Devs Tame Cats For Win #3

By Joseph Mclean
 
Holton 44 Lakeview 28
A big night with the Lakeview homecoming atmosphere set the stage for a battle between two CSAA Silver foes going head to head.  Lakeview was looking  to build on a very good performance last week against Hesperia, and the Devs were hoping to get on the fast track to a playoff spot with back to back wins.

After a botched onside kick try to start the game, the Wildcats got the ball with good field position.  Cat running back David Evans showed why he’s one of the best players on the field after a big time score to open the game.  The PAT gets tipped by the Devs, and it slides left and the hosts grabbed a 6-0 lead.
Kevin Erickson received  the ensuing kickoff taking it deep into Wildcat territory to the 20.A couple run plays were stuffed by the Wildcats, but then the pass game that came alive last week returned with Fowler getting it to Hosmer who became shifty and scored.  The 2 point try failed and the score was knotted at 6.

Lakeview got it back, but a good defensive stand with help from a holding penalty stopped the Wildcats.  A muffed punt from Robins almost gives the Wildcats the ball back with very good field position.  Both teams turned it over on downs.  The 1st quarter ended with the Devils passing attack again getting them down the field, and closing in on the score. 

The 2nd quarter opened up with Fowler getting brought down in the backfield, but he quickly avenged that on the next play when he hit Cameron Edgerton for his 2nd TD pass of the night.  Erickson added the 2 PT and Holton was up 14-6.  Evans took the pitch to the right and broke through for a tough run, and a facemask penalty on the Devs put the Wildcats in the redzone.  The Wildcats looked to pass, but were picked off by the captain Fowler in the back of the endzone.  

The Devils moved the chains on 3rd down due to the Fowler to Hosmer connection.  On the very next play Fowler took it to the right and was held up, with the ball getting punched out with the Wildcats recovering.  The Wildcats try to run on the back of the premierrunner Evans, but they got stopped and had to punt.  A big throw from Fowler to Robins, and a roughing the passer penalty on the same play gave the Devs good field position in Lakeview territory with just under 2 mins to play.  A pass intended for Hosmer fell out of his reach on 4th down and the hosts took over 
Evans took it on the right side and made them miss with his cutback for a first down. The Cats ran an option play but the Devs read it well with Robins coming out with the ball after making the play that sets the Devs up for possibly a half ending score.  With 30 seconds on the clock Fowler hit on his 3rd passing TD of the night, adding the 2 PT himself to make the score 22-6 with 26 seconds till halftime.  Lakeview finally makes the pass game pay off as Evans snared a TD pass with 17.4 left on the clock and the teams went to the break with the  Devs leading the Wildcats 22-12.  

Coming out of the break Holton needed to prove they can finish a game strong.  The Devs ran the ball on the backs of Fowler, Nichols, and Erickson.  Evans sacked Fowler on a pass attempt, but on the next play Fowler threw his 4th TD pass to Robins to make it 30-12 right out of the gates.  
The Wildcats were looking like they were going to stall out, but on 4th and 2 Delamater faked a throw and scrambled for a first down.  He then tossed a pass  to Bunker who was stopped at the 1 yard line where Evans ran it in easily.  After some controversy on the 2 PT because of a fumble into the endzone recovered by the Wildcats it was a30-20 in a game that could come down to the wire. 

The Devs started their next drive running behind Nichols, Erickson, and Fowler at the end to get into scoring position to end the quarter.  Erickson punched it in to start the final frame.  Fowler ran the 2 pt across the line  but a penalty on Holton that backed them up and the next try is no good. 
Wildcat qb Delamater showed off his arm on the drive hitting his main target Bunker for big plays, and capped it off with an Evans rushing TD and 2 point conversion to put the hosts within a score.  The Devils drive got to about mid field, and on 4th down the Wildcats make the stop that could potentially save the game for them.  Delamater couldn’t connect with anyone and  on 4th down Evans took a pitch to the right, and  ran straight into the Devs setting the edge for the tackle for loss. 

The Devs took over and gave it to Erickson around the right side for a big gainer.  After a third down throw from Fowler to Hosmer that’s dropped at the endzone, Fowler shows he has silver bullets and throws another passing touchdown to Cameron Edgerton.  Erickson hits the right edge to make it 44-28.  On the last drive of the night Delamter tried to carry his team, but the Devs brought the pressure and made the final stand.  

This game was an exciting back and forth game, and even though there were a lot of points, the defense for both teams played well and came up with big plays.  The Devils finish the game strong like Coach Smith has been wanting, and get back to back CSAA wins.  The Red Devils move up to 3-2 (2-1) and Lakeview falls to 1-4 (1-2).  
The Wildcats will go on the road to take on White Cloud next week.  The Red Devils welcome the Kent City Eagles to Red Devil Stadium off the covid break for what should be a really big game.  

Fowler had a big passing game again going 18/24, 267 yds, 5 TD, 0 INT with 4 tackles and a pick on the defensive end.  All of the receivers got involved tonight as they go Rice Robins - 2 Rec 38 yds 1 TD, Bret Hosmer - 5 Rec 90 yds 1 TD, Kevin Erickson - 7 Rec 58 yds 1 TD, Cameron Edgerton - 3 Rec 48 yds 2 TD, Kaleb Nichols- 1 Rec 33 yds
Waterman, Robins, and Cartwright led in tackles for the Devs.