fumble recovered by junior Mason Muragin in the second quarter. 

Fast-forward to the second half, a half during which each of De La Salle's touchdowns were scored off of turnovers. 

Phillips opened up the third quarter with a 65-yard interception return for touchdown. 

Then, just a few minutes later, Allen picked up a Roseville fumble, and took it 44 yards for the Pilots score. 

Allen & Co. kept the Panthers off the scoreboard until the 3:21 mark in the third quarter. It's when Roseville senior QB Jeremiah Bell connected with fellow senior Tyrell Henry on a 39-yard TD pass. 

Bell would end up throwing one more TD pass before the end of the contest. However, there was no questioning the fact that it was a dominant defensive performance from start to finish for the Purple and Gold. 

"Our pass rush set the tone early, and put that quarterback (Bell) under a lot of pressure," Rohn said. "We didn't allow him to pick us apart, even with the special receivers they have on the outside. So, you were asking a lot of our guys. But, I was impressed with our secondary and our defense. The unit did a great job limiting their QB and their variety of offensive weapons." 

Next up for De La Salle is a state semifinal matchup with Livonia Franklin (7-5). Game is set for next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Hazel Park High School.