With a state title under his belt, Bryce Underwood, hailed as the top signal caller in the 2025 class, got his sophomore season started with a bang Friday at the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State's Tom Adams Field.

The defending Division 1 champs (1-0) showcased a suffocating defense and an offense which will improve in the 41-10 victory.

Underwood came as advertised, going a perfect eight for eight in the first quarter.

"I feel like we could have done better as a team,'' said Underwood. "We're coming together as a team better than we did last year. I'm excited for this year.''

Underwood completed 17 of 24 passes for 237 yards and two TDs. His interception was a tipped ball.

Underwood wants to sling it, but coach Jermain Crowell is intent on running the ball.

"We've got a lot of work to do,'' he said. "First game out…Novi did a good job of slowing things down. A lot of teams we play do that. We have to do a better job of being deliberate about running the ball.  When you have Bryce he wants to throw the ball. I think early on in the season our thing is about a mentality. We want to run the ball to open up a lot of other stuff. Up front we had a lot of people down, but with the people we had I still think we could have established a run game.''

Underwood got the scoring started with a six-yard TD run with five minutes, 35 seconds left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

On the team's second series Underwood hit Kevin Simes for a 17-yard score with 50 seconds left in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead. Simes had four catches in the first quarter for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Novi tried to play ball control with quarterback Luke Aurilia using his feet as much as his arm to keep the Belleville offense off the field.

Underwood completed his first nine attempts before misfiring late in the second quarter on a sideline route.

Novi received some help from running back Cole Shires, who helped the offense drive to the Belleville eight with 33 seconds left in the half.

Novi settled for a 29-yard field goal by Gavin Garcia to trail 14-3 at halftime.

"I thought we fought them hard for three quarters,'' said Novi coach Jim Sparks. "We were being deliberate on purpose. Usually when you have a team in third down and 12 you feel comfortable, but now with this team. They have so many weapons.''

Underwood finished the half completing nine of 12 passes for 139 yards and one score. He led the team with 20 yards on five carries.

Bryce drove the Tigers down the field on their first possession of the second half, hitting Joseph Stephens with a 13-yard dart with 10:54 left in the third to make it 21-3.

Novi wasn't able to mount any offensive rhythm, stymied by the aggressive Tigers defense.

Shires intercepted a Underwood pass after a Tiger wideout bobbled the catch near the sideline. 

Davis Rogers scored on a nine-yard run with 90 seconds left in the third, increasing the Tigers lead to 27-3.

Novi finally got in the end zone with 8:53 to play when Aurilia hit Boden Fernsler in the back of the end zone to make it 27-10.

Belleville responded with a 17-yard TD run from Jeremiah Beasley for a 34-10 lead.

Sophomore Marquis Peoples scored for the defense on a 26-yard interception return with 7:10 to play to make it 41-10.