Two of the top high school football programs in Michigan put their undefeated records on the line in a high-profile clash on Friday night as No. 8 Harper Woods took on No. 12 Saline.

Star junior wide receiver Dakota Guerrant made the opening and closing statements for Harper Woods in a grand 41-32 victory. He finished with three touchdowns, including a 99-yard kick return in the first quarter and a clutch grab in the end zone to seal the win in the fourth.

Clinging onto a 34-32 lead trying to ice the game, the Pioneers found themselves in an interesting spot. On fourth and goal with less than three minutes to play, senior quarterback Nate Rocheleau threw a fade into the right corner of the end zone. Guerrant went up and snagged a gorgeous fading touchdown to help his team go up by nine.

Saline, captained by senior quarterback Tommy Carr, tried to quickly cut things down to one possession once again, but a missed field goal left the Hornets down and out for their first loss of the season. Carr threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another in a valiant second-half effort.

The first half was methodical on both sides. All hell broke loose after halftime.

Carson Cherry punched in the first touchdown of the evening as Saline took a 7-0 lead. It didn’t last long, though, as Guerrant immediately made his presence felt by taking the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to the house.

The Pioneers finished the first half strong behind a pair of red zone touchdown runs from junior running back Mekhi Jones. The Saline offense mustered a field goal after the opening TD but was kept in check through the end of the half. Carr hit tight end Lincoln Keyes, a four-star Georgia commit, for a big gain leading into the eventual field goal, but those chunk plays were hard to come by early for the Hornets. Harper Woods led 21-10 at halftime.

Things were getting out of hand early in the second half for Saline as Harper Woods quickly made it 28-10 via an impressive move from sophomore receiver Deandre Bidden, who housed one from around 50 yards out. The Hornets would not go down quietly, however.

Carr made the most of a broken play and found Keyes, who quickly burst into open space and dashed for a long touchdown. Saline quickly got the ball back after forcing a punt and the Miami (OH) commit fired a 14-yard strike to Keyes for another quick score. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Harper Woods lead was 28-25.

The Pioneers finally stymied the momentum swing and put together a second-half drive of its own. With around eight minutes to go, Guerrant took the ball in the wildcat and scurried in for a 3-yard TD to bring Harper Woods’ lead back to two scores, though it didn’t convert the 2-point conversion.

Carr, the younger brother of Notre Dame starting QB CJ Carr, showed no quit all night. He helped Saline motor down the field on the ensuing drive and flew through what looked like an exhausted Harper Woods defense for a huge 21-yard TD run to bring the Hornets within two.

That proved to be the last gasp for Saline, as Harper Woods’ final drive ended with the dagger TD reception from Guerrant. The Pioneers remain undefeated at 7-0 and will return to action next Friday at home against Ferndale. Now 6-1, Saline hosts Bedford next week.

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