Detroit Denby football was the defending PSL Gold champion. Detroit Central had beat Denby just the week before.
Something had to give.
And in the end, it was Denby again, as Central and quarterback Malik Beavers emerged victorious in Week 8 of MHSAA football on Friday, Oct. 16, at Ford Field.
The Trailblazers beat the Tars, 8-6, in the PSL Gold championship game, their first PSL title win since 2024 and giving them momentum heading into the MHSAA playoffs, just one week after Central eked out a 6-2 win over the Tars (5-3, 4-2 PSL Gold) .
The Traibllazers (7-1, 5-1 PSL Gold) took the lead Friday on their first possession of the second half on a 63-yard touchdown run from Beavers that tied the game at 6-6. Beavers then punched in the 2-point conversion on the next play to bring Central.
Beavers knew he needed to step up in a key situation.
"Our momentum was good," he said. "The first half, they had scored, so I'm like, 'I have to come back harder.'"
And with the defense playing as well as it did, and Beavers leading a possession-oriented game, it was the only score the Trailblazers needed to take home a title.
Malik Beavers comes up big
The third-quarter touchdown was Central's biggest play of the game up to that point, but Beavers had an arguably even more impressive play later in the period. Facing a second-and-long from his own 1, Beavers dropped back to pass deep in his own end zone, surrounded by three Denby defenders. He then hurled a pass high into the air that dropped into the hands of receiver Julius Crooks near midfield, with Beavers avoiding a potential game-tying safety and giving Central much more breathing room.
Though the drive didn't lead to a Central score, the subsequent punt pinned the Tars deep into their own territory and gave the Traiblazers the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Beavers did the most damage on the ground, recording 98 rushing yards (on nine carries) – 85 of the yards coming in the second half. He also went 4-for-7 passing for 105 yards. He was the catalyst for the offense, but the defense is what came up big in the end.
Central, which has allowed just 28 total points over eight games, had another dominant defensive performance, especially in the fourth quarter. The Trailblazers came up with four sacks (two from linebacker Rodney Salter) and interceptions on two of the Tars' final possessions, helping seal a win and a title for the Trailblazers.
"Defense has been coming up real good all season," Trailblazers coach Jimmie Macon said. "The way we move around on defense, we fly all around, we swarm around. These are the most aggressive guys I've ever seen."
An almost scoreless first half
The first half almost ended scoreless with each team suffering from early ruts, turnovers and penalties, but the Tars broke through right as the clock hit zero on a last-second, 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Malik Mobley to receiver Dorron Jennings. The score gave Denby a 6-0 lead and capped off a 15-play, 87-yard drive in danger of coming up empty before Mobley's touchdown pass.
That was the first real sign of offense from either side.
Denby got some progress going on its first drive, with a 10-yard run from Mobley putting the Tars at fourth-and-2 on their own 48. Mobley picked up the first down on a 9-yard run but fumbled, giving the ball back to the Trailblazers on their own 43.
Beavers responded with a 13-yard designed run to get into Denby territory, with the Trailblazers getting another 15 yards on a personal foul. Three plays later, however, Beavers threw an interception to Denby linebacker Domonique Sullivan Jr. on a fourth-and-12 attempt, giving the Tars possession.
The most explosive play of the half came on a 40-yard completion from Beavers to receiver Sincere Pettway, with Pettway juking two defenders before galloping down the right sidelines to bring Central into the Denby red zone. Two penalties and a sack from Denby defensive lineman Percy Combs pushed the Trailblazers back, however, leading to a turnover on downs.
Denby go-ahead touchdown waived off
The Tars came close to taking the lead in the fourth quarter on a drive that started from their own 26. After consecutive sacks from the Central defense forced a third-and-long at the Central 38, Mobley found receiver Trey Bush for a 38-yard touchdown pass that appeared to give the Tars the lead.
However, a holding call on Denby erased the score and pushed the Tars back even further, with a third sack on the drive then leading to a punt.
Denby then had a chance to take the lead again after starting on their own 18 after tipping a Central punt. But on the next play, late in the fourth quarter, Central defender Ty Von Hicks intercepted a pass from Mobley to give Central the ball back and a chance to run down the clock, which they did after a final defensive stop on Denby's last possession.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Malik Beavers shines for Detroit Central in PSL Gold title win