Surging River Rouge set to travel to Nationally Ranked, Warren Central, IN in 2017

If you need to know one thing about the incredible turnaround that head coach, Corey Parker has done with the River Rouge program which is tucked between Southeast Detroit and the Detroit river, it should be that there is no backing down from anyone.

Even if it means the opposing school has more kids or in this case a top 25 team in the country.

The Panthers haven't been shy of playing bigger teams. Rouge (Division 4-5 at the time) opened 2016 with a week 1 win over Chelsea who were the D3 runner-ups last year, despite beating Ann Arbor Huron 70-0 - Huron is a Division 1 enrolled school, and to prove our point even more they open week 1 in 2017 vs. D2 powerhouse, East English Village Prep.

Warren Central, Indianapolis was ranked as the #2 team in the state in 2016 as they lost to the eventual state champions in the 6A state finals, which is their highest enrolled classification in Indiana. The Warriors roll 100+ deep on their varsity roster which is rare in Michigan.

The turnaround at River Rouge is a story and book worthy in itself. Just 2 years ago, Rouge was in the Division 5 state finals after shocking the state to get there, their enrollment for 2017 will have them in Division 3. While schools they once played in the playoffs keep their enrollment the same to stay in the lower tiers of the playoffs. Rouge's community has surged upward as it's impossible to go through the small urban city and not see Panther Pride liter the streets, from billboards, buses, and of course the people.

Who and where: Warren Central, Indianapolis

When: Week 8

What's at stake: A once small-school has rose and will look to knock off a nationally ranked powerhouse on the road.

Let's just put it this way, River Rouge may have more away fans at a game 280 miles away than they did a home game a few years ago.