Cass Tech's secret weapon is a kicker
DETROIT - Cass Tech has a Division I-caliber quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs. You name it, they have it. Even its kicker is projected to go Division I, and Luis Borjas' big leg was on display in front of thousands at Ford Field in Cass Tech's 40-21 beating of King.
Borjas kicked two field goals, a 40-yarder and a 48-yarder, to help Cass Tech win its fourth football city title since 2010. Kickers in the Detroit Public School League are barely able to make extra points, so for Borjas to kick two long field goals on such a big stage, was quite the sight to see.
"It was great," he said. "This is my first time playing at Ford Field, and I had no doubt that I was going to make those. I practice that a lot, and my longest one at practice was 54 yards, so I was confident that I could make those."
Allowing Borjas to even attempt those long field goals show just how much faith the Cass Tech coaching staff has in his abilities. Borjas said he works with his position coach, Dwight Blakey, daily, and that has helped him become an effective kicker for Cass Tech. He has not been playing football for long, but Cass Tech has made it a warm welcome to the sport for him.
"They think my kicking is great," said Borjas. "They love to have me on the team, and I love to be here. This here is all family to me. They treat me like family, and I treat them like family."
"It's great to have a kid that can kick," head coach Thomas Wilcher said. "We love to have him on the team, because he works hard. He spent all summer long traveling the country kicking, and I guess he was our MVP today."
Borjas is a soccer player by nature, but since the PSL does not offer that sport, he had to settle for kicking a different type of ball. One he has excelled in so far. Kicking in the PSL is a lost art. Most teams go for a two-point conversion when they score a touchdown, or go for it on 4th down if they are in field goal range. Borjas created quite the buzz for himself with his performance at Ford Field, and Wilcher thinks this will open the door for more players to practice kicking the ball to create an even better product in the league.
"I think that's just the evolution of PSL football," Wilcher said. "We just have to keep proving that we have kids that can do everything. We can't just shutdown and go for two, because we can't kick extra-points. I think we have been getting better, and that's from the players, to the coaches. Our league is evolving."