Belleville vs. Cass Tech Semifinal Preview

This is the undisputed #1 game of the week and the game nobody will stop talking about. These are two titans in the MHSAA landscape, with Belleville being relatively new to the elite scene while Cass Tech has been near the top for quite a while. Belleville houses the #1 QB in the class of 2025, while Cass Tech has, in my opinion, the best secondary in the state. This article will review a few stats for both teams, headline a few players, and discuss the keys to victory.   Quick Stats   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Belleville</td><td>Cass Tech</td></tr><tr><td>Record</td><td>12-0</td><td>9-3</td></tr><tr><td>Points Per Game</td><td>50.6</td><td>36.5</td></tr><tr><td>Points Against Per Game</td><td>10.6</td><td>17.9</td></tr><tr><td>Most Impressive Win</td><td>62-44 vs. Saline</td><td>28-14 vs. King</td></tr><tr><td>Playoff Wins</td><td>Woodhaven, Saline, DCC</td><td>WB, A&T, Dakota</td></tr><tr><td>Strength of Schedule</td><td>B</td><td>A+</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   This is such a tough game to pick. If I had to, it would be Belleville. I mean, they made the KLAA look like a bunch of middle school teams, but the KLAA's struggles in the postseason do dilute those wins a tad bit. Just looking at these stats, anyone would pick Belleville. A whopping 50ppg and just under 11 papg. The only team that's even remotely competed against Belleville was Saline. Cass Tech, on the other hand, has improved all season. They began the season 1-3, with losses against A&T, King, and Carmel. The first two teams they beat handily later in the season. Cass Tech beat three championship-worthy teams on their way to this point, and I wouldn't be surprised if they beat the defending champs.   Players to Watch   QB | [player_tooltip player_id='247690' first='Bryce' last='Underwood'] | Belleville   Bryce is the #1 QB in the class of 2025. Not just in Michigan but in the country. He has elite traits all across the board, with physical traits as well as fundamental ones. He's tall, strong, naturally athletic, and works extremely hard. Fundamentally, his footwork is some of the best in Michigan, and his throws are immensely accurate. This is a special player, and he has the potential to be the best High School QB Michigan has ever seen (not kidding!) Okay, enough praise. Underwood is going to have to play a clean, focused game. Cass Tech will get after him on the D line while their secondary is elite. This is a true test for the young QB.   ATH | [player_tooltip player_id='212358' first='Corey' last='Sadler'] | Cass Tech   I'll highlight one of the younger stars for Cass Tech, as Sadler is the most hyped, but his full potential has not been reached. Sadler is a one-in-a-decade freshman with countless offers and overbearing hype. He's a player who our staff at Prep Redzone Next talked about a significant amount, and he's had an amazing Freshman season. Playing mostly WR, he's an extremely twitchy athlete with elite release, route-running, and hands. He can burn just about any corner in the state and make some acrobatic catches. Look for Sadler to get involved early and often, while Belleville will surely have a set gameplan for him.   LB/RB | [player_tooltip player_id='187999' first='Jeremiah' last='Beasley'] | Belleville   The Michigan State commit plays a major role on this Belleville team. I mean, let the stats speak for themselves; 112 tackles (65 solos), 930 yards & 17TDs. He's an elite two-way player that will perform well this Friday, but it's just about what level he can rise to. As a ball carrier, he's powerful with a good IQ and vision. He's great at breaking solo tackles while gaining extra yards when he needs to. As a defender, he's the definition of attack, not react. He attacks the ball and never waits for the ball carrier to come to him. This is an elite player who will have many eyes on him.   DE | [player_tooltip player_id='162650' first='Jalen' last='Thompson'] | Cass Tech   I've already talked about how important [player_tooltip player_id='162650' first='Jalen' last='Thompson'] is going to be for Cass Tech, but truly, I can't stress his importance enough. Thompson is a beat of a player with some of the best genetic gifts out there. Giving him credit, nobody gets a full ride from Michigan State without a massive body of work. He's a polished pass rusher who is proven against top talent. His role in getting to [player_tooltip player_id='247690' first='Bryce' last='Underwood'] is immense and extremely important. If he can get into the Belleville backfield, it will affect their offense, as it would any NFL or college offense.   Keys to Victory   Belleville - Slow down playmakers   Cass Tech's playmakers have field days against some of the best teams in Michigan. It will be an uphill battle to stop Cass Tech, but I think Belleville has the best chance of doing so. Anything to disguise defensive sets or just slightly tweak some of their own tendencies will be key. Belleville has played amazing defense all season, but Saline, the most talented team they've faced, put up 44 on them. Let's see how this game plays out.   Cass - Get after the QB   Belleville will score a lot of points if they have a clean pocket. Of course, Belleville is a team that can make plays when the play breaks down, but they will be much less comfortable with consistent pressure. This is where players like [player_tooltip player_id='162650' first='Jalen' last='Thompson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='409667' first='Rasean' last='Randall'] will play a major role, and pressure will significantly help their young secondary.

This is the undisputed #1 game of the week and the game nobody will stop talking about. These are two titans in the MHSAA landscape, with Belleville being relatively new to the elite scene while Cass Tech has been near the top for quite a while. Belleville houses the #1 QB in the class of 2025, while Cass Tech has, in my opinion, the best secondary in the state. This article will review a few stats for both teams, headline a few players, and discuss the keys to victory.