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Unlikely hero kicks game-winner as King defeats Cass Tech, 31-28, in overtime
Detroit – Anwar Miah doesn’t speak perfect English but there’s nothing wrong with the way he kicks the football.
Miah, a senior who was born in Bangladesh, kicked an 18-yard field goal in overtime to give No. 3-ranked Detroit King a memorable 31-28 victory over No. 2-ranked Detroit Cass Tech on Saturday before a standing-room-only crowd at King.
As a result King (5-0, 2-0) has a step up in the race for first place in the Detroit Public School League East Division 1. Cass Tech (4-1) is 1-1 and will play at Detroit East English Village Prep (4-1, 1-1) on Friday for second place.
The top two teams in the division qualify for the PSL playoffs, which begin Oct. 16.
Miah also kicked for King last season but he had never made a field goal until now.
“I try to make all of them,” he said. “That’s why I try my hardest.
“(The two penalties) made me nervous. It was a big game. I almost sleep (through[T1] the game). But I make all the games.
“I play (football) because I don’t have soccer.”
Miah, an 18-year-old senior who said he’s been in the U.S. for six years, works three or four days a week at a local pizzeria as a driver. He worked late Friday and, apparently, almost slept through Saturday’s game.
And, no, King does not sponsor a soccer team.
The teams were tied 28-28 at the end of regulation. Cass Tech tried a 35-yard field on its possession but missed.
Martell Pettaway gained eight yards on King’s first play in overtime. The Crusaders did not gain a yard on their next two plays and coach Dale Harvel sent the field goal unit onto the field. Twice Cass Tech jumped off sides placing the ball 18 inches from the goal line.
Despite pleas from his coaching staff and others to go for the touchdown, Harvel kept his field goal unit on the field saying he had faith in Miah.
“My coaches kept telling me, we’re on the one-inch line,” Harvel said. “I had confidence in (Miah). Because he had been strong with the ball all game long. I had a feeling he’d do it.”
Cass Tech jumped out to a quick start.
It stopped King on a fourth-and-goal from the 19 and three plays later quarterback Rodney Hall raced 74 yards for a touchdown and 7-0 lead just 3:40 into the game.
On the first play of the second quarter Donovan Johnson scored on a 43-yard touchdown run to give the Technicians a 14-0 lead.
King gained 26 yards on its second and third possessions combined then went to its star power. Pettaway gained nine yards to begin its fourth drive and Donnie Corley, Jr., caught a 35-yard pass from quarterback Armani Posey. On fourth-and-1 at the 5-yard line Posey gained two yards. Pettaway scored on the next play to cut the lead to 14-7 with 7:20 left.
Corley’s interception two plays later gave the Crusaders possession on their 33. King pieced together a 10-play drive to tie the game. Posey again made a big play on fourth down as he threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Corley with 3:20 left.
Johnson’s 13-yard touchdown run gave Cass Tech a 21-20 lead with 1:12 left in the third.
On the next series Kevin Willis raced 30 yards for a touchdown giving King a 28-21 lead.
Hall’s 1-yard run tied the game on Hall’s 1-yard touchdown run with 9:29 left.
Pettaway led all rushers with 134 yards on 20 carries. Posey was 9-of-20 for 129 yards.
For Cass Tech Hall had 117 yards on 15 carries.
Pettaway committed to West Virginia and was one of 30 or so players who have received Division I scholarship offers in this game.
“Coaches just told me to hit the holes,” he said. “There’s so many D1 players out here. Our O-line will do what they have to do.
“It means a lot to beat Cass. There was a lot of my shoulders. I’ll remember this forever.”
Last season Pettaway was at St. Clair Shores South Lake and had never experienced a game like this before. The Cass Tech-King rivalry is one of the best in Metro Detroit if not the state.
“I’ll remember this forever,” Pettaway said.
