For the second straight season, Detroit Cass Tech reigned supreme in Division 1 with a 36-21 victory over Detroit Catholic Central. A year ago, Cass Tech beat Catholic Central in the title game 49-13.
The defense scored two touchdowns for Cass Tech.
Two big plays in the first quarter put Cass Tech in a 12-0 lead with Jayru Campbell throwing an 89-yard touchdown pass to Jourdan Lewis and Kento Gibbs returning a fumble 58 yards for six points. Kenneth Snapp kicked a field goal in the first half for Cass Tech, which enjoyed a 15-7 lead. Garrett Moores threw an 18-yard pass to Zack Bock for Cass Tech.
Deon Drake and Campbell had scoring runs in the second half for Cass Tech, which also was sparked on an 84-yard interception return for a touchdown by Delano Hill.
Running back Mike Weber had a big day for Cass Tech with 186 yards rushing.
Cass Tech is located only a quarter of a mile from Ford Field.
DIVISION 2
It was probably the most dramatic game of the state finals, with both teams scoring two touchdowns in the final 4:22, but with Brother Rice holding serve for a 35-28 state championship victory.
The final and biggest score was Jason Allessi’s 91-yard kickoff return with 2:13 to play in the game, although that wasn’t an end to the drama.
Muskegon muffed the return on the kickoff and was saddled at its own 4-yard line, then failed to move on four downs and gave Brother Rice the ball at the Muskegon 2 with 1:14 to play. But Brother Rice fumbled on its first play, allowing Muskegon to get the ball back at its own five with 55 seconds to play. With no timeouts left, though, the Big Red moved onto the Brother Rice 49 and ran out of time.
Legendary Brother Rice coach Al Fracassa, who had celebrated his 80th birthday earlier in the month, earned his eighth state title in his 44-year coaching history. Fracassa has indicated to reporters that this will be his last season.
Brother Rice had taken a 14-0 lead on a 16-yard scoring pass from Cheyne Lacanaria to Corey Lacanaria and a 9-yard TD strike from Alex Malzone to Joshua Flye. Muskegon would tie it on scoring runs of 3 yards and 1 yard by Javontae Langston and Seshaun Thrower to set up a wild fourth quarter.
Shon Powell had a 12-yard touchdown run for Brother Rice, while Marcus Smith followed with an 11-yard scoring scamper for Muskegon to tie the game at 21-21 with 4:22 to play. Malzone passed 77 yards to Corey Lacanaria for a 28-21 lead at 3:29, but a minute later, Thrower passed to Keondre Craig for a 52-yard score. That set up Alessi’s dramatic kickoff return.
Malzone passed for 167 yards to lead Brother Rice.
DIVISION 3
Grand Rapids Christian won in overtime over Orchard Lake St. Mary in a record-setting game, 37-34.
Joel Schipper kicked a 28-yard field goal for Christian with four seconds left to tie the game at 34-34 and send it into overtime. He kicked a 27-yarder in overtime to win the game for Christian, which finished the year at 13-1. St. Mary’s, the defending state champs, ended at 11-3.
Drake Harris, Christian’s talented wide receiver who is planning on playing at Michigan State University, had eight catches for 243 record-setting yards, including a 74-yard scoring reception.
By going over 2,000 receiving yards for the season, Harris also broke the state record and is the 12th player nationally to surpass 2,000 yards.
Two other state final records were set. St. Mary’s gained 579 total yards, and the two teams combined for 1,033 yards.
DIVISION 4
Grand Rapids South Christian outscored Detroit Country Day 26-0 in the final two quarters to take a 40-7 victory in the Division 4 state championship.
Derek Woltjer’s 13-yard scoring run in the first quarter and his touchdown pass to Jason Miller in the second quarter led to a 14-7 halftime lead for Christian. Country Day had scored when Tyler Wiegers threw a 54-yard pass to Maurice Ways.
It was all Sailors in the second half. Woltjer passed 20 yards to Austin Diekevers for a touchdown, while Chad Sterk had a 31-yard punt return for another six points. Woltjer had a 69-yard scoring run and Diekevers had a 6-yard run for the game’s final score.
Woltjer had 136 yards rushing while Sterk had 103.
Both teams end the season at 11-3.
DIVISION 7
The Upper Peninsula’s only entry in the state finals, Ishpeming, took home its first state title since 1979. It won 20-14 over previously unbeaten Detroit Loyola in the Division 7 game.
Both teams ended their seasons at 13-1.
Eric Kostreva had the big day for the Hematites with 182 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He also had two kickoff returns for 48 yards. His winning score came at 10:36 of the second quarter.
Keymonn’e Gabriel led Loyola with 129 yards rushing and a touchdown.