Over the past week, the talk in Dearborn has centered around the new quarterback in town.
Just before the 2026 MHSAA football season kicked off – the final week of the preseason, to be exact – senior Ali Beydoun, transferred from Toledo Catholic Central to Dearborn Heights Crestwood.
"The city was going crazy," said first-year Dearborn coach Mike Bustamente. "Crestwood is right down the street. This community is such a tight-knit community that we have connections over there. So everyone's hearing the chirping."
Beydoun, verbally committed to Division II Findlay, started each of the past two seasons for a Toledo CC team that reached consecutive Division 3 championship games in Ohio and competes at the top of the Catholic League Central Division.
Crestwood athletic director Jeff Hachigian told the Free Press that Beydoun's family moved to Dearborn for a work opportunity, and the Michigan High School Athletic Association approved the required eligibility paperwork.
Of course, Dearborn had a few newcomers of its own, with a new coaching staff running the Tractors in the KLAA.
Assistant coach Zeyad Hannon spent the week telling his quarterback, junior Khalil Mosallam, that he would be the one starring on Thursday when Dearborn faced Crestwood. Mosallam proceeded to throw for 134 yards and a touchdown and ran in the game-clinching score with just under four minutes left in Dearborn's 28-14 win over Crestwood on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Dearborn High School.
"Coach Z motivated us all because he told me that I'm the best quarterback in the city," Mosallam said. "We all agree with him. I know for a fact I'm the best quarterback in the city."
Dearborn opened with a long scoring drive ending with a rushing touchdown from junior Ali Saad, then pushed its lead to two touchdowns early in the second quarter with another long drive ending in a Saad touchdown, aided by a Crestwood defensive pass interference penalty on a fourth-down incompletion.
Crestwood nearly responded, but a Beydoun touchdown pass to Ali Farhat was wiped out because of a penalty, leading to a turnover on downs. A Mosallam touchdown pass to Mehdi Kabbani and a Crestwood safety gave Dearborn a 22-point halftime lead.
Crestwood had nine offensive snaps in the first half as Dearborn whittled time with a consistent rushing attack. Saad led Dearborn with 99 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns. He and Kabbani missed the second half while dealing with cramping issues, however.
"Ali Saad, if we can keep him from cramping, that's a different scoreboard," Bustamente said. "That kid can move. He needs to be on everybody's radar."
Beydoun found more success in the second half as Crestwood aired it out of necessity, but Dearborn's rushing attack, and an interception by Hadi Farhat, clinched it.
The Tractors now move to 2-0 with their first win in the KLAA, under Bustamente, who is in his first varsity head coaching stint after serving as Dearborn's offensive coordinator two years ago.
"I am a Dearborn High alum," Bustamente said. "I'm from the neighborhood. I live right down the street. The only reason I chose to take this job was to give them the experience that I got. That's my sole purpose, to make them better human beings when they leave than when they come in."
The returning contributors have embraced the challenge of re-establishing a winning culture. Dearborn sputtered to a 4-5 record in 2025 and missed the playoffs despite a 3-0 start.
Mosallam, Kabbani, Saad, Ameer Hashem and Adam Masri gathered Dearborn players with a singular message: The previous year's lack of discipline couldn't fly again.
"We told them that we have to play as a team, we have to be a family and no matter what, we can't get down on each other," Mosallam said.
"I was here a few years ago so they know what to expect from me," Bustamente said. "And to be honest, me showcasing that I love them has just transformed the culture. My AD [Dave Holly] has said it before too. We are trying to change this culture and make sure they are disciplined."
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for theDetroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: QB Khalil Mosallam stars for Dearborn football vs Crestwood
