Friday Football Results Week 6

N3 Sports Team
Photos from Newaygo v Tri County by Alexis Mercer

Football Results-Week 6

Teams played early at most venues to try to sidestep those pesky marauding mosquitoes. 
Give the Red Devils team some love because as hard as it is to return individually after a layoff or injury it is way harder as a team to do so.
Wow. Grant/Newaygo and CM/RC next week?
Since 1950 Newaygo has won 35 and Grant 34. And they never tied-even in the pre overtime era because...well… because that just wouldn’t do, would it?
The Hornets ice a share of the title with a win in Reed City, The ‘Yotes win and their path to a title runs through Newaygo.

Newaygo 28 Tri County 14
To win a football game it requires 48 minutes of concentration, teamwork and physical toughness. Tri County was determined to make up the deficit from the first 24 of those minutes by the end, but fell short. Certainly not for lack of effort.
Tri County’s Head Coach, Phil Butler, is familiar with Lion country having been a quarterback for the Vikings, his alma mater in the late 90s. After attending Hope College and setting records as quarterback, Butler returned to Newaygo County, but put in a few years coaching for the Lions before getting back to his home school to lead the Vikings squad.
Coach VanEssen might have less on-field experience in Newaygo than Butler, but it was evident from the blow of the whistle that his team was well-prepared for the matchup.
The first time senior David Gonzalez touched the football for the Lions he ran right up the center of the field for a touchdown thanks to some well executed blocks and his own lightning speed. Quickly after that, QB Brenden Brechting kept the ball for a long run and Gonzalez finished off the drive for 6 more. After a second made extra point by Angel Guevara, the Lions were up 14-0. Newaygo’s mission to score continued as Brechting ran in a third touchdown with 1:52 left in the 2nd quarter putting the Lions up 21-0 going into the locker room.
Whatever Head Coach Phil Butler said to his Vikings at halftime lit a fire under them and Tri County came out ready to go. Tri County possessed the ball for more minutes the 3rd quarter and made the Lions work every down. But with TC pressuring for a touchdown on the 10 yard line, Gonzalez intercepted to interrupt their momentum.
The Vikings first saw the scoreboard in the 4th quarter with a nice pass to Cameren Friend. After a made extra point, the Vikings were down 28-7 then very quickly recovered the ball with an onside kick. But the Lions’ Gavon Rake shut down the Vikings' hope for a quick score with yet another interception.
Tri County scored one more time with a QB keep to go to 28-14 with 3:18 left on the clock, but the Lions held on to the lead as the seconds ticked off the clock.

Grant 41  Fremont 6
Grant got on the board immediately with an explosive first play 72-yard touchdown run by Orion Evans. His electrifying sprint for six set the stage for a strong offensive showing by the Tigers led by Evans who had 14 carries for 191 yards and 3 touchdowns. 
Quarterback Brendan Keelean was 9 for 13 for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wide receiver Brett Long scored a rushing touchdown of 27 yards, and Billy Ostyn caught five passes for 69 yards, including one for a touchdown. 
The Tiger defense continued to be stingy as they kept the Packer offense out of the endzone and  a first quarter kick return put up the only Packer points on the night.
The Grant defense was led by Jarret Railing with 9 tackles, including 5 tackles for a loss. Brady Jacobs added 8 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and one interception. Brett Long contributed 8 tackles, four for a loss, and added a fumble recovery. 
Coach Geraghty was happy to come away with a win, but he believes there is still room for improvement moving forward.
“We need to clean up the penalties and our ball control if we want to compete with the premier programs in the region.
“I am very happy for our kids and coaches. We return to the drawing board tomorrow as we plan for a well-coached Newaygo team.”
The Tigers take on the Newaygo Lions  next Friday in the battle for the M-37 trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights.
The Packers (0-5, 0-6) will head east to face Tri County (1-4, 2-4) 


Kent City 42 Hesperia 0
The Eagles   bounced back from last week’s loss to Morley in a big way with a convincing win over conference rival Hesperia.
“Kent City was in control throughout the contest,” said Panther Coach Doug Bolles after the game. “ We played flat and uninspired football against a good opponent and you cannot do that against a Bill Crane coached team. They’re too well prepared.”
Things won’t get any easier for the Panthers (2-2, 2-4) next week as the red hot Mohawks of Morley will be coming to town for Hesperia’s homecoming game.
“A big challenge,” added Coach Bolles.

Lakeview 38  Holton 19
The Red Devils may not have come away with a win Friday night but for the first time in three weeks they got the chance to play. A rash of injuries among the already thin corps that suits up for Holton caused them to forfeit a game and the following week was open due to a scheduling change.
“All together we played ok,” said Coach Mike Jados. “ We definitely made some costly mistakes and turnovers.
“Lakeview played a good game and had a good game plan against us. We threw the ball well with all 3 of our scores coming through the air. We spread the ball around well with Ricky Enders having 2 touchdowns and Austin Hawkins getting the other. Drew Trygsted spread the ball around well. On defense we were led by Joe Crowell who played a great game at linebacker. Injuries and turnovers got to us in the 2nd half as we tried to fight our way back into the game. An interception thrown by Trygsted was returned for a touchdown by Lakeview in the 4th quarter that made it tough to come back.”
The Red Devils (0-3, 1-5) will welcome in Kent City next Friday 



Central Montcalm 27 Cip Hills 14
The Hornets are in!
Central Montcalm (5-0, 6-0) held onto the top spot in the Gold but also secured their first playoff appearance since their current players were in middle school.
Next week they will travel to Reed City for a showdown game with the Coyotes.

Reed City 36 Big Rapids 8
The Coyotes are on a mission. 
In the 6 year history of the CSAA Gold Conference there has not been a football title trophy without the Reed City name on it and they ruled the combined CSAA league for 3 years before that. To keep that record intact as well as prevent them from missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade, they need to win out in conference play.
The Cards were the latest to watch the Yotes pile up points and put up a win on the BR home turf.
Reed City (3-1, 4-2) faces undefeated Central Montcalm at home while the Cardinals (1-4, 1-5) travel to Remus to face the CH Warriors (2-3, 2-4)

Morley Stanwood 36 Hamady 12
The Mohawks (3-0, 4-2) made it 4 in a row with a win over the previously unbeaten Hawks of Hamady.
The team will travel to Hesperia next week where a win would deliver them the Silver title and a step closer to a tenth game.