General | August 30, 2025 | 12:29

Defending Division 1 state champion Detroit Cass Tech High School rebounded from a rough start to the 2025 season, rallying from a 20-point deficit to Toledo Central Catholic Friday at the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State's Tom Adams Field.

Sophomore Donald Tabron II hit William Sykes Jr. with touchdown passes of 36 and 46 yards to give the Technicians a 28-27 lead with six minutes, 37 seconds to play.

"I feel like I'm an underrated player, but I'm a team player,'' said Sykes. "On the first touchdown the cornerback went for the fake. The second one was a deep post. No one can cover me one on one.''  

An illegal participation penalty on Victor Singleton kept the Fighting Irish from a chippy field goal, resulting in Preston Fryzel missing a 45-yarder at the buzzer.

"It's always good having teaching moment after a win,'' said Cass Tech coach Marvin Rushing. "It wasn't what they were doing it was what we weren't doing. As a coach I have to do better.''

Big plays sparked the Fighting Irish on the ground and through the air.

The Fighting Irish struck first, using a 52-yard pass from quarter Ali Beydoun to Notre Dame recruit  Fryzel to score on a one-yard push by Jeremiah Fuller with nine minutes, two seconds remaining in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead.

Beydoun went after North Carolina commit Corey Sadler Jr., finding a streaking Amari Eliano for a 29-yard score at the 3:41 mark to give the Fighting Irish a 13-0 lead.

Squib kicks kept the Technicians pinned back for most of the first quarter and sophomore Tabron.

"It got frustrating,'' Tabron said. "Once we got the blitz under control it gave me time to make my reads. Sykes is a great receiver. We just kept at it. It's a great win against a great team.''

Sadler got past the Toledo defense for a 58-yard pass play, setting up his one-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter to get Cass Tech to within 13-7.

Two carries by Central Catholic's Anthony Sylvester produced 80-yards and a 70-yard TD run by the senior running back.

Fryzel caught the two-point conversion pass to give the winners a 21-7 lead with 11:17 left in the first half.

Central Catholic kept pouring it on and while taunting the Cass Tech players, getting a six-yard scamper from Beydoun to increase the lead to 27-7 with 2:12 left in the half.

Central Catholic's defense made sure Tabron wasn't comfortable in the pocket, blitzing on any apparent pass play.

Sadler continued to put on a show, catching a 17-yard TD pass from Tabron to get the home team to within 27-14 at halftime.

Cass Tech finally scored with 9:57 to play on a 36-yard pass from Tabron to a lonesome  Sykes to make it 27-21.

Iron man Cass Tech: Corey Sadler

Iron man Central Catholic: Jeremiah Fuller

MOP: Cass Tech: William Sykes Jr

MOP Central Catholic: Preston Fryzel