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Cass Tech stuns Eisenhower on late minute heroics by Donovan Peoples-Jones
If there was 1 player in the entire country who could make the catch that lifted Cass Tech to the Division 1 State Championship game, it was strictly Cass Tech 2017 WR/S Donovan Peoples-Jones. With the game winding down in the final 25 seconds and Cass Tech being down by 3 points. Cass Tech 2017 QB Rodney Hall who is committed to Northern Illinois delivered a pass that was either going to be caught by Donovan Peoples-Jones or sail over his head.
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Eisenhower all game long kept Donovan Peoples-Jones in check, only allowing a few short passes for minimal yards. On DPJ's final catch of the afternoon, Eisenhower had tight double coverage on him as well. The only problem was, it was Donovan Peoples-Jones who wouldn't be denied the touchdown catch as he jumped backwards into the endzone and somehow caught the ball, as he was falling down he managed to touch the ground with his left foot, his thigh landed out of bounds secondly, but it didn't matter as his possession of the ball was safely secured. In high school you just need 1 foot on the field and possession, both happened.
Cass Tech relied heavily on their Senior QB Rodney Hall to carry them into the position of winning the game as he carried the offense for a majority of the game, despite taking several big hits and an interception thrown. Hall picked up Cass Tech's first touchdown of the run as his 3rd quarter TD run cut Cass Tech's deficit to 1, but every scoring drive featured Hall's mobility besides the final drive where he stood in the pocket and found Peoples-Jones.
Eisenhower's defense made life miserable for Hall for most of the game as he took several hits that shook him up and forced him out of the game for a play. Hall setup CT's first field goal following a high snap in which the ball went over his head, but Hall didn't lose stride as he picked it up and found an open receiver.
The best player on the field besides for the final play was arguably Eisenhower 2017 RB/S Jack Provencher. Provencher looks and feels like a bruiser when he runs the ball, but if you learned anything on Saturday, it's that Provencher has very good breakaway speed. Provencher twice outran Cass Tech defenders from nearly 40 and 70 yards out. Provencher unlike Cass Tech who had over 100 combined scholarships, only holds a single offer from Saginaw Valley State entering the game.
Provencher's strong game was aided by a good performance from Eisenhower 2018 QB Max Wittwer who had several perfect throws, on both of Wittwer's touchdowns he led his receivers in stride as they did the rest. Wittwer also added a running touchdown from 5 yards out to get the scoring started. He had several other positive runs in the game.
Speaking of good RB's, coaches looking into the future will envy what Cass Tech 2019 RB "ATH" Jaren Mangham brings to the table, he had two bruising short TD runs, but honestly will outgrow a RB body and be up to his future coaches of where he develops on the next level.
Plenty of great plays and players played great will go under the radar from Donovan Peoples-Jones heroics, but we'll do our best to highlight a few that we haven't already.
Cass Tech 2017 CB/RB Donovan Johnson was held in check for the most part, but had a few first down runs and a few that swapped fields, it wasn't what you seen vs. Saline, but I mean let's be real. This wasn't going to be a shootout and it wasn't so despite no touchdowns, it was still a great effort by Johnson running the ball on a very fast and physical Eisenhower defense.
Eisenhower 2018 OLB Drake Myny has been good, but showed a new level especially late in the game as he was flying all over on defense. A bone crushing hit on Hall may be his highlight, but there was much more good than just that single play he had.
Eisenhower 2018 DE/WR Henry Janeway was a fierce presence that was constantly involved in tackles and at 6'4 190 lbs he could bulk up and become a well recruited DE.
Our conclusion of this game was it was a great game that Eisenhower controlled for the most part all game, but it came down to the end and when you have a once in a generation type player like Donovan Peoples-Jones, he's going to make a play such as the one he did. Everyone on the field was dialed in every play and no one was really exploited, it was a well coached game that plays needed to be executed and the team who executed last. won the game.