Battle of the Unbeatens: Millington Heads to Cass City for Division 7 Showdown
Cardinals and Red Hawks put perfect 4-0 records on the line Friday night in a highly anticipated Big Thumb White matchup
CASS CITY — Something will have to give Friday night.
Two undefeated teams, two state-ranked Division 7 programs and a pair of Big Thumb White contenders will meet under the lights when the Millington Cardinals travel to Cass City to face the Red Hawks in one of the biggest games of the season.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Cass City High School. Both teams enter the showdown with identical 4-0 records, while Millington sits at 2-0 in Big Thumb White play and Cass City is 1-0.
The matchup also features two teams ranked among the top 10 in Division 7. The Huron Daily Tribune lists Millington at No. 4 and Cass City at No. 8 entering Friday's game.
Cardinals Rolling Into Week 5
Millington has put together an impressive opening month.
The Cardinals opened the season with a 55-14 victory over Communication Media Arts, then survived a physical road battle against USA, 19-14. Millington followed with a 43-16 win over Laker before dominating Caro 48-7 on homecoming.
Through four games, the Cardinals have scored 165 points while allowing 51, an average margin of more than 28 points per game.
Quarterback Layden DeLong has emerged as one of the players to watch for Millington, while Drake Terwilliger has also produced standout performances this season. Both have earned Thumb Sportswriters Association Player of the Week recognition.
Millington coach Jason Germain told the Tribune that his young team has experienced some ups and downs despite its perfect record, pointing to physical games against USA and Laker before the Cardinals turned in a strong performance against Caro.
The challenge gets considerably bigger Friday.
Cass City Protecting Its Perfect Record
Cass City has taken a different road to 4-0.
The Red Hawks opened with a convincing 34-0 shutout of Harbor Beach, but their next two games went down to the wire. Cass City escaped Vassar with a 33-30 victory before defeating USA 19-16.
Last week, the Red Hawks found more separation, defeating Sandusky 38-20.
Running back Braxton Kolacz was a major part of that victory, rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns while also scoring two two-point conversions. Quarterback Preston Dorland added 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
That combination gives Millington's defense plenty to prepare for. Cass City coach Scott Cuthrell told the Tribune that controlling the football and keeping Millington's explosive offense off the field will be important for the Red Hawks.
Revenge on the Cardinals' Minds
There is also some unfinished business between these programs.
Last year's meeting went to overtime, where Brody Schefka kicked the deciding field goal as Cass City defeated Millington, giving the Red Hawks their first victory over the Cardinals in the series. Millington still holds a 7-1 advantage in the historical matchup.
Germain acknowledged that last year's loss provides some additional motivation, but also emphasized the difficulty of facing a disciplined Cass City program.
This time, the stakes include more than revenge.
Both teams are undefeated. Both are chasing the Big Thumb White championship. Both are among the state's ranked Division 7 programs.
And by the end of Friday night, only one will still have a perfect record.
Keys to the Game
Millington's explosive offense vs. Cass City's ball control: The Cardinals have scored at least 43 points in three of their four games. Cass City will look to sustain drives, shorten the game and limit Millington's possessions.
Winning the line of scrimmage: Both teams have shown they can run the football effectively. The team that controls the trenches and stays ahead of the chains could dictate the style of the game.
Turnovers and field position: In a matchup between two undefeated teams, one short field or extra possession could make the difference. Cuthrell specifically identified limiting mistakes and turnovers as an important factor for Cass City.
Finishing late: Cass City's three-point wins over Vassar and USA have already tested the Red Hawks in close games. Millington survived its own five-point road test against USA. If Friday's game reaches the fourth quarter with the teams separated by one possession, both sides have experience playing under pressure.
Game Information
Matchup: Millington Cardinals (4-0) at Cass City Red Hawks (4-0)
Date: Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Location: Cass City High School
Conference: Big Thumb White
Millington: 4-0 overall, 2-0 conference
Cass City: 4-0 overall, 1-0 conference
Key Takeaway
Friday night's matchup has nearly everything you could ask for from a Week 5 high school football game: two undefeated teams, a conference race, state-ranked Division 7 programs and the memory of an overtime thriller from a year ago.
Millington arrives in Cass City after three consecutive convincing offensive performances, while the Red Hawks have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to win close games.
The Cardinals want redemption.
The Red Hawks want to prove last year's breakthrough was no fluke.
And with first place implications in the Big Thumb White, the Battle of the Unbeatens should provide one of Tuscola County's biggest football games of the regular season.
