Cass Tech Continues to Inspire

April 13, 2012

The Detroit Cass Tech football team was one of the most-celebrated champions from the 2011 MHSAA Football Finals after winning its first title with a convincing 49-13 victory over Detroit Catholic Central.

The Technicians will be honored again later this month with the Inspiring Story/Event Award from the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Michigan Fitness Foundation. 

The Governor's Fitness Awards annually recognize individuals, public officials and organizations committed to healthy living. The Inspiring Story Award is a special recognition given this season in honor of the Technicians, who entered the postseason unranked and also added to the victory's mystique by walking to Ford Field instead of busing in from the school's campus less than a mile away.

Cass Tech will be honored at the annual banquet April 26 at Ford Field. Click for additional details.

PHOTO courtesy of Terry McNamara Photography.

Moment: Morenci Returns to Record Book

November 18, 2020

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

The 1996 MHSAA Class C Football Final at the Pontiac Silverdome produced a special teams gem – the longest blocked punt return in the history of the event.

Morenci came to the game owning a piece of football history in Michigan. The Bulldogs' 1949 gridiron squad is one of seven teams to have ever produced an undefeated, untied and unscored campaign. At the same time, they scored 514 points in nine games, which was a regular-season record until Battle Creek Pennfield hit the 541-point mark in 1992.

Against Ravenna on this Thanksgiving weekend, Morenci found the record book again when Scott Miller blocked a punt attempt by Steve Johnson, and Chad Tedder picked up the loose ball and returned it a record 32 yards for a touchdown.

In the end, it was Ravenna which prevailed in this finale, 30-14. Benny Clark rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns on a final-game record 49 attempts to end his career with 7,212 rushing yards, a state record at the time.