DETROIT (WOOD) — Hudsonville entered Saturday’s Division 1 state championship game rolling along on a 12-game winning streak. It came to a screeching halt against a talented Cass Tech team.
The Eagles’ state title hopes were derailed following a 42-20 loss to the Technicians at Ford Field.
Hudsonville, which finished 12-2, fell behind early and couldn’t recover in its bid for the school’s first state title.
“Cass Tech is a really good football team,” Eagles coach Brent Sandee said. “They played really well, very athletic. We had to play a clean game, and unfortunately we didn’t. But our kids battled the whole time and I think we represented our school and community really well. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The Eagles dropped to 0-4 in state championship games, also losing in 1998, 2000 and 2005.
Cass Tech (12-2) won its first state title since 2016 and fourth overall.
The Technicians took control early with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns and led 27-0 at the half.
Cass Tech’s advantage swelled to 35-0 early in the third quarter, but Hudsonville showed some life with back-to-back scoring drives.
Senior quarterback Griffin Baker scored on a 1-yard plunge and Bryce Fox had a 14-yard run to cut the deficit to 35-13.
“We just had a chance to keep playing,” Sandee said. “These guys had two more quarters of football and 24 more minutes of football and that’s what we talked about at halftime. It was more about getting after it and we did that. We did a little bit better defensively and we made some plays.”
Hudsonville added a final score in the fourth quarter. Baker connected with Carson Dykstra for a 15-yard touchdown.
Junior running back Owen Haarsma rushed for 95 yards on 13 carries, while Fox finished with 48 yards on 10 carries.
Baker completed 8 of 12 passes for 112 yards. Dykstra had four catches for 74 yards.
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) attempts a layup as Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (9) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8) 
Hudsonville lost the Division 1 state championship game against Cass Tech on Nov. 30, 2024. (Dean Holzwarth/WOOD TV8)
NOTES
– Hudsonville’s Peyton VanSlyke, a junior, is the fourth person from his family to appear in the state finals for the Eagles. His uncle, DJ, was a member of the 1998 team that lost to Farmington Hills Harrison in the Class A state championship game, while his dad, Jon, played in the 2000 Division 2 state finals. Another uncle, Josh, was on the 2005 squad that lost to Birmingham Brother Rice for the second time.
– Detroit Lions wide receivers Jameson Williams and Donovan Peoples-Jones, a Cass Tech grad, were in attendance for Saturday night’s Division 1 Final.