Replay: Lansing Catholic wins Division 6 state title with 16-6 win over Warren Michigan Collegiate
Phil Friend
The Lansing Catholic football team has been backed by its defense this postseason. Lansing Catholic has only allowed 8.5 points per game in its four contests and has only given up double digits once.
Warren Michigan Collegiate is relatively new to the world of high school football, playing its first games in 2008 and its first full season in 2009. But Michigan Collegiate has found its footing, making the postseason every year since 2009, and has reached the state semifinals three times. It's averaging 36.5 ppg in the postseason.
Something will have to give Friday afternoon. Follow along for updates throughout.
Fourth Quarter
FINAL: Lansing Catholic 16, Michigan Collegiate 6 to give Cougars third state title
For the second time in three years, Lansing Catholic has won a state championship. After winning the D5 state title in 2019, the Cougars take it down this year in Division 6.
This was certainly not the prettiest game, a contest that lasted nearly three hours. But it doesn't matter how you get it done when you're lifting the trophy at the end of the day.
Lansing Catholic QB Joey Baker was 17 of 39 for 181 yards and a touchdown, and added 5 rushing yards and a score. Alex Watters had 105 yards of total offense (78 receiving, 27 rushing) and Owen Biergans had seven receptions for 69 yards and score.
Defensively, Watters, Dan Shipman, Brandon Lewis and Mason Knippen all had interceptions. Jack Jacobs had a forced fumble and recovery. Biergans had 11 tackles and Knippen 8.
For Michigan Collegiate, Deion Black was 10 of 26 for 220 with a touchdown and four interceptions. Black also added 23 yards rushing, and Teshawn Thomas contributed 18 yards. WMC was held to 64 rushing yards on 32 carries. Tre'Von Redding had four catches for 97 yards and a score.
ANOTHER ONE - Lansing Catholic picks off Deion Black a fourth time
Geez. Deion Black was called for intentional grounding on first down. The next play, second-and-32 from the WMC 46, Black hit Trevon Redding for 39 yards down to the Lansing Catholic 15.
A couple of plays later, it looked like Lansing Catholic picked off Black - either as an interception with possession on its own 5-yard line or a 95-yard Alex Watters return for a touchdown. Either way, it appeared to be LC ball. Instead, after a lengthy replay, it was ruled incomplete. ALSO (!), there was holding on the play, moving WMC back to the 32.
On the next play, Lansing Catholic's Mason Knippen picked off Black with 1:36 left, which should be enough. Lansing Catholic 16, Michigan Collegiate 6, 1:36 4Q
Well, hold on now
This state title isn't going to come easy. After Alex Watters lost 5 yards on first down, Lansing Catholic decided to go to the air, and Joey Baker was picked off by Alfonso Gray. That's Gray's second pick of the day. WMC takes over on the LC 32-yard line. Lansing Catholic 16, Michigan Collegiate 6, 3:03 4Q
Lansing Catholic forces 4th turnover, closes in on state title
On the first play, Michigan Collegiate QB Deion Black scrambles long enough to buy time to hit Alfonso Gray for a 43-yard play to get down to the Lansing Catholic 24-yard line. It was another play where a Lansing Catholic defensive back jumped for a pass break up, but missed.
However, two plays later, Brandon Lewis made up for it, outleaping a WMC wide receiver to pick off Black for the third time today. Lansing Catholic 16, Michigan Collegiate 6, 3:46 4Q
Lansing Catholic turns ball over on downs
Lansing Catholic eats up three minutes of clock, but the Cougars have turned the ball over on downs following an incomplete pass by Joey Baker. Michigan Collegiate takes over on its own 33-yard line with exactly 5:00 on the clock. Lansing Catholic 16, Michigan Collegiate 6, 5:00 4Q
Lansing Catholic forces third turnover, ending 7-minute WMC drive
Michigan Collegiate, down two scores, had a lengthy, time-consuming drive that ate up nearly seven minutes of clock. However, on the play that WMC finally crossed midfield, Jamarion Willis has the ball ripped out of his hands by Jack Jacobs, who also recovered it. Tough break for WMC, HUGE one for Lansing Catholic, which can put this game away with either a lengthy drive or a touchdown.
Willis also got injured on the play. There was also a review on the play to see if Willis' forward progress was stopped before the fumble. The original call was upheld. Lansing Catholic 16, Michigan Collegiate 6, 8:07 4Q
Third Quarter
End Third Quarter: Lansing Catholic 16, Michigan Collegiate 6
Michigan Collegiate has a little bit of momentum. After scoring with 36 seconds left in the quarter, Lansing Catholic went three-and-out and it only took those 36 seconds off the clock. WMC will have the ball, first-and-10 at its own 11-yard line when play resumes.
Michigan Collegiate on the board with quick drive
For the first time all game, Michigan Collegiate's offense was clicking. It started with a 30-yard pass from Deion Black to Jamarion Willis, and two plays later Black hit Trevon Redding for a 37-yard score over the outstretched hands of Alex Watters. The 2-point conversion, a Black QB draw, was stopped inches short of the end zone. 6 plays, 80 yards on the drive. Lansing Catholic 16, Michigan Collegiate 6, 0:36 3Q
Joey Baker TD runs gives Lansing Catholic 16-0 lead
This time, Lansing Catholic took advantage of the short field. The Cougars converted two third downs on the 27-yard drive and QB Joey Baker capped it off with a 1-yard QB draw off left tackle. Baker is now 17 of 35 passing for 181 yards and a TD, and has 13 rushes for 18 yards and a TD. Lansing Catholic 16, Michigan Collegiate 0, 2:06 3Q
Lansing Catholic picks off Deion Black again
Deion Black tried to hit his receiver on a deep route, but Lansing Catholic's Dan Shipman came down with the ball on the Lansing Catholic 44-yard line, and returned it all the way to the WMC 27-yard line. It's the sixth drive that LC has started in WMC territory. Lansing Catholic 9, Michigan Collegiate 0, 4:20 3Q
Lansing Catholic defense responds with three-and-out
For the fifth time in eight drives, Michigan Collegiate goes three-and-out. It takes over on its own 40-yard line. Lansing Catholic 9, Michigan Collegiate 0, 7:26 3Q
Lansing Catholic stuffed at 1-yard line
Lansing Catholic had a chance to extend its lead to 16-0, but on a fourth-and-goal play from the 1-yard line, Nic Gruber was stopped 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage as the toss right play did not work.
Two personal-foul penalties on Michigan Collegiate set Lansing Catholic up in goal-to-to. Owen Biergans had two receptions on the drive. Lansing Catholic 9, Michigan Collegiate 0, 9:27 3Q
Second Quarter
Halftime: Lansing Catholic 9, Michigan Collegiate 0
The late touchdown by Lansing Catholic gives it a 9-0 lead over Warren Michigan Collegiate going into the break.
After a tough first quarter offensively, Lansing Catholic got going and now has 127 yards of offense - 141 passing yards and minus-14 rushing. Joey Baker is 11 of 25 passing for 141 yards and a touchdown to Owen Biergans. Biergans has 47 receiving yards, and Alex Watters has 68 receiving yards.
Lansing Catholic's defense is the story, though, as Michigan Collegiate's impressive rushing attack has been held to 40 yards, with no run longer than 6 yards. WMC has 53 yards of total offense. Teshawn Thomas leads with 14 rush yards.
Owen Biergans receiving TD gives Lansing Catholic 9-0 lead over Michigan Collegiate
After the 24-yard pass to Alex Watters where he left with an injury, Watters came back on the field four plays later. It looked much worse than it was, evidently.
While Watters was on the sideline, Joey Baker hit Brandon Lewis for a 17-yard pass to get down to the WMC 31-yard line. Three plays later, Baker hit Owen Biergans for 21 yards down to the 10-yard line.
One play later, Baker - rolling to his right - hit Biergans again, finding him on a curl route at the 5-yard line and then turned and ran to the end zone. Jonah Richards missed the extra point. Lansing Catholic 9, Michigan Collegiate 0, 0:34 2Q.
Alex Watters exits game with injury
Lansing Catholic's top playmaker just went to the sideline with an injury.
On a first-and-10 play from the Lansing Catholic 28-yard line, QB Joey Baker hit Alex Watters for a 24-yard pass, finding a spot in the WMC defense. However, Watters took a hard shot to his side when he came down with the ball.
At first it looked like he just got the wind knocked out of him, but he walked off the field hunched over and headed immediately to the sideline. Something to monitor. Lansing Catholic 0, Michigan Collegiate 0, 1:28 2Q
Lansing Catholic takes 3-0 lead on Jonah Richards field goal
A bit of a weird drive but it ends in points for Lansing Catholic.
Joey Baker had a couple of first-down passes to Alex Watters to begin the drive, which started on the WMC 42-yard line.
Between there and the end destination, Lansing Catholic receivers dropped three passes, but the drive ends with the Cougars up 3-0 on a 20-yard field goal from Jonah Richards. Lansing Catholic 3, Michigan Collegiate 0, 4:58 2Q
Joey Baker throws interception
Lansing Catholic was forced into another third-and-long, and on third-and-10 from the WMC 45-yard line, QB Joey Baker threw an interception, picked off by Alfonso Gray at the WMC 27. Lansing Catholic 0, Michigan Collegiate 0, 10:00 2Q
Michigan Collegiate gets 1st first down, but eventually punts
Warren Michigan Collegiate finally got a first down on its fourth possession, but it's punting once again. And for the third time in four possessions for Lansing Catholic, it'll begin a drive in plus-territory after a poor punt sets the Cougars up at the WMC 45-yard line. Lansing Catholic 0, Michigan Collegiate 0, 10:11 2Q.
First Quarter
End First Quarter: Lansing Catholic 0, Michigan Collegiate 0
If you love defense, this quarter was for you.
Michigan Collegiate finished with three yards of offense in the opening 12 minutes - all on the ground. Deshaun Parkman has four rushing yards.
Lansing Catholic has 16 yards of offense - 34 passing and minus-18 yards on the ground thanks to a couple of sacks. For Lansing Catholic, Alex Watters has one reception for 21 yards and two rushes for nine yards.
Two sacks now for Michigan Collegiate
Lansing Catholic QB Joey Baker has been sacked twice now as the Cougars go three-and-out once again. A nice 55-yard punt, though, pins Michigan Collegiate at the 5-yard line. Lansing Catholic 0, Michigan Collegiate 0, 0:30 1Q.
Lansing Catholic's defense stout once again
That's three possessions, three three-and-outs for Michigan Collegiate. WMC had three yards of total offense on nine plays. That jives with how stout Lansing Catholic's defense has been this season.
But Michigan Collegiate's defense has also been good, holding Lansing Catholic to 27 yards and 0 points despite having LC's two drives start at the WMC 25- and 33-yard lines. Lansing Catholic 0, Michigan Collegiate 0, 2:02 1Q
Lansing Catholic comes up empty with short field again
Lansing Catholic got a very short field for the second consecutive possession, and again the Michigan Collegiate defense got the job done.
LC did get a first down, but following a couple of negative-yardage plays and a personal foul call - after getting a first down on a fourth-down play earlier in the drive - the Cougars couldn't convert a fourth-and-18 play from the 23. Lansing Catholic 0, Michigan Collegiate 0, 4:09 1Q
Lansing Catholic misses field goal
Jonah Richards entered the game 7 of 9 on field goals, but the Lansing Catholic senior was wide left by a wide margin after LC was forced to attempt a 39-yard field goal. Lansing Catholic 0, Michigan Collegiate 0, 9:26 1Q
Lansing Catholic picks off game's first pass
Before Michigan Collegiate's opening drive, the play-by-play man said Michigan Collegiate doesn't throw much. And on a third-and-7, quarterback Deion Black was picked off by Lansing Catholic's Alex Watters. LC has first-and-10 on the WMC 25.
Pregame
How to watch Lansing Catholic vs. Warren Michigan Collegiate
Television coverage for the Lansing Catholic-Michigan Collegiate game begins at 4:30 p.m. on Bally Sports Detroit Plus (Channel 663-1 on DirecTV, 473 on Dish).
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:39 p.m.
This will be the third game of the day. In the Division 8 final, Hudson beat Beal City, 14-7, and in the Division 2 final, Warren De La Salle routed Traverse City Central, 41-14.
Pregame Reading Material
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Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.