Cass Tech routs Hudsonville for Michigan football D1 state championship: Live updates recap

The Technicians build a big lead early and never get threatened en route to the state title

Cass Tech and Corey Sadler Jr. (1) face Hudsonville in the MHSAA Division 1 Championship / Mariusz Nowak

DETROIT - It seemed like a down year for Cass Tech (12-2) as it lost two of its first four games. The Technicians figured it out and made it all the way to hold off Hudsonville Eagles (12-1) en route to its first state title since 2016. The 42-20 victory gave Marvin Rushing a 26-9 record as head coach of Cass Tech. 

“I just thought today was a perfect ending to a great season,” Rushing said. “All this has been intentional. I think the biggest thing for our season was managing vision and purpose. That really got us going from the offseason, to lifting, all the hard work, even the trials and tribulations after week four going 2-2 and the sky was falling. People wanted me gone from Cass Tech as the head coach, I heard the calls coming.”

• Michigan (MHSAA) high school football championship scores, live updates, recaps (11/29/2024)

The Technicians dominated the first half and led Hudsonville 27-0 after two quarters. Freshman Cass Tech quarterback Donald Tabron II was 12-for-15 with 147 yards and three touchdowns heading into halftime. It wasn’t just the offense clicking for Cass Tech however. The Technician defense forced two turnovers in the second quarter, and they both led to touchdowns.

“It’s honestly what we expected of him,” Rushing said of Tabron. “I mean he might’ve shocked the world a little bit but we knew we were getting a special young man off the field, (and) we knew we were getting a pretty good talent on the field.”

Cass Tech had the better skill players, and it showed. Technician DB and Colorado commit Alex Graham had an interception and six tackles on defense. On the other side of the ball, Graham had four catches for 57 yards. Junior Cass Tech athlete Corey Sadler Jr. had a team-high six catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Graham moved his talents to Florida to play for IMG as a junior, but he came back home with certain goals in mind.

“Honestly, it was a last minute decision,” Graham said. “The day before check-in day I chose to stay and come back and play for my team and play with my little brother James Johnson. One of my goals, like this whole season, was to win a state championship, and we got the job done, so I’m really happy that we did it.”

Hudsonville found success on the ground as it rushed for 169 yards, 95 of which came from junior running back Owen Haarsman. Ultimately, it was the turnovers and lack of defensive stops that held the Eagles back.

Hudsonville vs. Cass Tech MHSAA Division 1 Championship Live Score Updates

1ST QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN CASS TECH! Jaylen Spates kicks off the scoring with a 5-yard TD run. It's 7-0 Cass Tech early.

TOUCHDOWN CASS TECH! Freshman QB Donald Tabron II finds junior WR CJ Sadler for a 16-yard TD and it's 14-0 Cass Tech with 45 seconds left.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Cass Tech 14, Hudsonville 0

2ND QUARTER

Cass Tech calls timeout with third and goal on the Hudsonville 6.

TOUCHDOWN CASS TECH! Tabron hits Sadler again, this time from 6 yards out with a nice toe-tap and it's 21-0 Cass Tech with 8:33 left.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Hudsonville goes for it on fourth and 2 and gets no gain. Cass Tech ball on the 50, 4:44 left.

TOUCHDOWN CASS TECH! After Hudsonville throws an interception, Tabron connects with Will Sykes for a 19-yard touchdown, but the two-point attempt is no good. 27-0 Cass Tech.

FUMBLE! This half keeps getting worse for Hudsonville. Marcus Jennings recovers the fumble and Cass Tech now faces a fourth and 5 on the Hudsonville 28 with 29 seconds left.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Hudsonville gets a sack and has 25 seconds to get on the board before halftime.

HALFTIME: Cass Tech 27, Hudsonville 0

HALFTIME STAT LEADERS

Cass Tech QB Donald Tabron II is 12 of15 for 147 yards and three touchdowns. CJ Sadler has five catches for 38 yards and two TDs. Will Sykes has three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. Hudsonville has only 56 yards of offense.

3RD QUARTER

Second half is underway. Cass Tech starts on its own 29.

TOUCHDOWN CASS TECH! Alex Graham gets loose for a 54-yard touchdown run and it's 35-0 Cass Tech with 11:09 left after the two-point conversion is good.

TOUCHDOWN HUDSONVILLE! Griffin Baker plunges in from 1 yard out to get Hudsonville on the board. It's 35-7 Cass Tech with 7:44 left.

INTERCEPTION! Cass Tech's Derrick Jackson gets the pick and has the ball on its own 37.

FUMBLE! Hudsonville gets it right back after Tyler Strick recovers a Julian Taylor fumble.

TOUCHDOWN HUDSONVILLE! Bryce Fox rushes for a 14-yard TD but his two-point try is no good. Hudsonville cuts the Cass Tech lead to 35-13. 5:07 left.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Cass Tech 35, Hudsonville 13

4TH QUARTER

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Hudsonville wastes a 37-yard run by Owen Haarsman and gets stopped on fourth down at the Cass Tech 7. 8:41 left.

TOUCHDOWN CASS TECH! De'Mari Hendrix busts loose for a 24-yard touchdown run to make it 42-13 Cass Tech with 3:44 left.

TOUCHDOWN HUDSONVILLE! That drive was all about Griffin Baker to Carson Dykstra. They connected for three straight big plays (10, 42 and 15), the latter a touchdown catch in the corner. It's 42-20 Cass Tech with 2:19 left.

FINAL: Cass Tech 42, Hudsonville 20

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