Detroit Central tops Southeastern, wins PSL D-2 title
Defensive lineman rarely prove to be ballhawks, but don’t tell that to Detroit Central’s 6-foot-2, 315-pound Tristan Duncan.
The senior intercepted a pair of passes at the line of scrimmage that led to pair of touchdowns as the 8-0 Trailblazers repeated as Detroit Public School League Division 2 champs with a 31-14 victory over Detroit Southeastern.
Duncan admitted he couldn’t remember getting an interception — let alone two — dating back to his little league football days.
“Never had a pick, this is my time . ... It feels great though,” Duncan said. “Everybody plays a role, everybody’s got a role, everyone is special. We love our team we work together and hard.”
Central coach Jimmie Macon was glad to have Duncan on his side.
“Tristan has been with me four years, a fouryear starter on both sides of the ball,” Macon said.
Central quarterback Jeveion Lewis threw for three TDs and ran for another as the Trailblazers can close out their second straight unbeaten regular season next week by beating Detroit Cody.
“We want to finish and do one game at a time,” Macon said. “Now we’re onto Cody, so we’re moving past this, just a stepping stone to the 14 games and our goal is that.”
Duncan’s second pick, with 8:55 left, proved to be a clincher, leading to Lewis putting it away on a 4-yard keeper TD with 3:43 left, making it 31-14.
Just prior to that, Lewis had hit DeCarlos White on a 70-yard bomb (and then converted the 2-point conversion try) to put Central ahead, 25-14.
On the 70-yarder, Lewis scrambled and realized he was dangerously close to the line of scrimmage as he leaped into the air and unloaded the pass.
“When I threw it, I was confident in my ball and it was a touchdown,” said the QB, who was 5-for-15 passing for 168 yards.
After a scoreless third quarter, Southeastern rode the tough inside running of Isaiah Clemmons (28 carries for 127 yards), who scored on a 6-yard run with 10:54 left to cut the deficit to 17-14. The Jungaleers went for two, but fumbled the snap.
The Jungaleers were poised to go ahead just before halftime after getting a safety with 1:41 left to pull within 9-8, but they imploded at the end of the half after they were unable to convert fourth-and-1 at the Central 4 with 2:36 to go.
Duncan then made his first pick and teammate Anthony Johnson recovered his fumble at the Southeastern 25 with 30 seconds remaining to set up a sudden turn of events.
On the next play, Lewis connected with Anthony Walk for a 25-yard TD toss, then hit Dontez Hicks for the 2-pointer for a 17-8 halftime lead.
The Trailblazers’ Kenneth Clark then recovered the onside kick, but the Jungaleers’ Jeremiah Porter intercepted a pass just before the clock ran out in the second quarter to stop the bleeding.
The Trailblazers, ranked No. 5 in Division 7, also beat Southeastern (5-3), 35-20, last month.
“We had some mental mistakes and stuff, we had a lapse here and there,” Macon said. “But athletic-wise and physical, we knew we could beat or overcome that and do what we needed to get done, learn and do what we’re supposed to.”
After losing to Detroit Loyola in the district final of last year’s playoffs, the Trailblazers are hoping to make a stronger run.
“It feels great,” Lewis said. “It just gives us confidence and motivation, one step closer trying to get to Ford Field.”