In a game that had a tough task following up the Belleville versus River Rouge game, this one lived up to the billing as these two went back and forth til the end, with Southfield A&T walking away with a 29-27 victory.
Cass Tech
Everything threw Sadler.
Your best player is Corey Sadler Jr., and if he’s going to be your Quarterback, let him help pick the plays that best suit him. He looks the best when he can run the ball and use the option to open the field to throw the ball. If the Cass Tech staff can help give him things that he’s good at RPOs, normal Options, and designed Quarterback run plays, it will allow you to open up more passing opportunities for Sadler to find guys like Cashus Shivers or Amari Johnson.
De’Mari Hendrix the Next Muscle Hamster?
Freshman De’Mari Hendrix was a standout in this game. While he didn’t score a touchdown, the 5’5” running back made his presence known. If you remember former NFL Running Back Doug Martin, picture Hendrix, and you’re just about spot on. From his stature to the way he runs to the way he blocks, the Freshman can do it all. In his first game action, Hendrix ran for 69 yards, and they were hard-fought runs also, as he wasn’t afraid to run it right up the middle. This kid has special written all over him.
Southfield A&T
Firing on all Cylinders
After a hard-fought loss to Cass Tech in the playoffs last year, the Warriors of Southfield A&T came out on fire. They scored two plays into the game on a big play by Quarterback Isaiah Marshall as he found his man Tashi Braceful for a 74-yard touchdown, and the big plates kept coming. While they were down 13-8 at the half, they weren’t down and were upbeat on the sideline. The second half came around, and they played great on offense, with Marshall finding Braceful two more times in the endzone. The running game was also on point, with Marshall leading the charge. As for the defense, they held strong, holding Cass to two field goals in the red zone in the first half. While they did allow three touchdowns, they only allowed one real big play, as Sadler gashed them for a 47-yard rushing score. They can make a deep run if they can clean up a few minor mistakes.
Finding Marshall
Isaiah Marshall is a stud athlete, don’t get me wrong, but last year, he looked more like a guy that was a Running Back playing Quarterback. In game one of the season, he looked like the guy who is the second-ranked Quarterback in the state for his class. Marshall had an easier time reading the defense, which allowed him to dissect the Cass Tech defense and lead Southfield A&T on a game-winning drive. He also didn’t force the ball as much as last year. Last year, it seemed as if Marshall wanted to use his legs as a first option and not a second, which he did better in this game.