On Friday, September 13, 2024, Detroit Catholic Central took on Harper Woods in an explosive match up at Fr. Richard Elmer Stadium. The Shamrocks wasted no time establishing their dominance, marching down the field on the opening drive to score a touchdown. Quarterback Skyler Hunter connected with wide receiver Samson Gash, who secured his first of three touchdowns on the night, putting the Shamrocks up 7-0 with 7:41 left in the first quarter.
Harper Woods struggled early, with their first possession stalling inside their own 15-yard line. A high snap resulted in a fumble, recovered by Hunter Stokes, giving DCC prime field position at the 5-yard line. Two rushing attempts by Jaden Pydyn came up short before the Shamrocks executed a perfectly timed trick play. Gash, lining up as receiver, swept into the backfield to score his second touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 with 5:36 remaining in the first quarter.
Harper Woods' offense failed to gain momentum, and a turnover on downs allowed Catholic Central to take over at their own 39-yard line as the first quarter came to a close. The Shamrocks capitalized early in the second quarter, as Hunter once again found Gash on a short pass. With key blocks and a burst of speed, Gash sprinted 50 yards to the end zone, securing his third touchdown of the game. Kicker Jake Matigian remained flawless, making it 3-for-3 on PATs.
Harper Woods managed to score on their next drive, but a missed PAT left the score at 21-6 with 10:28 remaining in the first half. On the following possession, after a roughing-the-passer call, the Shamrocks turned to Pydyn, who exploded through defenders from the CC 45-yard line for another touchdown. Catholic Central's blockers laid out key hits to clear the path, extending the lead to 28-6 with 7:38 to go before halftime.
As the first half came to a close, Matigian tacked on three more points with a 38-yard field goal, giving the Shamrocks a commanding 31-6 lead at halftime.
The second half was a continuation of the Shamrocks' dominance. With 4:00 left in the third quarter, Cedric Williams rushed into the end zone, pushing the lead to 38-6. Before the third quarter ended, Lee Krueger added another touchdown, making it 45-6 heading into the final quarter.
Harper Woods found the end zone once more late in the fourth quarter but failed on the two-point conversion. As the clock wound down, the final score stood at 45-12 in favor of Detroit Catholic Central.
Offensive Player of the Game
Junior WR/C - Samson Gash
- 3 Receptions
- 85 Yards Receiving
- 28.3 YPR
- 2 Carries
- 3 TDs
Defensive Player of the Game
Senior Captain LB/HB - Casmer Moir
- 2 Tackles
- 3 Assists
- 1 TFL
X Factor of the Week
Sophomore C/WR - Gideon Gash
