In one of the most compelling showdowns of the season, West Catholic claimed a thrilling 21-20 overtime victory over Catholic Central on Friday, November 7 2025, in the MHSAA Division 5 district playoffs. 

A Longtime Hurdle

For several seasons, West Catholic had been unable to overcome its rival, Catholic Central. In 2024, the Cougars edged the Falcons 21-18 in a district matchup and didn’t same in 2023 30-28. 

The victory this year marks a true redemption night for West Catholic’s program.

The Game At A Glance

West Catholic and Catholic Central battled through regulation tied at 14-14, with both teams trading scoring drives and defensive stands.  In overtime, West Catholic quarterback Grady Augustyn plunged into the end zone on a 4-yard rushing touchdown to seal the win.  The final margin: West Catholic 21, Catholic Central 20. 

Augustyn’s Breakthrough

Grady Augustyn, the Falcons’ signal-caller, has been operating under the weight of expectation in this rivalry game for years. This win represents him finally getting over the hump, delivering a winning performance in a high-stakes district showdown. With his rushing TD in overtime, he became the catalyst for West Catholic’s breakthrough.

Why It Mattered

Revenge Factor: After falling short in 2024, this victory shows West Catholic’s growth and ability to flip the script against a rival they’ve struggled to top. Momentum Boost: Winning such a dramatic game in overtime carries emotional lift for the Falcons heading deeper into the postseason. Legacy Shift: For Catholic Central, the narrow loss halts their recent dominance over this particular matchup; for West Catholic, the win marks a new chapter.

Looking Ahead

West Catholic advances and will now carry confidence into the next round of the playoffs, knowing they can dig deep in big games and win when it counts. For Catholic Central the focus will reset quickly, they learned lessons, but learned them in a painful way.

West Catholic’s hard-earned victory, powered by Grady Augustyn’s late heroics, sets the stage for the Falcons to make a deeper postseason run while rewriting the narrative in this rivalry.