Novi Detroit Catholic Central roared back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit on the road Friday night, stunning No. 5 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s with a 27-20 victory. This was their 21st straight win, a massive statement game in Week 7 of the 2026 Michigan high school football season, proving the defending Division 1 champions aren’t going anywhere.
The Shamrocks Played Shorthanded But Never Quit
This wasn’t some easy cruise, not by a long shot. The Shamrocks were down their starting quarterback, senior Duke Banta, who was sidelined in a sling after injuring his collarbone in a win last week. Banta cheered from the sideline, holding onto hope he’d be back for the playoffs. Stepping up from receiver, Peyton Sofran took the QB reins, battling his own injuries from the previous week and popping back up after every big hit. His grit kept the offense on schedule, and Banta couldn’t have been prouder, saying, “I am just so proud of Peyton. I am proud of this team and being a part of this community.”
The offense needed three quarters to really find its rhythm. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s did a solid job stuffing the run early, building a 20-6 lead by halftime. Honestly, the Eaglets could have been up even more, but they fumbled away some crucial points, missing all three of their extra point or two-point conversion attempts. St. Mary’s kicked things off with an opening-drive touchdown, which CC answered with a 40-yard Ty Goddard field goal, making it 6-3. Then, CC star Gideon Gash pulled off an awesome interception, jumping a route from his deep cover 3 position. But momentum is a fickle beast; CC promptly fumbled a punt snap, leading to a safety. OLSM added another touchdown, and CC managed another field goal, putting the halftime score at 14-6. Despite the early struggles, a couple of key interceptions, one from Gash and another from linebacker J.J. Chevalier, helped by edge rusher Josiah Neal’s pressure, kept the deficit from completely spiraling out of control. Gash knew what was up, saying, “We knew we were going to face adversity and we were going to have to forget the first half and come out hot in the third and fourth quarters.”
Gash’s Fourth-Quarter Firepower Was Unstoppable
St. Mary’s looked to put the game away late in the third quarter, extending their lead to two touchdowns with a 20-yard connection between Jabin Gonzales and tight end B.J. Adams. That’s when CC decided enough was enough. The Shamrocks put together a methodical 12-play touchdown drive, capped off by a 6-yard touchdown run from Gash on a receiver sweep out of a wildcat set. Suddenly, the energy shifted. CC’s defense forced its first three-and-out of the game on the very next possession, getting the ball back with just 7:05 left on the clock. And Gash wasn’t done. This time, CC needed only five plays, with Gash breaking another sweep for a massive 50-yard touchdown run. St. Mary’s safety D.J. Taylor blocked the extra point, but the damage was done. When the final buzzer sounded, Novi Detroit Catholic Central had pulled off the improbable, securing a 27-20 victory that will be talked about for a long, long time.
This was more than just a win; it was a statement. Coach Justin Cessante summed it up perfectly: “We knew what we had inside of us and what we needed to do. I don’t really care what people think, but we wanted to prove and send a message to the state that we are not going anywhere.” With their 21-game win streak intact and their starting QB hoping to return for the postseason, the Shamrocks are clearly playing with a chip on their shoulder…