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Cass Tech is Back in State Title Game with 34-27 win over Lake Orion
TROY – The last time Cass Tech and Lake Orion squared off was in 2010, and it was only a fumbled snap on the goal line by former Cass Tech quarterback Keith Moore that gave Lake Orion the 24-21 win. In this one, Moore was on the Cass Tech sidelines and Sophmore Quarterback Jayru Campbell was now leading the Technicians.
And as it has been all year, Campbell played a great game, going 10-13 for 192 yards and two passing touchdowns, including a 71-yarder to Damon Webb. Campbell also added a rushing touchdown to help secure the win. But it wouldn’t come easy and required a srong fourth quarter defensive push by the Technicians D to get back to the finals.
Cass Tech almost broke the game open in the 2nd quarter, but a punt return for touchdown by Jourdan Lewis was called back due to a penalty. That would have given Cass a 28-7 lead going into the half. Instead they were forced to punt and Chaz Miller scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Derek DeLaura with exactly no time left on the clock. That score pulled Lake Orion within seven and gave them significant momentum coming out of halftime.
"Coach said expect things to be called back or not go your way, and just play through it", said Jourdan Lewis after the game.
Both teams opened the second half with three and outs and both defenses made plays when they were needed the most. The only scoring in the 3rd quarter came on a 20-yard Chaz Miller touchdown reception to tie the game at 21. The final quarter turned into a back and fourth battle between the two teams to see who would move ont to the State title game. Cass Tech broke the tie ballgame on a 29-yard touchdown reception from Campbell to Lewis with 11: 21 left in the game.
But the Dragons wouldn’t go away easily. Three plays later Lake Orion’s Trey Reynolds ran straight up the middle for a 79-yard touchdown run. The extra-point was missed and could have been crucial to Lake Orion’s chances of winning. However the Technicians knew if their defense locked in, they were in the drivers seat to make that eight block walk from Cass Tech to Ford Field for the second consecutive year. And they did just that, forcing Lake Orion into two straight turnover on downs. Mike Weber converted a 4th and ten for Cass and scored one play later from 10-yards out to seal the 34-27 win.
The Cass Tech players stormed the field and chanted, "We’re going to the ship". Cass will defend their Division 1 state title against Catholic Central Saturday at 1 p.m. This will be a rematch of last years title game, which ended with Cass Tech thumping Catholic Central 49-13.
