Southfield A&T defeats Belleville in MHSAA Division 1 title game
DETROIT — The Southfield A&T Warriors (13-0) defeated the Belleville Tigers (13-1) 36-32 in the Division 1 Michigan high school football state championship on Sunday at Ford Field.
The win is Southfield A&T's first state title, and it snaps Belleville's 38-game win streak and quest for a three-peat.
Coming into the matchup, the Tigers outscored their opponents 647-95 including five shutouts.
“I’ve got an army friend, and I ask him about what he’s thinking when he goes into battle so he doesn’t die,” head coach Aaron Marshall said. “He tells me I’m not thinking about that. I’m focusing on doing my job so that my brother doesn’t get killed, and that’s how we play our game. You have to do your job to take care of your brother, and he’s gotta do his job to take care of you.”
Within three minutes after kickoff, Southfield A&T found themselves in a good position after quarterback Isaiah Marshall made a huge run to get the Warriors inside the red zone. Shortly after, senior running back Mathias Davis ran it in for Southfield A&T to put them in the lead, 6-0.
Belleville answered back with 20 seconds left in the first quarter as senior running back Colbey Reed took it up the middle for a 16-yard touchdown to put the Tigers in front, 7-6.
The rest of the first half was all Southfield A&T as Davis rushed for another touchdown, and then Marshall found senior wide receiver Tashi Braceful in the end zone to give the Warriors a 20-10 advantage heading into halftime.
Southfield A&T out gained Belleville’s offense, 278-148, in the first half as the Warriors' defense returned the favor and make huge stops inside the red zone to cause scoring struggles for Belleville.
To start the scoring in the second half, Marshall connected connect with Xavi Bowman to extend the lead, to 28-10.
Belleville answered back with two straight touchdown scores as junior quarterback Bryce Underwood found senior wide receiver Jalen Johnson, followed by a 15-yard rushing touchdown on the ensuing offensive possession from senior running back and linebacker Jeremiah Beasley to cut the deficit, to 28-25.
On Southfield A&T’s next offensive possession, Marshall threw a critical interception to Belleville junior defensive back, Marquis Peoples Jr., to set up another Beasley touchdown to give the Tigers a 32-28 lead with 4:47 left in the game.
Southfield A&T responded to the surge from Belleville with a nine-play, 69-yard drive where Marshall took a quarterback keeper 11 yards into the end zone for the Warriors to regain the lead, 36-32.
“We handled adversity a little bit differently,” coach Marshall said. “I looked at Isaiah after that last touchdown they [Belleville] scored and said what else would you want? I told my coaches good because they left us that much time on the clock.”
Belleville regained possession with 47 seconds left to play, but an interception by junior defensive back Dorian Freeman stole the deal for Southfield A&T and snap Belleville’s 38-game winning streak.
Marshall finished the game 19-for-30 with 281 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding 134 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Braceful hauled in 10 catches for 152 receiving yards and one touchdown.
“My fours years here there’s been a lot of ups and downs, so to win with my team in my last year means a lot to me,” Marshall said. “Doing it for the community of Southfield means a lot, and I couldn’t do it without them.”
Underwood completed 11 of his 24 thrown passes for 164 passing yards and one touchdown, while Beasley rushed for 106 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
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