Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com

HOWELL, Mich. -- For the first time in the history of Michigan High School Athletic Association boys lacrosse, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice is not the Division 1 state champion.

After four-straight years of finishing runner-up to Brother Rice, Detroit Catholic Central did what was once thought impossible by dethroning the Warriors with an 11-10 victory on Saturday to claim the Division 1 title. Brother Rice had won every state title previously since the MHSAA adopted the sport in 2005.

"These kids have worked exceptionally hard," Catholic Central coach Dave Wilson said. "Some of them for four years and some of them just since January. It's a bit of a relief but its just great to see the fruition of a lot hard work come together."

MORE: Check out the photo gallery from the game.

Catholic Central (19-2) had beaten Brother Rice (13-8) twice during the regular season this spring but needed a remarkable comeback effort to get its final victory on Saturday. Scoring four-straight goals in the span of 3 minutes and 28 seconds, the Shamrocks erased a 10-7 deficit to take an 11-10 lead with 3:00 left on the clock.

From there, the Shamrocks hung on for history.

"Our motto is never give up," senior midfielder Ethan Pattinson said. "One hundred percent. For our seniors, its our last game ... We were down 7-10, that's going to be in our memories for the rest of our lives. We pushed through and kept going."

Pattinson will certainly not forget the comeback considering it was his hat-trick goal with three minutes left that gave Catholic Central its final lead of the game. With star junior attacker Joey Kamish getting double-teamed by Brother Rice defenders, Pattinson slipped into an open slot in front of the net. Kamish found Pattinson who took a few steps toward the middle and whipped between the goalie's legs.

"Representing the Shamrocks, this is my last game," Pattinson said. "This is what I'd die and bleed for."

The Shamrocks were able to control most of the final three minutes of the game and, once the clock ran out, the players immediately ran toward the students who had flooded the fenceline of the field.

"First time in history," Pattison said. "Our fans, our student seciton and our student body, that's our blood. That's our brothers. They cheer us on every day and every game. We rely on them."

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Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com

Watch Catholic Central's game-winning goal

Watch Detroit Catholic Central's Ethan Pattinson score the game-winner against Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice. The goal competed a four-goal comeback by the ...

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Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com

Watch Catholic Central's celebration

Watch Detroit Catholic Central celebrate winning the Division 1 lacrosse state championship after beating Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 11-10, on June 9, 2018.

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An epic battle

It was clear that Catholic Central and Brother Rice were the cream of the crop in Division 1 lacrosse this year as the two teams exchanged goals and runs throughout the contest.

Before Catholic Central closed the game on its four goal run, Brother Rice had a five-goal spurt before that to take a 7-5 deficit with under 6:15 to play in the third period to having a 10-7 lead just over nine minutes later.

"We've battled all year." Brother Rice coach Ajay Chawla said. "I've got to give it to the boys. They didn't give up. They fought until the end. They gave it their all and we didn't come out on top. Yeah, it was a game of runs. I though up three with five or six minutes to go that we were in a good position but they came back."

After the two teams struggled to find the back of the net for the first eight minutes of the game, Catholic Central was able to put its foot to the gas and score three goals in the final 4:02 of the opening period to take a 3-0 lead into the second quarter. Pattinson scored the first two goals for Catholic Central while Ryan Sullivan captured the third.

The Shamrocks then built a 5-1 lead with 7:29 until half before Brother Rice responded with its first big run to tie the game 5-5 by halftime.

"They came in with a lot of pressure," Chawla said of his players. "These guys, the amount of pressure that these guys have played with ... having to repeat every time, is a ton of pressure. I don't think there was less pressure. In fact, I think there was more pressure. It's a shame because every team is different and these guys worked as hard as every other one. They just didn't end up on top."

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Catholic Central player of the game: Joey Kamish

Scoring five goals with two assists, Kamish was an absolute stud for the Shamrocks. He scored the goal to bring Catholic Central within one goal at the end and then also added the tying goal. After getting swarmed near the net, he made the right pass to find Pattinson for the game winner on the final goal.

"When we were down 10-7, I started to have a little doubt in my mind," Kamish admitted. "Then Pete (Thompson) came up to me and he just said, 'we need everything from you here.' I knew that none of my brothers were going to give up on me so I just put in my work ... when this team gets moment, there's just nothing that can stop us."

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Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com

Brother Rice player of the game: DJ Dixon

The sophomore showed that he is a force to be reckoned with as he scored three timely goals for the Warriors. His first goal tied the game at 5-5 after the Warriors trailed 5-1. His next two goals came in consecutive order at the end of the third quarter, giving Brother Rice its first lead of the game at 8-7.

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Postgame comments with Catholic Central

Detroit Catholic Central gives thoughts on claiming the school's first lacrosse state title after beating Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 11-10, in the Division 1 ...

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Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com

Photo gallery

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