Heading into Rice Week with a 5-0 record, the Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks faced archrival Brother Rice at Lawrence Technological University in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season. This year's game carried special significance as the Catholic Central community mourned the loss of Fr. Dennis Kauffman, CSB, the beloved athletic teams' chaplain. Fr. Kauffman was a constant presence on the sidelines, known for his unwavering support and love of Hawaiian shirts. In his honor, students packed the stands wearing their favorite Hawaiian shirts, celebrating his life and legacy.
The game kicked off at 7 p.m., with the Shamrocks starting on defense. Brother Rice's opening drive looked promising, but a tough Shamrock defense forced a turnover on downs at the Catholic Central 25-yard line.
With 3:02 left in the first quarter, the Shamrocks struck first. Skylar Hunter launched a deep ball that saw Junior WR Samson Gash make an incredible leaping catch, putting Catholic Central up 7-0 and leaving the crowd buzzing.
The Shamrock defense continued to stifle Brother Rice's offense, forcing another turnover on downs. On the next possession, Hunter connected with Nico McBride on a 40-yard bomb, setting up Senior Captain Jaden Pydyn for a powerful run into the end zone, extending the lead to 14-0 with eight minutes left in the half.
Catholic Central's defense, known for its resilience, held Brother Rice scoreless throughout the first half. With just two minutes remaining, Senior LB/RB Lee Kreuger added another Shamrock touchdown, pushing the lead to 21-0.
Brother Rice managed to score just before halftime, narrowing the Shamrock lead to 21-7 as they headed into the break.
Out of halftime, the Shamrocks wasted no time. Pydyn tacked on his second touchdown of the night, extending the lead to 28-7. Skylar Hunter then scrambled out of the pocket and found Matthew Williams open for another score. Williams made a slick hesitation move, evading a defender and finding the end zone, pushing the lead to 34-7 with five minutes left in the third quarter.
From there, Catholic Central managed the game effectively, keeping Brother Rice at bay. Ty Goddard added a field goal with six minutes left in regulation, sealing the 37-14 victory.
This win not only extended the Shamrocks' undefeated season to 6-0 and secured their spot as the #1 team in the state, but it also marked Catholic Central's 10th consecutive victory over Brother Rice. It has been an astonishing 3,661 days since Brother Rice last defeated the Shamrocks in football.
The victory served as a fitting tribute to Fr. Kauffman, as the Shamrock community honored him with a dominant performance, taking care of business on and off the field.
