Grand Rapids West Catholic scored 14 points in the third quarter before even possessing the ball. It was that kind of game for the Falcons.
Those points came on pick-sixes on back-to-back possessions, exemplifying the swarming nature of the West Catholic defense as the Falcons (13-1) defeated the Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Fighting Irish (11-3) 42-14 in the MHSAA football Division 5 finals on Sunday, Nov. 30 at Ford Field in Detroit.
West Catholic allowed only 103 yards from Notre Dame Prep’s offense in the first half while taking a 28-7 halftime lead. Falcons quarterback Grady Augustyn finished with 199 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air, adding one on the ground as the Falcons finished with 190 rushing yards.
With the win, the Falcons earned their eighth state championship, last winning in 2017 as the last of a string of five-straight state titles.
Here’s how it all went down.
West Catholic wins MHSAA D-5 state title
FINAL: West Catholic 42, Notre Dame Prep 14
The Fighting Irish kept fighting down to their last possession, but it was West Catholic that came out on top.
With the win, the Falcons achieve their eighth state title and first since 2017.
West Catholic FG no good
West Catholic took its time on the most recent drive, trying to get to the trophy celebration as quickly as possible by running the play clock down late before snapping.
An eight-yard loss on a run from Collin Abram put West Michigan back to the Notre Damp Prep 42-yard line, but the Falcons got 17 yards back on a completion from Grady Augustyn to Thomas Puksta, setting up a 3rd-and-1. A 5-yard run from Abram converted the first down, bringing the ball to red zone.
Three plays later (on the 15th play of the drive), West Catholic attempted a 42-yard field goal, which was no good.
Notre Dame Prep scores on 60-yd TD pass
4Q, 11:51: West Catholic 42, Notre Dame Prep 14.
Drake Roa, Notre Dame Prep’s third quarterback of the day, launched a 60-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brody Sink for the Fighting Irish’s second touchdown of the day on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame Prep still trails by four touchdowns to the Falcons.
Notre Dame Prep intercepts West Catholic
End 3Q: West Catholic 42, Notre Dame Prep 7
On a fourth-down try from the Notre Dame Prep 39-yard line, West Catholic quarterback Grady Augustyn threw his second interception of the day, this time to Notre Dame Prep defensive lineman Lucas Bigelow.
But with only one quarter left in the game, Notre Dame Prep doesn’t have much time to mount a comeback. They will start the fourth quarter with a 2nd-and-9 from their own 40-yard line.
West Catholic gets another pick-six
4Q, 9:55: West Catholic 42, Notre Dame Prep 7.
Three plays after getting a pick-six, West Catholic gets another.
This time it was defensive lineman Christian Patterson jumping the route on a pass from Notre Dame starter Sam Stowe (who once again replaced Jacob) and returning it uncontested for a 30-yard touchdown return.
West Catholic now has a 35-point lead over Notre Dame Prep.
West Catholic gets pick-six to start 3Q
3Q, 11:39: West Catholic 35, Notre Dame Prep 7.
Notre Dame Prep backup quarterback Isaac Jacobs entered the game in the second half for starter Stam Stowe, who was injured in the second quarter but returned briefly later in the quarter.
Isaac’s second pass of the series was intercepted by West Catholic defensive back Cal Peterson, who ran it all the way back for a touchdown. The Falcons score in the second half without possessing the ball.
West Catholic dominates the first half
HALFTIME: West Catholic 28, Notre Dame Prep 7.
A late Notre Dame Prep touchdown keeps the Fighting Irish alive, especially with them receiving the ball to start the second half. But so far, West Catholic’s defense has been dominant, allowing only 7 points and 103 total yards against the Notre Dame Prep offense.
Notre Dame Prep scores TD right before halftime
2Q, 0:45: West Catholic 28, Notre Dame Prep 7.
Back in the game after leaving the previous series with an apparent injury, Notre Dame Prep quarterback Sam Stowe completed passes of 10 and 11 yards (to tight end Lucas Kattula and running back Anthony Tartaglia, respectively) on the drive to bring the Fighting Irish down to the West Catholic 3-yard line.
Two plays later, Tartaglia punched it in for a 2-yard touchdown run, giving Notre Dame Prep its first points of the game.
Notre Dame Prep intercepts West Catholic pass
There is some life for Notre Dame Prep.
Fighting Irish defensive back Drake Roa intercepted a deep Grady Augustyn pass and ran it back to the West Catholic 25-yard line, where the Notre Dame Prep offense starts with the ball.
Notre Dame Prep QB Sam Stowe appears hurt
Following an incomplete pass late in the second quarter, Notre Dame Prep quarterback Sam Stowe was attended to on the field by trainers with an apparent injury. He got up and walked off the field under his own power, appearing to hold his right shoulder.
He has been replaced at quarterback by junior Isaac Jacob.
West Catholic opens up four-TD lead over Notre Dame Prep
2Q, 5:54: West Catholic 28, Notre Dame Prep 0.
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
West Catholic quarterback Gardy Augustyn found himself chased in the backfield on a 3rd-and-12 from his own 20 yard line and heaved a ball downfield, praying the ball would find a receiver.
And after the ball bounced off the hands of a Notre Dame defender, it landed in the hands of receiver Thomas Puksta, who ran the fortunate catch all the way to midfield. Augustyn followed that with a 20-yard pass to receiver Owen Hunter, bringing the Falcons to the Notre Dame Prep 30-yard line.
Two plays later, Augustyn found Puksta in the corner of the end one for a 25-yard touchdown pass, giving the Falcons a four-score lead over the Fighting Irish.
West Catholic scores third TD of game
2Q, 10:34: West Catholic 21, Notre Dame Prep 0.
The Falcons began the second quarter with a 56-yard run from Collin Abram to bring West Catholic to the Fighting Irish 3-yard line. Three plays later, running back Connor Olszewski took the handoff for a 3-yard touchdown, West Catholic’s third of the game.
West Catholic driving
End 1Q: West Catholic 14, Notre Dame 0.
Notre Dame Prep went three-and-out on its most recent drive, punting the ball back to the Falcons.
West Catholic will have a 2nd-and-13 on their own 46-yard line to start the second quarter.
West Catholic runs all over Notre Dame Prep for 2nd TD
1Q, 2:30: West Catholic 14, Notre Dame Prep 0.
If it works, why not keep doing it?
West Catholic handed the ball off to running back Collin Abram six straight times on the drive, as the junior rattled off 42 yards in his first four. However, with his last two gaining only one yard each, West Catholic drew up a designed run with quarterback Grady Augustyn on their third-and-goal play from the 1-yard line, punching in their second touchdown of the day.
West Catholic recovers Notre Dame fumble
A 14-yard run from Notre Dame running back Anthony Tartaglia was fumbled at the end of the play, with the ball recovered by West Catholic defensive back Connor Olszewski. The Falcons start at their own 44-yard line.
West Catholic strikes with 79-yd TD
1Q, 7:30: West Catholic 7, Notre Dame Prep 0.
On 3rd-and-16 from the West Catholic 21-yard line, Falcons quarterback Grady Augustyn found receiver Thomas Puksta for a 79-yard touchdown down the right sidelines. The Falcons open up a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Notre Dame Prep stalls at midfield
On the second play of the drive, Notre Dame Prep quarterback Sam Stowe found tight end Lucas Kattula for a 24-yard completion, taking the Fighting Irish near midfield. Three plays later, however, the drive stalled at midfield, leading to a punt.
The Falcons will take over from their own 27-yard line.
West Catholic goes three and out
Starting from their own 27-yard line, the Falcons went three-and-out following two incomplete passes from quarterback Grady Augustyn. The Fighting Irish will start with the ball on their own 18-yard line following a punt.
West Catholic road to the finals
West Catholic played through a couple close playoff games on their way to Ford Field.
Notre Dame Prep road to the finals
The Fighting Irish ran through their postseason gauntlet, scoring at least 42 points in all four games.
Notre Dame Prep wins toss, chooses to defer
West Catholic will receive the ball to start the game.
Game scheduled to start at 4:20
Since both of the earlier state title games ran late, this game, which was originally set to start at 4 p.m. ET, will start about 20 minutes late according to the Ford Field gameclock.
Notre Dame Prep vs West Catholic stream live, start time
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GR West Catholic defeats Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 42-14 for D-5 title
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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