DETROIT – Ford Field hosted a weekend of high-stakes football as the MHSAA championships concluded, with Grand Rapids West Catholic and Detroit Catholic Central emerging as dominant victors in their respective divisions. West Catholic secured the Division 5 title by defeating Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, while Detroit Catholic Central capped an undefeated season with a victory over Detroit Cass Tech for the Division 1 crown.
Both championship wins were defined by powerful defenses and redemptive storylines, as each team overcame past defeats to claim the top spot in Michigan high school football for 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Grand Rapids West Catholic won the Division 5 Final against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep with a score of 42-14.
- Detroit Catholic Central defeated Detroit Cass Tech 42-19 to win the Division 1 Final and complete a 14-0 undefeated season.
- Both winning teams cited overcoming previous season losses as a major motivation for their championship runs.
- Defensive dominance was a key factor in both games, highlighted by multiple interceptions returned for touchdowns.
West Catholic's Redemption Tour Ends with Division 5 Trophy
Grand Rapids West Catholic's journey to the championship was fueled by the memory of past setbacks. After an early-season loss, the Falcons rattled off 13 consecutive wins, culminating in a decisive 42-14 victory over the defending champions, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.
The team's path to Ford Field included a critical overtime win against rival Grand Rapids Catholic Central, the same team that had eliminated them in 2023 and 2024. That victory appeared to galvanize the Falcons for their final push.
Offensive Firepower and Defensive Might
West Catholic wasted no time asserting its dominance. The game opened with a 79-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Grady Augustyn to junior Thomas Puksta just minutes into the first quarter. The offense continued to build a commanding lead, reaching 28-0 by the second quarter.
Augustyn finished the game with 199 passing yards and two touchdowns to Puksta, who had a standout performance with six catches for 161 yards. The ground game was equally effective, with junior Collin Abram rushing for 154 yards.
"Our class has been working its butts off this whole year, last year," Augustyn said after the game. "We were, like, ‘We’re not letting this happen again.’ ... Winning this championship, it just means a lot to our whole team."
However, it was the defense that sealed the victory. In the third quarter, West Catholic scored on two consecutive interception returns for touchdowns—a 43-yard return by senior Cal Peterson followed by a 30-yard return from senior Christian Patterson. These back-to-back defensive scores broke the game open and extinguished any hope of a comeback for Notre Dame Prep.
A Season of Resilience
Coach Landon Grove highlighted the team's ability to overcome significant challenges throughout the season, including numerous injuries to key players. "The amount of adversity we faced this year – we lost captains, we lost underclassmen starters, upperclassmen starters – and it was just a next-man-up mentality," Grove stated. This championship marks West Catholic's eighth in program history.
Detroit Catholic Central Caps Perfect Season with Division 1 Title
In the weekend's featured matchup, Detroit Catholic Central (DCC) faced reigning champion Detroit Cass Tech in a battle of undefeated teams. DCC delivered a commanding performance, securing a 42-19 victory to claim its first state title since 2009 and finish the season with a perfect 14-0 record.
The win was particularly meaningful for the Shamrocks, who avenged a 17-14 semifinal loss to Cass Tech in 2024. The team's motto, "Finish what we started," became a reality on the field at Ford Field.
An Unforgettable Highlight Play
While DCC's offense was efficient, with junior quarterback Duke Banta throwing three touchdown passes to Gideon Gash, the game's most memorable moment came from the defense. With just over three minutes remaining, 300-pound senior noseguard Benny Eziuka intercepted a pass and rumbled 61 yards for a touchdown, sending the DCC sideline and crowd into a frenzy.
The Penn State commit's play perfectly encapsulated the team's physical dominance throughout the game.
Eziuka's Game-Sealing Touchdown
- Player: Benny Eziuka, Senior Noseguard
- Weight: 300 pounds
- Play: Interception return for a touchdown
- Distance: 61 yards
"I was just in the right place at the right time," Eziuka explained. "I made the cut and saw green grass. I was like, ‘That’s a long way, but I’ve got to try.’"
Executing a Winning Game Plan
DCC coach Justin Cessante described his team's strategy using a boxing analogy, focusing on a physical run game, big plays on offense, and a "brick wall" defense. The plan worked to perfection. The Shamrocks' defense forced three turnovers and held Cass Tech's potent offense to just 73 rushing yards.
Cass Tech coach Marvin Rushing acknowledged DCC's superiority on the day. "To be a champion, you’ve got to beat the man to be the man today. They get to hoist the trophy, and they deserve it," Rushing said. "At the end of the day, West Catholic won at the lines, and that was the deciding factor."
For DCC, the victory was the culmination of a year-long mission. Senior Samson Gash reflected on the team's motivation after last year's loss. "Our motto this year was, ‘Finish what we started.’ ... It means everything to us to go out on top, for sure."
