Football Roundup Week IV

Photo by Jennifer Badgero

Photo by Jennifer Badgero

Photo by Jennifer Badgero

Vikes tame Lions; Pack cage Tigers; Cloud, Hespo, Devs lose big

Tri County 36 Newaygo 8
 Well, the Vikings are as good as they were predicted to be. They controlled the field in Newaygo from the start with an impressive display of  line play on both sides of the ball. The Lions were going to have to play a mistake free game and get a few breaks to have a decent shot at TC and they got neither. Viking Chase Keller found the end zone 4 times on the night and added a couple of 2 point conversions as Tri County remained undefeated with a convincing win over the Lions.
The Lions went 3 and out after the opening kickoff and following the punt TC was on the move until a fumble saw Wyatt Gorby grab it to give the hosts the ball back. Newaygo couldn’t move the ball and punted again. This time the Vikes drove down and put up points.The next Lion drive was halted by an interception and soon the Vikes were up 16-0
The Lions best early scoring opportunity came when they drove the ball to the TC 10. They knew they badly needed a score to stay in a game that was fast slipping away. Damone Moore pounded ahead for 6 yards setting up a 2nd down 4 yards short of the goalline. 3 plays later the visitors took over after stuffing a trio of tries. Another successful drive ended the half at 22-0 TC.
Then came a disastrous start to the second half. Viking Bryce Reed took the kickoff all the way and a 2 pointer by Keller made it 30-0. On the next Lion possession they went 3 and out but the punt attempt was mishandled and TC was in business again at the Lion 21. Three plays later it was 36-0.
Brian Badgerow finally got the Lions on the board with a late TD and Blake Kerr hit Isaiah Lopez for the conversion but the game was long in hand by then.
Henry Wood led the Lions in tackles with 9, Noah McLaughlin tallied 7 and Aaron Garza and Jordan Holm each finished with 6.
Kerr was 6-10 passing while Moore (46 yds), Badgero (39) and Matt Miedema (33) anchored the rushing duties.
Newaygo (1-3) will head down M37 to face forever rival Grant next Friday while Tri County (4-0) will be looking to stay undefeated as they face winless Morley Stanwood.

Fremont 20 Grant 0
The Tigers night started badly with a fumble on the first play from scrimmage. 6 plays later Kyler DeKuiper took it in from 3 yards out and after the Ben Mellema conversion it was 7-0 Packers early on. Grant’s next possession ended when Owen Hertel picked off a pass. Early in the second quarter Fremont began a drive that ended when Khai Noordyk racked up 6 from a dozen yards out and after a failed conversion Fremont led 13-0 a score that would hold up to intermission.
The final score of the game came in the third when Hertel rammed it in from 7 yards and with the Mellema boot it showed 20-0 on the board.
Talen Reichert-Slater hit on 11 of 18 passes with Hertel the target for 6 of those and DeKuiper gathering in 3. Hertel led all rushers with 82 yards while Karter Noordyk piled up 69 and Noordyk finished with 61.
But it was the defense that was the story of this game, tossing a shutout behind a defense led in tackles by Connor Pettis (11), Trentyn Corley (6), Hertel (5) and Levi Wimmer (4).
The Packers even their mark at 2-2 on the season and  return to conference play when Oakridge comes to town also bearing a 2-2 record.. On Friday the Eagles defeated Ludington 29-21 at Oriole field. 

Nolo Contendere
Just not much else to say about these three games, 

Kent City 50 White Cloud 0
The Eagles put this one to bed early.
White Cloud (2-2) will regroup and host winless Holton (0-4) on Friday

North Muskegon 65 Hesperia 7
The Norsemen remained undefeated setting up a conference showdown with Hart next week.
The Panthers never had a shot in this one with the hosts scoring early and often.
Hesperia (1-3) will be looking to get back in the win column when they travel to Shelby (0-4)   to face the Tigers.

Mason County Central 64 Holton 6
Peyton Merz took the opening kickoff 80 yards for a TD then merely scored 5 more on the night as the Spartans dished out a 59-0 licking by halftime. The merciful running clock was the only thing that kept the numbers from breaking the scoreboard.
The Devils will be looking for win  number 1 when they travel to White Cloud Friday.

Above photos by Bobbi Cruzan