Powers Catholic (Flint, Mich.) completed one of the greatest comebacks in Michigan football history when it defeated top-ranked and unbeaten Catholic Central (Lansing, Mich.), 56-26, on Saturday to win the Division 5 state championship.
One year ago, Powers Catholic posted a 1-8 record. This fall the Chargers were outscored, 92-31, in their first two games and were 2-4 at one time. However, they never lost another game and greatly avenged an early 37-17 loss to Lansing Catholic Central.
Junior quarterback
Garrett Pougnet sparked the huge upset by completing 12-of-15 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns - with no interceptions. He also ran 14 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns. The Chargers showed power by scoring on eight consecutive drives and tied the championship-game record of 56 points.
Central Michigan University recruit Cooper Rush threw three touchdown passes in a losing cause to set a single-season state record with 48 as a senior.
*Michigan's Division I title game also produced an underclass quarterback to watch.
Freshman Jayru Campbell paced
Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.) to its first state football crown with a shocking 49-13 victory over perennial power Catholic Central (Detroit, Mich.). It marked the worst loss for the 10-time state champions since a 34-0 setback in 1974.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound 14-year-old completed 13-of-20 passes for 240 yards and tied the state-finals record with five scoring strikes.
He also is a standout basketball player and plans to run track in the spring.