Notre Dame Prep Takes to Air, Passes 1st Finals Test to Complete Record Run
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 30, 2024
DETROIT – It’s been hard to find room to run against Frankenmuth all season, so on Saturday, Notre Dame Prep went to the air.
Quarterback Sam Stowe threw for 293 yards and four touchdowns as the Fighting Irish made the most of their first Football Finals appearance with a 42-7 victory over the Eagles in the Division 5 title game at Ford Field.
“The lights weren’t too bright for our offense,” Stowe said. “Having playmakers like Joey (Decasas) and Billy (Collins), Drew (Heimbuch) – they make me look good. I couldn’t have asked for a better offense tonight.”
The win caps off a historic season for the Irish, who won a school-record 12 games and the first Regional title in program history. To end it with a win on the season’s final day was, of course, special for everyone involved, but especially for NDP coach Pat Fox, who finished his 11th season with a Finals title win against his alma mater.
“I actually live there now, too,” Fox said with a smile. “I was the benefit of tremendous coaching, and I played for the greatest head coach in the state, Ralph Munger. He raised all of us in a specific way, and because of him I have a great life. I owe my life to that program. But, I don’t know anybody there anymore except for (Frankenmuth coach Phil Martin), and these are my guys and I was happy to win big. It wasn’t a problem, as long as my house isn’t burned down. … It was hard. It was hard. I love the program.”
Saturday’s game continued a theme for the Irish: winning big in the postseason. They outscored opponents 241-59 over five playoff games on their way to the title.
“We’ve had a great year this year. We have great young men,” Fox said. “I work with tremendous people, and I’m blessed to tell you that we’re very proud of our accomplishments because we do it the right way. We’re a developmental program. A lot of our players, like Drew and Sammy, have been with me since junior kindergarten. We have great student-athletes, and great young men. And we take the time to develop them, and they stay in our program.”
Fox singled out Stowe, who sat behind Jacob Tuttle, a first-team all-state selection a year ago. Rather than look elsewhere to get his talent onto the field, Stowe stuck it out at Notre Dame and had an unforgettable junior season, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 37 touchdowns.
“I got to sit behind Jacob Tuttle, one of the Notre Dame greats,” Stowe said. “And he taught me everything I know.”
That was on full display Saturday, as Stowe utilized his weapons on the outside to burn a Frankenmuth defense that has been outstanding all season.
Frankenmuth entered the game having allowed just 473 yards on the ground all season, and the Irish didn’t have a ton more luck for most of the game. But the passing game was lethal, and made all the difference.
“Honestly, I always trust our offense,” Collins said. “We definitely have the ability to make huge plays. We have some extremely fast guys, a fantastic quarterback in Sam who can get the ball down the field. We just trust our offense, we trust our offensive coordinator, coach (Jason) Whalen. We just trust our team.”
Stowe did most of his damage in the first half, including all four touchdown passes. He hit Collins for 87- and 25-yard scores, Michael Wiebelhaus for a 23-yarder, and Decasas on a 47-yard score.
Collins caught four passes for 126 yards, while Decasas had three catches for 70 yards.
Heimbuch scored the final two touchdowns for Notre Dame Prep on runs of eight and 50 yards in the second half. He finished with 63 yards rushing.
Notre Dame Prep’s defense was equally impressive, holding Frankenmuth to 245 total yards (4.2 per play) and not allowing a score until there was 8:58 to play in the game and the Irish had already built a 35-0 lead.
Luca Gasperoni led the defensive charge, finishing with 13 tackles, while Mark Galle had 11 and Wiebelhaus had 10. Heimbuch added nine tackles, including one sack and three tackles for loss.
Lleyton Hoard scored Frankenmuth’s lone touchdown on an 11-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Cash Tedford had 86 yards rushing to lead the Eagles (13-1), who were making their third Finals appearance over the past five seasons.
Brady Lipka had seven tackles, including two TFLs to lead the Frankenmuth defense.
PHOTOS (Top) Notre Dame Prep quarterback Sam Stowe (15) winds up to throw a pass Saturday as his line holds off the rush. (Middle) The Fighting Irish’s Billy Collins (4) pulls in a touchdown pass. (Below) NDP players hold up their championship trophy toward the crowd. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
1st & Goal: 2025 11-Player Semifinals Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 20, 2025
One more win.
For all 32 teams playing in 11-Player Semifinals on Saturday, that's all it will take to reach the final weekend of this season and an opportunity to play their last game of 2025 at Ford Field.
But it means so much more as well. For 11 teams, its means continuing an undefeated season. For five teams, it means a chance to repeat as a champion.
For six teams, it means continuing the longest playoff run in school history – and for one more, in guarantees that team will accomplish the same when it steps on the field for an MHSAA Final for the first time.
Here's a glance at all 16 games and some of the standouts who could make the difference. All games kick off at 1 p.m. unless noted below, and all can be watched on the NFHS Network at the links provided.
Division 1
East Kentwood (10-2) vs. Detroit Catholic Central (12-0) at Jackson WATCH
East Kentwood’s first Semifinal run since 2014 has been partly on the shoulders of senior quarterback Kayd Coffman, who has thrown for 2,599 yards and 34 touchdowns and also run for a team-high 686 yards and eight scores. Detroit Catholic Central is making a repeat trip to the Semifinals with a big-armed quarterback directing as well. Junior Duke Banta has thrown for 2,091 yards and 26 scores.
Detroit Cass Tech (12-0) vs. Rochester Adams (10-2) at Troy Athens WATCH
Reigning Division 1 champion Cass Tech relies on some especially notable familiar faces, among them senior Corey Sadler Jr., who is averaging 27.5 yards per catch with 1,406 yards and 19 touchdowns receiving total. Adams also is a repeat semifinalist and led by dual-threat senior quarterback Ryland Watters. He’s thrown for 1,348 yards and 13 touchdowns and run for a team-high 14 scores.
Division 2
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (9-2) vs. Portage Central (12-0) at Haslett, 12:30 p.m. WATCH
Portage Central is giving up only 5.3 points per game this season, but will receive potentially its greatest challenge from St. Mary’s and junior quarterback Jabin Gonzales – he’s thrown for 1,677 yards and 18 touchdowns and run for seven scores. The Mustangs will counter in part with sophomore running back Cam Noe, who’s totaled 1,563 yards and 19 touchdowns to pace a rushing attack that’s stacked nearly 3,500 yards.
Birmingham Groves (9-3) vs. Dexter (11-1) at Ypsilanti Lincoln WATCH
Groves is playing in its third Semifinal over the last four seasons and seeking to reach the championship round for the first time. Junior running back Jeremiah Whitley has carried much of the offensive load, running for 1,402 yards and 17 touchdowns. Dexter also is seeking its first Finals appearance after just missing with a close 2022 Semifinals loss. Senior quarterback Cooper Arnedt is just the fourth 11-player quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards, totaling 4,022 and 48 touchdowns through the air this fall. Those 48 TD passes are tied for third-most all-time.
Division 3
Lowell (10-2) vs. Mount Pleasant (12-0) at Greenville WATCH
Senior quarterback Logan Dawson has helped bring Lowell within a win of reaching the Finals for the first time since 2015. He’s run for 1,756 yards and 33 touchdowns and thrown for 923 yards and 14 scores. The Oilers are seeking their first trip to Ford Field since 2011, and follow a dual-threat quarterback as well. Junior Xavier Creguer has thrown for 1,548 yards and 20 touchdowns and run for 927 yards and eight scores.
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (6-6) vs. DeWitt (12-0) at Grand Blanc WATCH
Playing in Semifinals is plenty familiar to both of these programs, but this will be their first time facing off in the playoffs. Senior quarterback Trav Moore is one of two 1,000-yard rushers pacing the Panthers, and he’s run for 1,768 yards and 25 touchdowns and thrown for 12 more scores. Sophomore Grayson Thurston has taken over directing the Pilots this season and thrown for 1,788 yards and 17 touchdowns, and run for seven more TDs.
Division 4
Vicksburg (8-4) vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian (11-1) at Caledonia WATCH
Vicksburg is playing in its first Semifinal after a one-point win over previously-undefeated Portland, and the Bulldogs showed again they’re capable of lighting up the scoreboard led by junior quarterback Easton Moughton (2,748 yards/32 TDs passing). Unity is seeking to return to the Finals for the first time since 2021 and is closing in on 4,000 yards rushing as a team, led by senior quarterback Justin Febus (979 yards/16 TDs rushing, 1,014 yards/18 TDs passing).
Dearborn Divine Child (11-1) vs. Goodrich (12-0) at Rochester Hills Stoney Creek WATCH
Reigning champion Goodrich has won 25 straight games and remains physically tough to take down with senior running back Jakoby Lagat (1,973 yards/27 TDs) one of two 1,000-yard rushers this fall. Divine Child has held four of its last five opponents to single digits and opened this fall with five shutouts over its first six games. Senior safety/running back Marcello Vitti is among leaders on both sides of the ball.
Division 5
Ogemaw Heights (11-1) vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic (11-1) at Clare WATCH
West Catholic’s first run to the Semifinals since winning the 2022 Division 6 title has been keyed in part by a pair of 1,000-yard runners and senior quarterback Grady Augustyn, who has thrown for 2,015 yards and 19 touchdowns. Ogemaw Heights is playing in its first Semifinal since 2009, with senior running back Calvin Marshall helping set the pace with 1,140 yards and 21 scores on the ground.
Monroe Jefferson (11-1) vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (10-2) at Westland John Glenn WATCH
Reigning champion Pontiac Notre Dame Prep has been led on offense by a familiar standout this fall, as senior quarterback Sam Stowe has completed 70 percent of his passes for 2,498 yards and 38 touchdowns. Jefferson has dominated in the run game – the Bears have rushed for nearly 4,000 yards – but led by a talented quarterback as well, with junior Luke Beaudrie running for a team-high 1,974 yards and 31 touchdowns and throwing for 1,130 yards and 13 more scores.
Division 6
Kingsley (10-2) vs. Kent City (12-0) at Cadillac, Noon WATCH
Kent City’s best season keeps getting better, as the Eagles will play in their first Semifinal and coming off one of their highest-scoring games of the season. Senior Logan Thompson leads a talented set of rushers with 1,121 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Kingsley’s defense should be a good matchup; the Stags have allowed just 24 touchdowns – an average of two per game – with nine interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries.
Almont (12-0) vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (9-3) WATCH
Reigning champion Jackson Lumen Christi has allowed a combined 21 points over the last four games and can wear down opponents with a rushing attack led by senior running back Paul Sattler (1,153 yards/14 touchdowns). Almont succeeds similarly, with Brody Corneau (1,129 yards/17 touchdowns rushing) helping to set the pace on offense and a defense that has given up just 20 points over three playoff games.
Division 7
Pewamo-Westphalia (11-0) vs. Menominee (12-0) at Gaylord, 2 p.m. WATCH
These undefeated contenders also are no strangers to this late stage of the playoffs, as both have played at Ford Field this decade. Menominee has allowed just 23 points during the playoffs and scored 43 or more in every game, and quarterback Tanner Theuerkauf has done his share of the damage all season with 1,379 yards and 22 TDs passing. P-W also can pile up points, and senior quarterback Ty Thelen has been the catalyst throwing for 1,113 yards and 30 touchdowns and running for 1,163 yards and 23 scores.
Schoolcraft (10-2) vs. Clinton (10-2) at Coldwater WATCH
Schoolcraft is seeking its first trip to the Finals since 2001 and has a penchant for making big plays, with junior quarterback Jack DeVries throwing for 2,105 yards and 27 touchdowns – and averaging more than 20 yards per completion. Over the last two weeks, Clinton has defeated both teams that played for last year’s championship – reigning Division 7 title winner Millington and runner-up Monroe St. Mary – and sophomore quarterback Gradyn Whelan averages 19 yards per completion and is among his team’s leading rushers as well.
Division 8
Bark River-Harris (10-1) vs. Harbor Beach (12-0) at Alpena WATCH
Bark River-Harris is playing in its first Semifinal since 2003, with its only loss this season to Pewamo-Westphalia. Juniors Gionni McDonough (1,353 yards/22 TDs rushing) and Andrew Johnson (1,022/13) pace the offense, and the Broncos are holding opponents to just 88 yards per game running the ball. Harbor Beach is averaging nearly 277 yards rushing per game, with senior quarterback Caden Bucholtz running for 20 touchdowns as one of three Pirates who have scored at least 10 on the ground.
Allen Park Cabrini (11-1) vs. Hudson (12-0) at Adrian College WATCH
Hudson is defeating its opponents by an average of 40 points per game, with Grayson Bills (1,601 yards/21 TDs rushing) leading an offense that has topped 4,800 yards on the ground this fall. Cabrini has held opponents to single-digit scoring eight times during this first run to the Semifinals and lost only to Division 5 Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard. The Monarchs also can turn to junior quarterback Evan Bergdoll, who has thrown for 2,175 yards and 36 touchdowns.
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PHOTO Goodrich's Jakoby Lagat charges upfield during his team's 63-42 Week 9 win over Gladwin. (Photo by Terry Lyons.)