Michigan high school football is heating up. On Friday, October 17, two of the biggest rivals in Detroit - Cass Tech and King - will face off at Ford Field for the DPSCD Blue City Championship Game.
Before the big day, reporter April Morton with Live in the D, caught up with sophomore varsity football player at MLK, Elijah Willis. “I’m looking forward to going back to State Championship and actually winning, against Cass this year,” he said. But first, he’s focused on the upcoming PSL game against Cass.
Getting to this level in high school football is a huge accomplishment, and Willis is no stranger to football. “I’ve been playing about 8 years,” he said. During that span he’s played for PAL, (Police Athletic League,) in Detroit where he was chosen to represent the organization in Florida at a championship game.
Representing PAL on a national stage was a career high for Willis, who was 13 at the time. However, that celebration quickly turned tragic. “That next morning, I found out my dad passed.” He said this was shocking, because he was just with his father in Florida at the game. “I was just with him, what happened in the span of a day?” Willis said, losing his father was devastating, and to honor him he decided to give back to those who have given him so much. “Seeing Elijah come back and volunteer is amazing,” said Sgt. Bryant George, who is with PAL and, the Detroit Police Department.
Not only does Willis volunteer with PAL, he also dedicates his time by speaking with his teammates and other youth, encouraging them to stay out of trouble and keep a positive attitude.
Willis plans to attend college after high school and hopefully play in the NFL - or follow in his dad’s footsteps as a truck driver.
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