1st & Goal: 2023 Week 7 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 5, 2023
It’s league title time as we dive into the final third of the 2023 football regular season.
Of 45 matchups highlighted below, nearly two-thirds could lead to either a conference championship being celebrated this weekend or impact a title race to be won over the next two.
Thursday’s rain is expected to continue in some parts of our state, but if you don’t attend in person most of the games below will be viewable on MHSAA.tv – click the “Watch” links to go directly to those broadcasts. Games below are Friday unless noted, and rankings are by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.
Bay & Thumb
Freeland (6-0) at Frankenmuth (5-1) - WATCH
For the third-straight season, the winner of this game will earn a league championship – this time, a share of the Tri-Valley Conference Red, as both teams still will have a league game to play Week 8 as well. The Eagles did see their 24-game regular-season winning streak end in their opener against Goodrich in August, but they haven’t lost a league game since 2014 – and have strung together four straight wins over Freeland, including 21-0 a year ago. After edging Clare 29-26 in their opener, the Falcons have dazzled offensively this fall, surpassing 50 points in all five of their league games.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (4-2) at Cass City (5-1) - WATCH, Durand (3-3) at Chesaning (5-1) - WATCH, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (5-0) at Gladwin (6-0), Ithaca (6-0) at Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (5-1).
Greater Detroit
Walled Lake Western (6-0) at Milford (5-1) - WATCH
Walled Lake Western is attempting to finish what would be a second-straight perfect run through the Lakes Valley Conference. The Warriors have won 17 straight league games and have two left this fall – with their most recent league loss to Milford in 2021. Waterford Mott got within 15 of Western in this year’s season opener, but no one else has been within 30 points. Milford has had closer results – a 26-23 loss to Dearborn Divine Child and three wins by eight or fewer points. But the defense has been stunning – giving up just 20 points over five league games – and it will provide an intriguing matchup with a Warriors offense averaging 50 ppg.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Lake Orion (6-0) at Clarkston (4-2) - WATCH, Romeo (3-3) at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (4-2) - WATCH, Grosse Pointe South (5-1) at St. Clair Shores Lakeview (5-1) - WATCH, Macomb Dakota (5-1) at Utica Eisenhower (5-1) - WATCH.
Mid-Michigan
Charlotte (5-1) at Portland (6-0)
The Raiders could be closing in on a seventh Capital Area Activities Conference White title over the last eight seasons – but the next two weeks should be their most challenging of this run. The circled matchup is next week with also-undefeated Lansing Sexton. But to reach that winner-take-all, Portland must be careful with Charlotte. The Orioles have continued their resurgence into a third-straight season, and their only regular-season loss a year ago was 40-13 to the Raiders. They did fall to Sexton 28-0 three weeks ago, but can mash up this league race if they can slow a Portland team that’s won all of its games by at least four touchdowns this fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Williamston (4-2) at Haslett (4-2), St. Johns (3-3) at Mason (6-0), New Lothrop (5-1) at Ovid-Elsie (3-3), Bath (3-3) at Saranac (4-2)
Northern Lower Peninsula
Kingsley (5-1) at Ogemaw Heights (5-1) - WATCH
The Northern Michigan Football Conference Leaders division has been mostly a two-team race the last five seasons between Kingsley and Traverse City St. Francis. But Ogemaw Heights began pushing into contention last year and tonight will play Kingsley for an outright league title. The Falcons have given up only 59 points over their last five games after a 42-28 loss to still-undefeated Gladwin in Week 1. They’ve also gone 0-5 against Kingsley since joining the NMFL, but got within 30-20 a year ago. Kingsley’s lone loss this season also was to a still-undefeated opponent, Gaylord, and that was by just three points.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Fowler (5-1) at Frankfort (6-0), Kalkaska (3-3) at Grayling (3-3) - WATCH, Oscoda (3-3) at Benzie Central (3-3) - WATCH. SATURDAY Jackson Lumen Christi (6-0) at Traverse City St. Francis (3-3) - WATCH.
Southeast & Border
Napoleon (6-0) at Michigan Center (5-1) - WATCH
Napoleon has won 16 straight regular-season games and can earn a share of the Cascades Conference East title tonight after winning the formerly one-division league last season on the way to the Division 7 Semifinals. The Pirates are 18-1 since missing the 2021 playoffs despite finishing 6-3. Michigan Center is quite a story as well. The Cardinals finished 4-5 a year ago and lost four Cascades games, but all by seven points or fewer – including by only two, 29-27, to the Pirates. Michigan Center fell to Jackson Lumen Christi to start this fall, but has not lost since and last week avenged a 2022 defeat to Grass Lake. The Cardinals too would earn a share of the East title with a win in this one.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Jackson (4-2) at Chelsea (5-1) - WATCH, Union City (5-1) at Petersburg Summerfield (4-2) - WATCH, Grass Lake (4-2) at Manchester (5-1) - WATCH, Hastings (4-2) at Parma Western (6-0).
Southwest Corridor
Portage Northern (6-0) at Portage Central (5-1) - WATCH
This annual rivalry game will mean as much as ever with these two entering both undefeated in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference play at this late of a date for the first time in decades. The lone loss this season between them was Central’s to Division 3 No. 3 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in Week 2, and the Mustangs do own a win over Division 2 No. 10 East Lansing. Northern has won four of the last five of these matchups, however, including 25-22 a year ago.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Battle Creek Pennfield (3-3) at Battle Creek Harper Creek (4-2), Schoolcraft (5-1) at Lawton (5-1) - WATCH, Cassopolis (3-3) at White Pigeon (6-0) - WATCH. SATURDAY Kalamazoo United (4-2) at Constantine (5-1).
Upper Peninsula
Negaunee (5-1) at Menominee (6-0)
Menominee passed its first major Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper test last week, getting by Gladstone 44-26. Next up is the reigning champion, and the Miners’ lone defeat this fall was to Gladstone 42-14 in Week 2. Although the Maroons were still playing in the Great Northern Conference last season, these two did face off, with Negaunee a 44-0 Division 6 District Final winner on the way to Ford Field. The Miners’ defense has strengthened substantially since that Gladstone loss at the start of September – they’ve allowed just 35 points over their last four games – but the challenge will be on as Menominee is averaging 50 points per game in league play and had given up just six total before last week.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Petoskey (4-2) at Marquette (3-2) - WATCH, Houghton (2-4) at Gladstone (4-2) - WATCH. SATURDAY Lakeview (2-4) at Manistique (3-3) - WATCH, Bark River-Harris (3-3) at West Iron County (1-4) - WATCH.
West Michigan
Howard City Tri County (6-0) at Big Rapids (5-1) - WATCH
While the Ottawa-Kent Conference divisions are still sorting themselves out a bit more with some major matchups this weekend (see below), the Central State Activities Association Gold will be decided at least in part tonight with these two undefeated in league play and this Big Rapids’ league finale. This matchup helped decide the Gold title last year as well; Big Rapids’ 27-26 win resulted in a three-way shared championship between these two and Reed City. This meeting could be close again and similarly low-scoring – Big Rapids is giving up 12 per game in league play, and Tri County is allowing just less than 13.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Grand Rapids Catholic Central (5-1) at Ada Forest Hills Eastern (5-1) - WATCH, Grand Rapids West Catholic (6-0) at Allendale (5-1), Grandville (5-1) at Caledonia (5-1), Muskegon (4-2) at Zeeland West (6-0) - WATCH.
8-Player
Climax-Scotts (6-0) at Mendon (5-1) - WATCH
Mendon has had little time to rebound from last week’s 73-20 loss to Adrian Lenawee Christian, with the Southern Central Athletic Association West title to be decided at least in part tonight as the winner of this matchup locks up a share of the league title. Climax-Scotts is seeking its first conference championship in 8-player and has finished a runner-up twice over four seasons. This will also be the first time these two are facing off in league play in this format, although the Hornets won a Division 2 playoff matchup 44-18 last October.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Alcona (5-1) at Au Gres-Sims (6-0) - WATCH, Gobles (5-1) at Bridgman (6-0), Grandville Calvin Christian (4-2) at Marcellus (5-1) - WATCH, Pickford (6-0) at Norway (5-1) - WATCH.
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PHOTO Ada Forest Hills Eastern, on defense, takes on Grand Rapids Catholic Central this week coming off a 28-14 win over Wayland. (Photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)
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.