This week’s high school football game of the week is a matchup between two long-rivaled Detroit powerhouses.
The Cass Tech Technicians will host the Martin Luther King Crusaders on Friday, Sept. 20, at 7:00 p.m.
Recommended Videos
The game will be streaming live on Local 4+ in partnership with State Champs Sports Network.
Cass Tech enters this game coming off a 71-0 blowout win versus Mumford.
The Technicians opened the season with a close loss against Rockford and followed with a 20-3 over McKinley.
Cass Tech Head Coach Marvin Rushing said no adjustments are necessary ahead of this matchup because the teams are very familiar with one another.
“These teams know each other really well,” said Rushing. “The student athletes on both sides have either played together in little league or played against each other. This is our toughest contest.”
“This game is always a grind when it comes down to fourth quarter,” said Rushing. “The most disciplined, most physical team wins.”
The offense is lead by standout freshman quarterback Donald Tabron and dynamic playmakers, junior Corey Sadler and senior Alex Graham.
Senior quarterback Seth Sandry will start in place of Tabron this week.
Sandry was the starter last season so he has plenty of experience running the offense.
Graham, who plays receiver and defensive back returned to play for Cass Tech after spending his junior season at IMG Academy. He is committed to Colorado.
Receiver and defensive back Sadler is a four-star recruit and has offers from several top-tier programs including Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma and LSU.
“The best thing about them is their work-ethic and how they compete,” said Rushing on Sadler and Graham. “It’s contagious so they make other people pick it up.”
“We think we got the best corner duo in the state,” said Rushing. “I think they’ve recognized and earned that.”
The offensive line has plenty of experience including junior Khalief Canty, three-year starting center Jelani Walker and junior right tackle Evan Gooden.
The defense is lead by senior edge rusher John Baker, who is committed to Toledo. Logan Howell who is committed to Miami-Ohio plugs up the middle as nose tackle.
Last season, Cass Tech finished the regular season 6-3 but their playoff run was cut short after a 36-25 loss in the second round to the eventual Division 1 state champions, Southfield Arts and Tech.
The Technicians are the defending Detroit Public School League Champions and have won the last three matchups versus Martin Luther King.
Coach Rushing believes his team is destined to play in the state championship this year.
“We have a destiny, we have a date,” said Rushing. " 7 p.m. November 30 at Ford Field.”
“We know we have the talent to do it and that’s the full expectation of this program,” said Rushing.
With new head coach Terel Patrick at the helm, King enters this game coming off a 49-0 blowout win over Renaissance.
The Crusaders opened the season with a narrow 25-21 victory over Cleveland Heights and followed with a 35-13 loss to De La Salle Collegiate.
The offense is lead by sophomore standout quarterback Darryl Flemister who threw for over 1400 yards, 21 touchdowns and just two interceptions as a freshman.
Flemister has plenty of weapons at his disposal including senior receivers Damon Stennis (Grand Valley State commit) and David Calmese, along with senior tight end Xavier Newsom and junior running back Michael Dukes.
Newsom plays on both sides of the ball and has several offers from top-tier programs as an edge rusher including Michigan, Tennessee and Penn State.
Opposing quarterbacks have to worry about pressure coming from both edges as senior Willie Fletcher who has offers from Michigan, Oregon and Missouri is the other defensive end.
Senior defensive lineman Jameer Henry works on the interior and has offers from Michigan, Ole Miss and USC.
Last season, King finished the regular season 4-5 but still qualified for the playoffs. The team lost 26-20 in the Division 3 semifinals versus Mason.
The matchup is hailed as one of the best rivalries in the state since it began in 1950. The two teams usually meet to compete for the Detroit Public School League title. Both teams have also produced multiple collegiate All-Americans and NFL players.
“It’s great to be the marquee game in the state of Michigan and one of the top games probably in the Midwest,” said Rushing. “A lot of fanfare around this game, two storied programs and we can’t be ourselves without them being great and they can’t be great without us being really good so it’s really iron sharpens iron. It’s what Friday night should be all about. The best against the best and just letting the kids have fun.”