Cardinals Claim Spot in Conference Title Game, Improve to 8-0

Braylon Brown (5) scored 4 touchdowns for Michigan Center. Photos by Hannah Tacy, JTV Sports

Trey Richmond | JTV Sports

Friday October 17th

(10-17-2025): Michigan Center remains undefeated and wins the Cascades-East division after a dominant performance on Homecoming.

The Cardinal offense jumped on the pirate defense early and often. The opening drive was capped off by QB Hayden Hinkle connecting with Brennan Forward for a 12 yard TD giving Center an early 6-0 lead. After a few connections between Hinkle and Tre Collins and an 11 yard run from Davion King, Braylen Brown escaped for a 21 yard TD run to extend the lead to 12.

The Michigan Center defense forced a turnover on downs, leading to a creative Cardinal score. On 2nd and 12 a backwards pass trick play, Travis Collins threw the TD adding onto the lead; 18-0.

Napoleon faced 4th down again, this time converting a 4th and 1 at the Cardinal 15, setting up a Zavior Skog 7yd TD rush to get the Pirates on the board. 26 to 6 with a minute left in the half. But, plenty of time for the aerial assault of the Cardinals. Hinkle found Brown in the end zone for a 44-yard TD pass. Cardinals go into halftime with a 32-6 lead.

To open the 2nd half, Napoleon marched down the field, converting another 4th down, and ending the drive with a 3yd TD rush by Skog. Successful 2pt try cuts into the deficit; 32-14. Jack Layher took the handoff and found a blocker for a 26 yard TD to end scoring for the evening, getting the Cardinals to 46 points.

Michigan Center defeated Napoleon 46-14 to stay undefeated and host the Cascades Conference championship next Saturday vs Hanover Horton. The Cardinal offense scored a touchdown on every possession in this game before victory formation.

Zavior Skog accounted for 2 Pirate TDs. Braylon Brown scored 4 TDs to lead the Cardinals. Brennan Forward also had 2 TD receptions and QB Hayden Hinkle threw 4 TD passes.

Michigan Center improves to 8-0, Napoleon falls to 5-3 and hosts Columbia Central next week in the cascades crossover 2nd place game. CC can likely make it into the D6 playoffs with a win next week vs the Pirates, depending on final playoff points.