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Michigan High School Football Playoffs: CJ Sadler powers Cass Tech past Saline

hunterby: Hunter Shelton9 hours agoHunterShelton_
Michigan State target CJ Sadler
(Zach Libby/The Wolverine)

It’s crunch time in the 2025 Michigan high school football playoffs and the quarterfinals of the MHSAA Division I tournament kicked off on Friday night.

In the most high-profile of the four matchups, top-ranked Cass Tech took on upset-minded Saline. Despite a valiant effort from the No. 10 Hornets, the Technicians proved to be too much as they won 42-28 to advance to the semifinals.

Senior two-way superstar CJ Sadler did it all. The blue-chip North Carolina commit had three receiving touchdowns, two of which went a long way. He added a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for another score. Standout sophomore quarterback Donald Tabron II delivered once more, though it was Sadler that led the way.

Cass Tech had a 21-point lead in the second half, Saline whittled it down to 7 but the No. 1 program held firm late to fend off the Hornets, who were captained by senior QB Tommy Carr, the younger brother of CJ Carr.

The Tabron-Sadler combo gave Cass Tech its first two scores of the night, both of which were answered by Carr, who fired TD passes to juniors Carson Cherry and Cruz Hanson.

The Technicians then leaned on its ground game a bit as junior Khamari Jones and sophomore Julian Taylor each found pay dirt once. All of a sudden, Cass Tech led 35-14.

Saline was far from out of it, though. A red zone trick play saw Hanson receive a reverse end around and fire a touchdown pass to a wide-open Carr. The Hornets then recovered an onside kick, converted a big fourth down and junior Bryce Barbarino eventually punched in a score to make it a 35-28 game.

Cass Tech steadied itself, drove downfield on the ensuing possession and Tabron found a streaking Sadler wide-open for a back-breaking touchdown pass. Saline tried to throw a final punch itself, but a second interception for the star of the night sealed the deal for the No. 1 team in Michigan.

Awaiting Cass Tech in the semifinals is Rochester Adams, which defeated Romeo 29-13. The Technicians, now 12-0, remain undefeated this fall and are now two games away from going back-to-back.

How to Follow Michigan High School Football

For Michigan high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Great Lakes State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Michigan.