- Michigan
Dequan Finn is a master chef, adept at keeping King’s talented wideout corps fed
With the powerhouse Detroit King football team, quarterback Dequan Finn is not just the engine that drives the offense.
He’s the chef that makes sure his talented crop of wide receivers stays fed.
Because with as many as five talented pass catchers who should have a future on college Saturdays, the Crusaders crew has to eat.
It’s a good problem to have, according to Finn, a senior Central Michigan commit.
“I just read the defense, truly,” Finn said after a 59-14 rout of Detroit Renaissance on Friday. “The ball is going to find the playmakers regardless. I try my best to distribute the ball as evenly as possible.”
It’s been a big job, but one that Finn has been doing well so far, as King has rolled to a 4-1 start despite a Week 2 hiccup against Muskegon.
Finn and King are overwhelming favorites for a deep run in the Detroit Public Schools playoffs where a likely meeting with fellow powerhouse Cass Tech should loom.
You have to like King’s chances for another deep playoff run, especially considering the talented quarterback and his talented hands in the kitchen.
Consider these options in Finn’s cupboard: Senior Jalen McGaughy, a Northern Illinois commit; junior Lemuel Neely-Watley, a three-star recruit and transfer from East English; senior wide receiver Dominick Polidore-Hannah, an emerging speedster whose big first half to the season is getting him on the recruiting radar; junior wide receiver Rashawn Williams, who is weighing offers from schools such as Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State; and senior wide receiver Darrell Wyatt, who will join Finn at Central Michigan.
It’s no wonder Finn believes the Crusaders have the talent to help him win his second state championship. King won Division 2 state with Finn under center in 2016, then won the Detroit Public School league championship last season before falling in the semifinals to eventual champion Warren De La Salle.
“Last year, he didn’t really click until the end of the season,” King coach Tyrone Spencer said about Finn. “Now he’s being a little more consistent.”
Added Finn: “My accuracy is getting up there, that’s one thing that I’ll say, for sure. I’ll say being more vocal too, and expanding the plays.”
Finn committed to Central Michigan coach John Bonamego on Finn’s 17th birthday in April, choosing the Chippewas out of 10 scholarship offers which included Air Force, Arkansas State, Bowling Green and Toledo.
A key was Bonamego’s staff getting to Finn early on the recruiting trail, he said.
“Central Michigan gave me the opportunity at the beginning of the recruiting process and I kept that in mind,” Finn said. “It was a key factor for me committing to the school.”
The early returns in his senior year have to excite the folks in Mount Pleasant. On Friday, Finn dismantled a Renaissance defense which had allowed a total of 20 points in their first three playoffs games.
Against Renaissance, Finn threw or ran for King’s first seven touchdowns. He compiled 389 of total offense, keeping the momentum of his strong season.
“Going against them, you really have a difficult decision to make with Finn,” Renaissance coach Drake Wilkins Sr. said. “If you stack them in the box, he’s going to hit one of those talented receivers, they have four or five that they can hit one-on-one going downfield.
“You drop people in the secondary to cover receivers, then Finn is going to dance on you all night long. So it’s just, pick your poison.”
Despite the lopsided nature of most of King’s PSL games, Spencer has pushed the Crusaders to keep their eyes on the postseason prize by developing at practice throughout the week.
“Coach Spencer preaches to us, we’re not worried about any other team, we’re worried about King football,” Finn said. “Being competitive during practice, having energy throughout the whole practice, staying focused throughout the whole week of practice, that’s what translates over to the game.”
However, King also showed some areas they need to clean up, committing 14 penalties in routing the Phoenix.
“The errors, we have to decrease,” Finn said. “We had too many penalties. For us, we felt that we didn’t play a good, clean football game.
“If we clean up the mistakes and play fast, we’ll be the best team in the state.”
