The two-time defending State Champions Bellville Tigers were looking to make it three in a row as they faced off against Southfield A&T. However, most of the time, plans don’t go accordingly, which was the case in the division one championship game as Southfield A&T was able to one-up Belleville and walk away as first-time state champions by a final of 36-32.
Belleville
Saving Stars
The Belleville Tigers were either too cocky or thought they could win by using their star players on one side of the ball only. That is a difference for the Tigers as some of their best players, like Jeremiah Beasley and Jalen Johnson, have played both ways all year, including in the playoffs. It wasn’t until a minute and a half left in the third that either player found the end zone. Outside of Bryce Underwood, the two other main stars for Bellville combined for 18 touches and 186 yards. It could have been a better outcome for the Tigers of Belleville if they had gotten their regular workload.
Punched in the Mouth
The usually sound Bellville Tigers were a lock to win a third straight State Championship if you were to ask anyone pregame, but that quickly changed for a few people when they started Warmups. As they were going through their routes, two players, a wide receiver and a lineman, collided in the end zone and got banged up. Revealing the level of focus was off from the jump, which was the start of the end of the game for the Tigers. Normal things you see the Tigers do with nice and tightly run warmups weren’t happening in the lead-up to the championship game.
The Defensive and Offensive Line for Belleville looked like they met their match in Southfield A&T, which we have not seen since the first game of the season when they played a close game against River Rouge. River Rouge used Nick Marsh as a Wildcat Quarterback in that game, which is how Isaiah Marshall seemed to operate. While the defensive line for Belleville was able to get pressure on Marshall, he was able to use his legs to get out of the pocket. The Offensive Line for the Tigers, while they protected the Quarterback, didn’t do much to help the run game. Jeremiah Beasley got 100+ yards despite not having holes open for him.
Southfield A&T
Not Scared of the Challenge
The Warriors of Southfield A&T came into the Division 1 Championship to face off against the two-time defending champion Belleville Tigers, and they were confident to step up to the challenge. The 38-game winning streak and the number one player in the country didn’t deter Southfield from the goal they wanted to achieve, which was winning the state title.
You could tell they weren’t afraid when they came out of the locker room for the national anthem. They had the look of a team on a mission. Walking out two by two with a look of determination on their face, they showed that they weren’t afraid to go up against Belleville. They were then able to come out and score first and get an early stop to give them even more confidence if they needed it. Southfield came out and played like the team that had two state titles, as they were strictly business.
Cold Blooded Killers
Isaiah Marshall and Tashi Braceful were cold-blooded killers in the championship game. They connected ten times for 152 yards and a touchdown. Half of the completed passes by Marshall were to Braceful. The connection they have on and off the field is amazing. After the game, Braceful said it was bittersweet because it could have been their last game together, but he did say, “I have confidence we’ll see each other in the league someday,” which both players are going on to play in college.
Extending the Play
Isaiah Marshall was phenomenal in extending the play for Southfield when needed. Marshall extended plays with his legs, got the ball downfield, and avoided sacks. When the pocket clasped on Marshall, he was able to get out and run. He was sacked once in the game and didn’t take much for a loss. He was a true X-Factor for his team.