The Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks welcomed in the defending Division 4 State Champions, the Harper Woods Pioneers, for what many thought would be a hotly contested game. However, it would be a blowout in favor of Detroit Catholic Central as they would go on to dismantle Harper Woods 45-12.
Harper Woods
Shell of Yourself?
The Pioneers of Harper Woods returned a decent amount of their team, but not where it counted. The Pioneers aren’t as big upfront this year as when they won the title last November. While they were a shell of themselves up front on offense, the front seven on defense held their own and held one of the best Running Backs in the state to under 100 yards on the ground.
Guerrant Does it All
Sophomore Dakota Guerrant did a little of everything in the loss vs the Shamrocks of Detroit Catholic Central. Guerrant ran the ball seven times, pulled in four receptions, and even stepped in as the team’s Quarterback when their starter went down with an injury in the first half of the game. In all, it was only Gurrant who showed fight after they went down big.
Detroit Catholic Central
More Than a One Trick Pony
When you think of the Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks, your mind automatically goes to the name Jaden Pydyn, but they showed that they are more than a one-trick pony against the Pioneers of Harper Woods. Pydyn was held to 62 rushing yards, and the biggest chunk of yards came late in the first half on a 50-yard touchdown run, but before and after that, he was held in check by the Pioneers defense. Players like Quarterback Skyler Hunter, Running Back Cedrick Williams, and Wide Receiver Samson Gash all played giant roles in the win. Head Coach Justin Cessante said following the win that he wanted to get some of their guys who hadn’t gotten going yet going in this one before they face off against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and De La Salle the next two weeks.
Gashing the Defense
Junior Samson Gash was able to gash the defense of the Pioneers as he went off to score three touchdowns. Gash pulled in three receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns, as well as taking a rushing in one score from four yards out. While Gash wasn’t a giant name to most before the game against Harper Woods, he should be now. After the game, Gash said that the defense played him lightly when asked what he saw from the Pioneer defense. Gash would say, “They had no Safety over the top, and they were loading the box to stop Jaden(Pydyn),” Gash was able to take advantage of that gap in the defense to help the Shamrocks win.