The 2010 and 2011 MHSAA Division 1 State Championship winners squared off in a much-anticipated semi-final game this previous Saturday. Cass Tech and Lake Orion, teams that were ranked high in the polls all year long, battled it out in a 2012 semi-final game that lived up to all the hype leading up to the game. The Technicians of Cass Tech struck first on a 71 td reception from division 1 recruit Damon Webb following both teams going 3 and out on their first possessions. The Dragons would not wait too long to respond. In fact on the ensuing possession that is, senior running back Jacob Miller plowed in from 1 yard out to tie the game at 7 all. The big play on the drive being a 57 yard reception from slotback Christopher Leigh. The Technicians would re-take the lead on their next possession. Michigan commit Jourdan Lewis returned the kickoff to the Lake Orion 21. Setting up a sophomore running back Mike Weber for a 5 yard td. Following another 3 and out for the Dragons, Cass would strike again. Cass would score on a 8 yard td run from Jayru Campbell, but on this drive, Cass had to work for it. Campbell completed a pass to Weber on 4-4 setting them up for the td. Lake Orion’s next drive would stall again and they would be forced to punt. Lewis was back at his goal line when he received the punt and raced for what appeared the be an electrifying 100 td return, only to brought back on a penalty. Cass would do nothing on their drive giving the ball back to Lake Orion before half. With under 10 seconds to play in the half, senior quarterback Derek Delaura would find fellow senior Chaz Miller going across the middle for a 10 yard td to put the Dragons down only 7 21-14 going into half-time. Lake Orion and Cass would not do anything of their first possessions to start the 2nd. But Lake Orion would tie the game up at 21 on their 2nd possession of the 3rd quarter. Methodically passing the ball down the field, Delaura would find Jeremy Miller in the end-zone. Cass would respond to the pressure with a td of their own. Lewis would come up come up with 3 big receptions on the drive and one of them being a 29 td catch. Never count out the Dragons, slotback Corey Ester would sprint to end-zone for a 71 run to again tie the game so it appeared. The Dragons missed the pat which would’ve tied the game. Cass’ next drive would take them all the way to the Lake Orion 4 set up by a 26 yard rush from Weber. Cass would try to power the ball in but failed all three times. Coach Wilcher called a fake field goal trying to catch Lake Orion napping, but the Dragons were ready, stuffing Campbell back behind the line of scrimmage. Lake Orion desperate to get something going could not get a first down. Finally on 4th down Coach Bell decided to go for it and failed. Cass would take over on downs inside Lake Orion territory and Mike Weber went in from 10 yards out to seal the game. Lake Orion would have one final drive but could not do anything.
Final Score: Cass Tech 34 Lake Orion 27
Notes
I was impressed with multiple things in this game from Cass. Their passing game, Jayru Campbell was looking for that one game where he could say “I took it over.” Campbell went 10-13 for almost 200 yards in the effort with 2 passing and 1 rushing td. A great individual performance.
The running game. Cass has averaged about 300 yards on the ground all year. Recently Mike Weber has stepped in the playoffs. He had over 100 yards in the 4th quarter. A great sign for the green and white going into the championship game.
Finally the Defense. The Cass defense really showed their toughness throughout the game. For the most part they held a very solid Lake Orion ground game. Cass must do it again if they wish to beat Detroit Catholic Central, a team that loves to run the ball, in the championship.
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