Cass Tech Rallies Past Detroit King, 20–7, Behind Julian Taylor’s Fourth-Quarter Surge
By Caleb Bushell | DVS Lead Reporter
DETROIT — For three quarters, Detroit King made Cass Tech fight for everything. But when the game reached the fourth quarter, Julian Taylor helped the Technicians finally break through.
Taylor scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns as Cass Tech rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Detroit King, 20–7, in a hard-fought rivalry matchup Friday night.
The final score provided some breathing room. The game itself was much closer.
Neither offense found the end zone in the opening quarter. Cass Tech received an early opportunity when it recovered a King fumble on a punt return and took possession at the Crusaders’ 11-yard line.
King’s defense responded immediately, recording a sack and a tackle for loss to keep the Technicians off the scoreboard.
The Crusaders struck first in the second quarter. King’s quarterback helped extend the drive with several runs before connecting with Andrew Knight for a touchdown, putting King ahead 7–0.
Cass Tech had an opportunity to answer before halftime and eventually reached first-and-goal. Once again, King’s defense held its ground, stopping a fourth-down run short of the end zone.
The Crusaders carried a 7–0 lead into halftime, with Cass Tech having been turned away despite multiple opportunities in scoring territory.
Cass Tech Finds Its Answer
The momentum began shifting on King’s opening possession of the second half.
A King fumble gave Cass Tech another opportunity, and this time the Technicians capitalized. Cass Tech finished the ensuing possession with a touchdown pass over the middle, tying the game at 7–7.
Taylor later provided another spark with a run that pushed Cass Tech into the red zone, but a missed field-goal attempt kept the game tied.
After three quarters, neither team had been able to create separation.
Then Taylor changed the game.
Taylor Takes Over in the Fourth
Taylor broke free for a long touchdown run in the fourth quarter, giving Cass Tech its first lead of the night. The ensuing extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Technicians ahead 13–7 with approximately seven minutes remaining.
King wasn’t finished.
The Crusaders moved downfield with an opportunity to retake the lead, but the Cass Tech defense produced one of the biggest plays of the night.
With approximately two minutes remaining, Peyton Robinson intercepted a King pass, ending the threat and returning possession to the Technicians.
Cass Tech quickly turned the takeaway into points.
Taylor scored again, this time on a 7-yard touchdown run, extending the Technicians’ lead to 20–7 with 1:49 remaining.
King made one final push and moved the ball across midfield, but another Cass Tech interception brought the drive—and effectively the game—to an end.
Cass Tech took possession with 37 seconds remaining and closed out the victory.
A Battle Until the Fourth
The 20–7 final doesn’t fully reflect how competitive the matchup was.
King led for the entire first half, twice kept Cass Tech from converting prime scoring opportunities and entered the fourth quarter tied with the Technicians.
Ultimately, Cass Tech made the plays it needed when the game reached its deciding moments. The Technicians forced critical second-half turnovers, and Taylor provided the offensive breakthrough with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
For King, the defensive performance kept the Crusaders within striking distance deep into the game. For Cass Tech, the rivalry victory required a comeback—and a fourth-quarter finish.
FINAL: Cass Tech 20, Detroit King 7
