Cass Tech (MI) comes back to take down Central Catholic (OH) 28-27 in season opener: Live updates recap

Find out how the Technicians came back from 20 points down to beat the Fighting Irish

Detroit Cass Tech QB Donald Tabron II (19) celebrates Corey Sadler Jr.’s (1) touchdown against Hudsonville in the second quarter during the MHSAA Division 1 football finals at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. / Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

DETROIT — The Central Catholic Fighting Irish (OH) appeared to have the game in hand at halftime, but the Cass Tech Technicians (MI) had other plans, as they came back from a 27-7 deficit to win the finale of the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University Friday night 28-27.

Cass Tech is No. 1 in the High School on SI top 25 rankings (MI), but it was tough to tell in the first half. Before the Technicians gained a first down, they were down 13-0. Junior Irish quarterback Ali Beydoun found his tight end Preston Fryzel (Notre Dame commit) multiple times in the first half, including a 52-yard connection on the game's opening drive.

Beydoun ended with two total touchdowns - one through the air, and one on the ground.

The Technicians were able to get their offense going in the second quarter, and senior ATH Corey Sadler Jr. (North Carolina commit) ran in their first touchdown of the game to make it 13-7. Central Catholic added two more touchdowns before halftime, including a 70-yard touchdown run from senior running back Anthony Sylvester, to make it 27-14 after another Sadler touchdown. However, things changed during halftime.

"Let's get out of our way," Cass Tech head coach Marvin Rushing said of what he told his team at halftime. "Honestly, our coaches, me included, (have) to do a much better job going forward. But honestly, on the defensive side, we just didn't play our assignments and we weren't willing to tackle. We just said dammit line up, and be willing to make a tackle. And if you make a mistake, make it full speed."

In the second half, senior WR William Sykes Jr. caught two touchdowns for a total of 82 yards. The Cass Tech passing game was suddenly in top form, and the Irish couldn't make the necessary adjustments. Central Catholic's offensive prowess seemed to weaken as well, and the Technician pass rush was very effective in the final two quarters.

"We started attacking their defensive backs," Sadler said of the offense's second-half adjustments. "We got the best receiving core in the state. We can't be stopped out there, so coach believed in us (and) we got to air it out. (Sophomore quarterback) Donald Tabron, he woke up and he played (well)."

On the final drive of the game, Central Catholic had a chance to win it with a 45-yard field goal. Fryzel came in for kicking duties, but missed wide right.

Players to Watch

Cass Tech

• Corey Sadler Jr., Sr., ATH — 4-star committed to North Carolina
• Khalief Canty, Sr., OL — 3-star committed to Missouri
• Marcus Jennings, Sr., DB — 3-star committed to Pitt
• Donald Tabron II, So., QB — 4-star prospect

Central Catholic

• Victor Singleton, Sr., CB — 4-star committed to Texas A&M
• Preston Fryzel, Sr., TE — 3-star committed to Notre Dame

Central Catholic (OH) vs Cass Tech (MI): Live score updates from interstate high school football showdown (8/29)

Central Catholic received the opening kickoff and will begin its first drive from its own 23 yard line.

Following a penalty for defensive pass interference, Central Catholic has a fresh set of downs with 10:40 left in the first quarter starting from their own 37 yard line.

Junior Central Catholic quarterback Ali Beydoun finds senior WR Preston Fryzel for a 52-yard strike before being tackled at the one yard line.

Touchdown Central Catholic - Senior running back Jeremiah Fuller pounds it in from one yard out. The Irish lead 7-0 with 9:02 left in the opening quarter.

Cass Tech begins its first offensive drive on its own 15 yard line.

The Technicians went three-and-out, and after a punt, Central Catholic takes over at midfield with 7:01 left in the first.

Freshman Cass Tech defensive end Tailor Thomas gets a sack on third down to force a punt from the Irish. After the punt, the Technicians will take over on their own nine yard line.

After a Cass Tech punt and a facemask penalty, Central Catholic will take over from the opposing 29 yard line. 3:49 remains in the quarter as the Irish take a timeout.

Touchdown Central Catholic - Junior WR Amari Eliano catches a 29-yard touchdown over Corey Sadler Jr. to extend the Irish lead. PAT no good. With 3:37 left in the first quarter, Central Catholic leads 13-0.

The Technicians move the chains for the first time with a 5-yard scramble from sophomore QB Donald Tabron II.

Tabron finds Sadler Jr. for a 58-yard strike down the sideline to put Cass Tech in the red-zone with two minutes left in the opening quarter.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Central Catholic 13, Cass Tech 0

Touchdown Cass Tech - Sadler Jr. leaps over the goal line for the Technicians' first points. PAT Good. With 11:56 left in the second quarter, Central Catholic is up 13-7.

Touchdown Central Catholic - Senior Irish running back Anthony Sylvester takes it the distance for a 70-yard touchdown. After a successful 2-point conversion, the Irish lead 21-7 with 11:17 left in the first half.

Sophomore Cass Tech running back Julius Thomas is beginning to find space on the ground. The Technicians are on the Irish's 37 yard line with under nine minutes to go in the half.

Cass Tech went for it on fourth-and-23, but the Irish pass rush was too invasive, and Tabron II had to throw an incomplete pass. Central Catholic takes over on its 30 yard line with under seven minutes left in the second quarter.

The Irish have methodically moved the ball on the ground this drive, as they are in the red-zone with 4:28 left in the quarter.

Touchdown Central Catholic - Beydoun runs in the touchdown from the six yard line. PAT no good. With 2:12 left in the first half, the Irish are up 27-7.

Touchdown Cass Tech - Sadler Jr. catches a 17-yard touchdown over a defender as the Technicians cut into the deficit. PAT good. Cass Tech trails Central Catholic 27-14 with 1:26 left until halftime.

HALFTIME: Central Catholic 27, Cass Tech 14

Cass Tech has received the opening kickoff of the second half.

Senior Central Catholic defensive back Sharard Vaughn III intercepts Tabron and returns it to the Cass Tech 35 yard line. The Irish take over with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Cass Tech senior linebacker Brian Stovall Jr forces and recovers a fumble for the Technicians. Cass Tech gets the ball back on its own 30 yard line with 8:30 left in the third.

Sadler catches a screen and takes it 15 yards for a Cass Tech first down.

Junior Irish linebacker Antonio Elizondo sacks Tabron to make it fourth-and-14 for Cass Tech on the Central Catholic 35 yard line. Under three minutes remains in the third quarter.

The Irish will take over from their own 20 yard line after a touchback on the Cass Tech punt.

Fryzel catches a deep pass over a defender for a big gain on second down. The Irish now have the ball on Cass Tech's 40 yard line with under 1:30 left in the quarter.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Central Catholic 27, Cass Tech 14

The Cass Tech defense stood tall and forced the Irish to punt, which resulted in a touchback. The Technicians take over at their own 20 yard line with 11:38 left in the game.

Sadler takes a handoff 13 yards to give the Technicians a first down at the Central Catholic 36 yard line with 10:18 left in the game.

Touchdown Cass Tech - Senior WR William Sykes Jr scores on a 36-yard strike from Tabron. PAT good. The Technicians cut their deficit to 27-21 with 9:57 left in the game.

On the following possession, Cass Tech forced a punt, and it will take over at its own 25 yard line.

Touchdown Cass Tech - Sykes catches another deep ball, this time for a 46-yard score. PAT good. Cass Tech leads 28-27 with 6:37 left in the game.

Central Catholic went for it on fourth-and-nine, but Cass Tech stood tall. The Technicians take over on the Irish 41 yard line with 4:51 left in the game.

With the ball on the Irish 40 yard line, Sadler punted for Cass Tech, and the ball went one yard forward. The Irish are taking over on their 39 yard line with 2:14 left in the game.

After a roughing the passer penalty on Cass Tech, the Irish have a fresh set of downs with 2:01 left in the game.

Beydoun scrambles for 17 yards for Central Catholic, but a holding penalty on the following play brought it back to the 35 yard line with 58 seconds left in the game.

The Irish tried to get to the end zone - or at least field goal range - through the air, but the Cass Tech pass rush made it tough for Beydoun.

FINAL: Cass Tech 28, Central Catholic 27

---

More from High School On SI

feed