DETROIT - It had been four years since Cass Tech won its last state title. For a lot of programs, that is not for a long time. But Cass Tech is no regular program. They expect to win every year. They lost last year's title to Romeo by 14, but would not be denied this time, cruising past Detroit Catholic Central 49-20 for the program's third Division I state title.

Cass Tech completed the school's first perfect season at 14-0, using a 21-point third quarter to open up the game against the Shamrocks. Ironically, all three of Cass Tech's state titles have come against Catholic Central.

"I guess we like playing them here," Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher said. "I was a little upset that we came here last year and didn't get it, because we didn't play team football. We played Cass Tech football today, and that was the most important thing, playing our brand of football."

Cass Tech's brand of football is one few, if any, in the state can duplicate, or keep up with. The last two times Cass Tech played Catholic Central indoors at Ford Field, it was not pretty. They outscored the Shamrocks 85-34, by way of an explosive offense, and a stout defense. Senior quarterback Rodney Hall was 10-18 for 220 yards and five touchdowns, tying a state record for touchdown passes thrown. His partner-in-crime over the last four years, wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, caught six passes for 118 yards and two scores.

The duo connected on a 49-yard passing touchdown with 8:36 left in the third quarter to make it 35-14. Two possessions later, Hall and Peoples-Jones linked up again from 13 yards out for the final connection of their stellar careers at Cass Tech.

"It feels great to go out on a good note, and throw five touchdowns," Hall said. "The offense was clicking, and my guys were open. I just put it to them. They did the rest. I'm just glad to come out here with a win."

"He's (Hall) a great passer, and he passes the ball around," Peoples-Jones said of Hall. "It's very hard to stop a dual-threat quarterback like Rodney. The team that we had was so special this year, and I cannot thank my coaches enough."

On day one of the state finals, offenses struggled to score points. Cass Tech put on a clinic on day two. They racked up 383 yards of total offense, and scored six unanswered touchdowns against Catholic Central, who actually led 14-7 after one quarter. Hall tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to junior Teone Allen to tie the game at 14-14, then Donovan Johnson found daylight for a 60-yard touchdown run that made it 21-14 midway through the second. Hall tossed another touchdown to Donovan Parker, who outraced the Shamrock defense from 42-yards out. The speed and athleticism of Cass Tech proved to be too much again for Catholic Central.

"They came out playing really good," Catholic Central head coach Tom Mach said. "I didn't expect that. Donovan Peoples-Jones is one of the best we've seen in our time, plus they have so many athletes. It's hard to stop them all. I didn't expect them to come out like that."

Cass Tech became the second Detroit Public School League team to win a state title in 2016, joining Detroit Martin Luther King, who repeated as Division 2 champions yesterday. Ten years ago, two inner-city teams winning a state title in the top two divisions was unprecedented. Now, its becoming an expectation.

"I'm glad that two city teams were able to win state titles this weekend," Wilcher said. "It's a great thing for our city, and it shows that teams cant just write us off anymore. We expect to win it all ever year, now."