1st & Goal: 2022 Week 5 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 23, 2022
This weekend is the midpoint of this regular season, and stands to be a turning point for several teams this season.
Eight games will match teams undefeated so far this fall. A number of others will pit league title contenders against each other, with the Port Huron and Flint areas, Detroit Catholic League, Macomb County and rural Greater Lansing enjoying some of their best annual rivalry games over the next two days.
Games are Friday unless noted. Click for the full schedule from MHSAA.com and check out the broadcast schedule from MHSAA.tv.
Bay & Thumb
Frankenmuth (4-0) at Freeland (4-0)
This has become a league matchup with statewide appeal over the last few seasons. Frankenmuth has won the last three meetings, last season’s deciding the Tri-Valley Conference 10 title. But both went on to reach MHSAA Semifinals, Freeland in Division 4 and the Eagles in Division 5. Frankenmuth has handed lone losses this fall to Goodrich and Birch Run and given up only 30 points total. Freeland’s defense literally has been one better, giving up only 29 points so far.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Flint Hamady (4-0) at Flint Beecher (2-2), Port Huron Northern (4-0) at Port Huron (3-1), Sanford Meridian (3-1) at Gladwin (4-0), Millington (4-0) at Standish Sterling (4-0).
Greater Detroit
Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (4-0) at Macomb Dakota (4-0)
This is the midpoint as well in the Macomb Area Conference Red schedule – and these are the two contenders left without a defeat. They are frequently at the top, although last season they tied for third in the league standings. Dakota has won the last three meetings (starting with the 2019 playoffs), and both have done the work to make this arguably the best matchup in Week 5. Chippewa Valley’s season-opening win over Detroit Catholic Central keeps looking better and better. Same scenario for the Cougars, who defeated Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in Week 1 and have given up 17 points over its four victories.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY West Bloomfield (4-0) at Rochester Adams (3-1), Detroit Catholic Central (3-1) at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (2-2), Brighton (4-0) at Northville (4-0), Detroit Central (4-0) at Detroit Southeastern (3-1).
Mid-Michigan
Bay City Western (3-1) at Mount Pleasant (4-0)
The Warriors have looked like a Saginaw Valley League North contender especially the last two weeks with 20-plus point wins over Traverse City West and Midland Dow, and was on the cusp last season while losing to Dow by a point and Mount Pleasant 31-16. Western can become the team to chase this weekend by avenging that defeat to the Oilers, who are coming off one-score wins over Cadillac and Traverse City Central. Mount Pleasant has won the last seven games in this series.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Holt (2-2) at DeWitt (2-2), Grand Blanc (2-2) at East Lansing (4-0), Pewamo-Westphalia (3-1) at Fowler (4-0), Mason (4-0) at Haslett (3-1).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Cadillac (2-2) at Gaylord (3-1)
With the Big North Conference now at four teams for football, and these two coming off wins in their league openers, this matchup will decide a share of the BNC championship. Gaylord bounced back nicely from its Week 3 loss to Marquette to defeat Petoskey last week, while Cadillac has impressive one-score losses to Midland and Mount Pleasant. The Vikings won last year’s meeting with Gaylord 22-0, their fourth-straight victory in the series.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kalkaska (2-2) at Boyne City (4-0), East Jordan (2-2) at Maple City Glen Lake (3-1), Lake City (2-2) at McBain (2-2). SATURDAY Sault Ste. Marie (4-0) at Ogemaw Heights (2-2).
Southeast & Border
Parma Western (2-2) at Jackson Northwest (3-1)
Jackson Northwest is on the rise as its third win last week guaranteed the Mounties their best finish since 2013 and equaled their number of victories the last three seasons combined. And suddenly, Northwest could figure into the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference race with four of the other top six teams in the standings coming up over the next five weeks. Western certainly can’t be overlooked among them; its losses were by seven points to Detroit Country Day and five to Jackson Lumen Christi.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Grass Lake (2-2) at Michigan Center (1-3), Hanover-Horton (2-2) at Napoleon (4-0), Petersburg Summerfield (2-2) at Ottawa Lake Whiteford (4-0), Chelsea (3-1) at Adrian (3-2).
Southwest Corridor
Plainwell (3-1) at Edwardsburg (3-1)
Edwardsburg’s Wolverine Conference winning streak lives at 35, but not without two of its most significant challenges over the last six seasons. Three Rivers pushed the Eddies to within eight points in Week 2, and Edwardsburg escaped with a three-point win over Vicksburg last week thanks to a last-second field goal. Plainwell has made the playoffs nine of the last 10 seasons (plus 2020, when all teams qualified) and would be a candidate to challenge the Eddies too – although Edwardsburg won last year’s matchup 49-0.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY St. Joseph (3-1) at Portage Central (2-2), Homer (3-1) at Union City (3-1), Constantine (3-1) at Watervliet (3-1). SATURDAY South Lyon East (3-1) at Paw Paw (3-1).
Upper Peninsula
Bark River-Harris (3-1) at Iron Mountain (3-1)
Iron Mountain has won all six recent meetings, including one in the playoffs. But Bark River-Harris gave the Mountaineers their best matchup of those six last season, falling only 28-22. They play in different divisions of the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference, and both are championship contenders in their respective divisions – plus Bark River-Harris is ranked No. 6 and Iron Mountain No. 10 in Division 8 by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Negaunee (4-0) at Ishpeming (2-2), Houghton (3-1) at Hancock (1-3), Gladstone (4-0) at Marquette (1-3), Escanaba (1-3) at Kingsford (2-2).
West Michigan
Caledonia (4-0) at Grandville (4-0)
This, along with Rockford/East Kentwood matchup below, will bring the number of teams leading the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red from four to two by Friday night’s end. The intrigue here is both are undefeated overall – plus Grandville sees Rockford next week, and Caledonia sees East Kentwood. Grandville owns a 4-2 edge in this series since Caledonia moved to the Red in 2016, but Caledonia has won two of the last three including 24-14 last fall. The Fighting Scots are stoppers; they’ve given up 28 points total so far. But opening wins over Grand Blanc and Byron Center put Grandville into the spotlight quickly this season.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Rockford (4-0) at East Kentwood (3-1), Beal City (4-0) at Evart (4-0), Ada Forest Hills Eastern (4-0) at Grand Rapids Catholic Central (4-0), Zeeland West (4-0) at Muskegon (3-1).
8-Player
Brown City (4-0) at Martin (4-0)
Brown City is playing 8-player this fall for the first time and showed the fast start isn’t beginners’ luck again last week with a 58-40 win over perennial Finals contender Suttons Bay. Defeating Martin would be a similar if not more substantial accomplishment. The Clippers haven’t given up a point since Week 2 and moved up to No. 1 in Division 1 this week, while Brown City is No. 5.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Climax-Scotts (4-0) at Athens (3-1), Eau Claire (3-1) at Bridgman (4-0), Breckenridge (3-1) at Morrice (4-0). SATURDAY Merrill (4-0) at Portland St. Patrick (3-1).
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PHOTO Detroit Cass Tech quarterback Leeshaun Mumpfield drops back to pass against Detroit Renaissance during a Week 3 win. (Photo by Chardonne’ U of Olivia B. Photography.)
DCC Closes Season by Avenging 2024 Semifinal Loss to 'Finish What We Started'
By
Scott DeCamp
Special for MHSAA.com
December 1, 2025
DETROIT – The featured matchup of 2025 MHSAA Football Finals weekend at Ford Field pitted unbeaten heavyweights Detroit Catholic Central and Detroit Cass Tech in the Division 1 title bout.
DCC coach Justin Cessante used a boxing metaphor with his team in the days leading up to the main event. The Shamrocks essentially won by unanimous decision, although a knockout punch came from an unlikely source.
A 61-yard pick-6 by 6-foot-3, 300-pound senior noseguard Benny Eziuka with 3:12 remaining got the party started early and put the finishing touch on DCC’s dominant 42-19 victory over reigning champ Cass Tech to close Sunday night.
“We had a theme all week that our special teams and run game are going to be the body shots,” Cessante said. “Our uppercut is going to be making big plays on offense, and our defense – brick wall – was going to be the head shots.
“We talked about that all week and how we were going to play a physical, disciplined brand of football. I think we did that in all three phases.”
DCC did just that in capping a 14-0 season and capturing its first Finals title since 2009. The Shamrocks, who made their first championship game appearance since 2016, now have 11 wins in 18 trips to the final round.
Cass Tech (13-1) outgained DCC, 358-311, but the Shamrocks’ stingy defense forced multiple Technicians miscues, including two interceptions and a lost fumble.
Cass Tech suffered only its second Finals defeat in six overall trips to the championship game.
“We left a lot of stuff on the field,” Cass Tech coach Marvin Rushing said. “We’ll come back in a couple weeks and watch some of this stuff and we’ll be pounding the table a little bit with some of the stuff that we left on the field.
“To be a champion, you’ve got to beat the man to be the man today. They get to hoist the trophy, and they deserve it.”
DCC junior quarterback Duke Banta and classmate Gideon Gash connected on three touchdown passes: 41 yards with 7:44 left in the first quarter, 37 yards with 7:36 left in the third, and 48 yards with 4:52 remaining in the contest.
Banta finished 9-of-11 passing for 156 yards and no interceptions. All three of Gash’s receptions went for scores. Older brother, senior Samson Gash, had five receptions for 25 yards.
DCC senior Cedric Williams led all rushers with 72 yards on 18 carries with a one-yard TD midway through the fourth quarter. Senior Joshua Peters scored on a five-yard run to give the Shamrocks a 13-0 lead late in the first half, while junior kicker Ty Goddard booted a 21-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for the champions.
It was Eziuka who stole the show, however. The two-way starting lineman and Penn State commit realized a big man’s dream. Junior linebacker Jalen Montlouis pressured Cass Tech’s backfield near the Technicians’ 45-yard line and forced a risky throw, which Eziuka caught at his own 39. Eziuka got a couple blocks, rumbled down the DCC sideline, and stomped into the end zone to the roar of the crowd.
“You know, I was just in the right place at the right time. I caught the ball, my teammate Connor Ryan was throwing me a block, so I was like, ‘I mean, he made the effort, so I’ve got to try to score,’” Eziuka said. “You know, I made the cut and saw green grass. I was like, ‘That’s a long way, but I’ve got to try.’ I kept going. I saw one of their guys catching up to me. My teammate, Jack Janda, made a great block for me to get in there.
“When I was in the end zone, I had to make my way to the barrier because I was not standing up for very long. (The barrier) was supporting me. I definitely needed oxygen,” Eziuka added with a chuckle. “It was a great play for the entire team.”
Samson Gash was asked if he felt threatened by Eziuka and a potential claim of being fastest player on the team.
“A little bit. Low key, a little bit,” Gash said to laughter in the interview room.
In addition to its interceptions, DCC’s defense sacked talented sophomore quarterback Donald Tabron II three times and limited Cass Tech to 73 rushing yards. Tabron finished 25-of-37 for 285 yards with two TDs – one to senior Corey Sadler Jr. from 15 yards out with 5:24 left, and the other to senior William Sykes Jr. from 12 yards out with 14 seconds remaining.
Sadler, a North Carolina commit, wrapped up his storied four-year varsity career with 11 receptions for 130 yards and made a co-team-high seven tackles.
“The four years have been great,” Sadler said. “I’m probably one of the best players to come through Detroit in the PSL league, so … it was a sad outcome today. You know, college is next. I just have to keep my head high. We fought. CC had a great game.”
Senior Justin Bonner also made seven stops for Cass Tech. For DCC, Montlouis led the way with eight tackles.
Sunday’s victory also represented a measure of revenge for DCC, which fell to Cass Tech in last year’s Semifinals, 17-14.
In the 2016 Final, the Shamrocks fell to the Technicians, 49-20.
“It’s a tremendous feeling,” said Cessante, who capped his fourth year leading DCC’s program. “Other than being married and my children, bringing a championship back to my alma mater, Detroit Catholic Central, where this championship belongs, obviously against a team (where) we just had enough over the years in regards to the rivalry that’s been built and them being really a nemesis and us getting over the hump and finishing what we started (is special).”
The Gash brothers have been double trouble for DCC opponents.
While it was Gideon’s turn to shine Sunday, the siblings reflected on what it means to share in the Shamrocks’ long-awaited championship and how special it was to share in it.
“It means everything to us. After we lost last year to Cass Tech, we knew we should have beat them. But like Coach Cessante said, we didn’t prove it,” Samson Gash said. “Our motto this year was, ‘Finish what we started.’
“Our seniors did a great job last year, and we needed to bring a state championship for this year and just working every single day with my brothers, my best friends for life, it means everything to us to go out on top, for sure.”
PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Catholic Central players celebrate Sunday while hoisting their championship trophy. (Middle) The Shamrocks’ Samson Gash (5) attempts to put space between himself and a Cass Tech defender. (Below) Cedric Williams (26) picks his path as Gash blocks in front of him.