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FOOTBALL: Cass Tech Overcomes Slow First Half Start To Defeat Warren Mott 28-19
DETROIT – In the locker room at Warren Mott, there’s a sign that reads, "We Want Cass Tech". The sign has been up every since the summer, and today the Marauders got their wish.
Both teams came in undefeated at 10-0, looking to reach the regional finals next weekend against Macomb Dakota.
Rarer than a three dollar bill, Cass Tech actually trailed Warren Mott 7-6 at halftime, but a strong second half propelled them to a 28-19 victory.
"I didn’t even know we were down at halftime," said Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher. "But the key thing is the team bounced back, and we emphasized what we needed to do better. I knew that the third and fourth quarter our team always turns up."
Cass Tech’s offense was stagnant in the first half, partly due to the play of Warren Mott’s defense, and junior quarterback Jayru Campbell not starting for a second straight week. The offense punted on three consecutive possessions before Campbell entered midway through the second quarter, sort of orchestrated a scoring drive.
A Warren Mott punt was blocked and scooped up by senior Anton Price who returned it to the 5-yard line. One play later Campbell handed off to running back Mike Weber, who did the rest by racing to the pylon for a touchdown. Cass Tech (11-0) led 6-0 with 5:29 left before the half, but Warren Mott would respond a short time later.
Senior Angelo Proulx (7 catches, 109 yards, 1 touchdown) hauled in a touchdown reception from Connor Madigan, giving Warren Mott the 7-6 lead at halftime.
The second half was a much different story for the Cass Tech offense. They scored on their first two possessions of the half on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Campbell to Chris McDaniel that made it 12-7.
Then Buffalo running back commit Gary Hosey pushed the score to 20-7 with 2:12 left in the third on a 1-yard run.
The game remained close even through the 4th quarter when Warren Mott’s Austin Ross made it 20-13 on a quarterback sneak from a yard out with 10:28 remaining.
That moment was short lived when Weber took the ensuing kick-off 88-yards to the house. Weber finished with 77 yards rushing on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
Warren Mott added a score late on a 6-yard pass reception by Ken Goins from Ross that made it 28-19. But by then the Marauders had ran out of time down nine with :58.4 seconds left in the game. They recovered the onside kick, by Ross’ pass was picked off by junior Keshawn Gilmore for his second of the game.
Cass Tech escaped 28-19, and will face Macomb Dakota again for the regional title this Saturday at Cass Tech. The Technicians won the last meeting 31-19 back in 2010.
"Our guys believed all along that we could win this game," Warren Mott head coach Tom Milanov said after the game. "It was just poor execution on out part, and they capitalized on our mistakes."
