Novi Detroit Catholic Central came into the 2025 season with a mission to “finish what we started”.
DCC did just that on Sunday, Nov. 30, in downtown Detroit. The Shamrocks completed a perfect season by dominating defending champion Detroit Cass Tech 42-19 in the Division 1 state final to finish the 2025 Michigan high school football season.
DCC won all 14 games on its schedule by at least two touchdowns, including a start-to-finish masterpiece on the biggest stage against Cass Tech (13-1), which had won 23 straight games entering the state championship. DCC (14-0) now has 11 state championships, tied for the fifth-most in state history.
DCC got the show started with a 41-yard touchdown from Duke Banta to Gideon Gash on the game’s opening possession. The Shamrocks’ defense completely stifled Cass Tech’s offense in the first half, shutting them out, while Josh Peters added a rushing touchdown for a 13-point lead at half.
The avalanche continued with a Beckett Glynn interception leading to another deep touchdown pass from Banta to Gash in the third quarter. Cass Tech finally answered, but Catholic Central answered with a field goal, a forced fumble by Kaden Gonzales and a Cedric Williams rushing touchdown to deliver the dagger.
Cass Tech added a late touchdown from C.J. Sadler, but Catholic Central responded with a third touchdown pass to Gash to walk away with the program’s first state championship since 2009. Cass Tech sophomore quarterback Donald Tabron was 25-for-37 for 285 yards, two touchdowns and three turnovers.
Banta, a junior, completed nine of 11 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns, all to Gash. DCC ran for 155 yards as a team, led by Cedric Williams with 72. Gash, a junior, had three catches, all scores, for 126 yards.
Defensively, Jack Janda recorded a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. DCC had three sacks, six tackles for loss and forced three turnovers as a team to take control of the game. Senior defensive tackle Benny Ezuika had the exclamation point with an interception returned for a touchdown in the final three minutes.
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Check out the game recap below.
Cass Tech vs Detroit Catholic Central live updates, highlights
Cass Tech adds Will Sykes TD late
DCC 42, Cass Tech 19, 0:14 4Q.
Donald Tabron hit Will Sykes in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown in the final seconds. Tabron finished the game 25-for-37 for 285 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while taking a beating from DCC’s defensive line.
DCC’s Benny Eziuka returns INT for TD
DCC 42, Cass Tech 13, 4:52 4Q.
Catholic Central’s exclamation point came on an interception returned for a touchdown by defensive tackle/left guard Benny Eziuka. Donald Tabron tried to throw the ball away while Jack Janda was pulling him to the ground. His pass did not reach the sidelines, instead falling right into Eziuka’s hands. The Penn State verbal commit finished his high school career with a 41-yard return for a defensive touchdown.
The pro-DCC crowd at Ford Field erupted as the 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman waltzed into the end zone.
Gideon Gash catches third TD for Catholic Central
DCC 36, Cass Tech 13, 4:52 4Q.
This one is all but over. Cass Tech failed to recover an onside kick, giving the ball to Catholic Central at midfield. Cass Tech stopped two runs and called timeouts, setting up a third-and-long. Catholic Central dialed up a pass, and Gideon Gash cooked his cornerback off the line for a wide-open 48-yard touchdown.
Gash has three catches for 128 yards and three touchdowns. Duke Banta is 9-of-11 for 156 yards and three touchdowns.
C.J. Sadler scores TD for Cass Tech
DCC 29, Cass Tech 13, 5:24 4Q.
Cass Tech quickly moved down the field behind some big passes from Donald Tabron. After he connected with Mylan Griggs for a 29-yard gain into DCC territory, he hit Sadler over the middle for a 15-yard touchdown. Cass Tech’s 2-point conversion attempt failed, keeping the deficit at 16 points.
DCC adds TD from Cedric Williams
DCC 29, Cass Tech 7, 6:45 4Q.
The Shamrocks are well on their way to their first state championship since 2009. DCC quickly turned the turnover on downs into a touchdown. Cedric Williams broke two big runs to reach the 1-yard line, and then punched it in to deliver the dagger. Cass Tech started using its timeouts, but could not get the defensive stop it needed. DCC went for two after an offsides on the extra point attempt, but Cass Tech stuffed it.
Cass Tech offense fails on 4th down
DCC 23, Cass Tech 7, 6:45 4Q.
That might do it. Cass Tech’s offense could not move down the field, failing on fourth down at its own 34 after Donald Tabron’s scramble was stopped short of the first down marker. Cass nearly had a deep completion on fourth down, but the pass was knocked loose by a Catholic Central defender.
DCC increases lead with short FG
DCC 23, Cass Tech 7, 7:52 4Q.
DCC turned the fumble into a field plays later. The Shamrocks ran it three straight times with Cedric Williams and Jalen Montlouis, but couldn’t crack the end zone.
Kicker Ty Goddard nailed the 21-yard field goal. DCC has a 16-point lead with less than nine minutes remaining.
DCC recovers Cass Tech fumble inside 10-yard line
DCC 20, Cass Tech 7, 10:15 4Q.
On the first play of Cass Tech’s drive, it ran a read option play. Quarterback Donald Tabron kept the ball, but DCC defensive end Kaden Gonzales jarred it loose as Tabron tried to run to the edge. Tabron could not corral the loose ball, and DCC’s Luca Genrich recovered at the Cass Tech 9-yard line, setting them up with a first-and-goal.
Cass Tech defense produces fourth down stop
DCC 20, Cass Tech 7, 10:25 4Q.
Catholic Central kept its offense on the field for 4th-and-4 from Cass Tech’s 22. DCC ran a wildcat quarterback run with Josh Peters, but the Technicians swarmed to bring him down one yard short of the first down marker.
End of third quarter: DCC driving with 20-7 lead
Cass Tech got on the board, but Catholic Central is in range to increase its lead again. The Shamrocks have steadily moved the ball down the field with bruising runs up the middle, draining the clock.
DCC will have 2nd-and-9 from the Cass Tech 26-yard line to start the fourth quarter.
Julian Taylor punches in Cass Tech TD
DCC 20, Cass Tech 7, 4:19 3Q.
Cass Tech isn’t done yet.
The Technicians responded with their first scoring drive of the game. Donald Tabron delivered a deep strike to freshman receiver Peyton Robinson, who separated from the defender, laid out and caught the ball mid-air for a diving 33-yard catch. Referees ruled it was a touchdown on the field. But with video review, referees ruled Robinson was down inside the 1-yard line despite video showing he crossed the plane while his knee hit the ground.
On the next play, Julian Taylor punched in a 1-yard rushing touchdown up the middle.
Duke Banta drops dime to Gideon Gash for DCC TD
DCC 20, Cass Tech 0, 7:36 3Q.
Duke Banta threw his arms up in the air to signal a touchdown before Gideon Gash caught it. The junior DCC quarterback knew he delivered a perfect pass.
From Cass Tech’s 37, DCC dialed up a deep post. Gideon Gash split the double team and outran the field safety and had the ball perfectly dropped into his hands as he crossed the goal line. It was a great route and even better pass from Banta to put the Shamrocks up by a three-score margin.
DCC’s Beckett Glynn intercepts Donald Tabron pass
DCC 13, Cass Tech 0, 8:40 3Q.
Catholic Central’s defense continues to make plays.
Cass Tech was putting together a nice drive behind the running game to open the second half to reach DCC territory. The Technicians dialed up a deep shot, but DCC linebacker Josh Atiemo got around the edge, blew up the running back in protection and hit Tabron while he was trying to throw to the end zone. The pass was a wounded duck that fell right in the hands of Beckett Glynn for an interception. Glynn returned it to the Shamrocks’ 42-yard line.
Second half starting up
The final 24 minutes of the Michigan high school football season are underway. Cass Tech received the second-half opening kickoff and will start at its own 20-yard line, trailing by 13 points.
Halftime: Detroit Catholic Central 13, Cass Tech 0
DCC’s defense was the story of the first half. The Shamrocks held Cass Tech to 89 total yards in the first 24 minutes and just 13 rushing yards on nine attempts. DCC has sacked Donald Tabron twice and recorded four tackles for loss.
On the other side, DCC has 116 yards of total offense but has taken advantage of good field position to find the end zone. Duke Banta started the game with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Gideon Gash, and Josh Peters ran for a 5-yard touchdown out of a wildcat package. The Gash brothers, Samson and Gideon, have combined for five catches for 61 yards.
Josh Peters scores 5-yard rushing TD for DCC
DCC 13, Cass Tech 0, 2:45 2Q.
Catholic Central turned the prime field position into seven points on a Josh Peters rushing touchdown out of wildcat. He faked a handoff to Samson Gash on a sweep, and then followed a convoy of four blockers into the end zone. DCC reached the goal line on a 19-yard completion to Gash on a screen.
Cass Tech, DCC trade punts again
DCC 6, Cass Tech 0, 5:34 2Q.
Cass Tech started its third drive on its own 10 and marched out to midfield before coming up one yard short of a first down. The Technicians were slow after third down, drawing a delay of game, which eliminated the chance of going for it on fourth-and-1. Samson Gash returned the ensuing punt to Cass Tech’s 25-yard line.
DCC went three-and-out on its third drive after a nice pass breakup on a deep shot by C.J. Sadler and a third-down tackle by the North Carolina verbal commit on a screen pass to Gash.
Cass Tech, DCC trade punts on second drives
DCC 6, Cass Tech 0, 11:54 2Q.
Cass Tech forced a punt on DCC’s second drive. Duke Banta nearly hit Gideon Gash for another long touchdown on third down, but the pass was a yard too far.
The Technicians went nowhere on their second drive. Cass picked up three yards on first down, Donald Tabron nearly threw an interception on second down, and Josh Atiemo tackled Mylan Griggs for a loss on third down.
DCC has the ball at its own 47-yard line to start the second quarter.
Cass Tech punts on opening drive
DCC 6, Cass Tech 0, 5:00 1Q.
Cass Tech’s drive started with a 35-yard pickup by C.J. Sadler. Sadler caught a tunnel screen on the left and reversed fields all the way to the right sidelines for the big gain. Cass Tech got to the edge of the red zone after a CC facemask penalty, but the Shamrocks’ defense stood tall. First, Jalen Montlouis and Jack Janda produced a tackle for loss on second down, and then Janda sacked Tabron on third down to force a punt.
DCC takes 6-0 lead on Banta TD pass to Gideon Gash
DCC 6, Cass Tech 0, 7:44 1Q.
Catholic Central strikes first on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Duke Banta to Gideon Gash on fourth down. On 4th-and-4, CC called a timeout and kept the offense on the field. Banta lofted a perfect pass down the sidelines to Gideon Gash, who beat his man and a safety shading over the top, to take the lead. CC picked up one first down on a Jalen Montlouis run before the long touchdown pass. Cass Tech blocked the extra point attempt.
Opening kickoff out of bounds, CC starts at own 35
Cass Tech’s kickoff went out of bounds. Catholic Central will start at its own 35. It is game time.
Cass Tech wins coin toss & defers; CC will receive opening kick
Cass Tech won the pregame coin toss and elected to defer. Catholic Central will receive the opening kickoff in Ford Field’s West end zone.
Kickoff approximately at 7:15 p.m.
At 6:50 p.m., there are 20 minutes left on the warmup clocks for Cass Tech and Catholic Central. Following the warmups, the national anthem will be played and football will follow around 7:15 p.m.
Fans arriving for D-1 final
Catholic Central and Cass Tech fans have started to take seats on either sideline inside Ford Field. The Division 5 state title game just started the fourth quarter, meaning there are still 12 minutes of game action remaining before warmups start for D-1. Slightly after 7 p.m. still seems likely for the kickoff time.
Kickoff likely coming after 7 p.m.
The Division 1 state title game starts over 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Division 5 state championship game between Grand Rapids West Catholic and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. The second half of the Division 5 championship started at 5:40 p.m., which means the D-1 championship will likely start after the listed time of 7 p.m.
Detroit Catholic Central vs Detroit Cass Tech stream live, start time
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MHSAA football: Detroit Catholic Central shreds Cass Tech in D-1 final, 42-19
Reporting by Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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