Friday Night Football Scores Week VIII

Newaygo vs. Reed City photos by Justice Long

Friday Night Football Scores Week VIII
Photos by Justice Long

It could have been a logjam. When Newaygo knocked off Reed City in the latest classic between these schools it freed up Central Montcalm to claim their first conference championship in over a decade. Thing is, the Vikings are a dangerous team and Coach Butler’s squad nearly made it a four way tie for the title falling a field goal short of the Hornets.The Tigers are on a serious roll having dispatched a tenacious Cardinal team to secure their spot in the postseason. BR was only the second team this season to score more than once on the Grand defense when they added a second half field goal.Chip Hills needed a win to have an outside shot at a 10th game and they got it at Fremont. Hesperia had the misfortune of hosting the strongest OV team in years and the Cards certainly showed up. Holton visited Perry and the Ramblers ran it up on the Devs who finish with TC next week.
Morley Stanwood is rolling and Kent City has regrouped since their loss to the Mohawks for a pretty fair run as well. Both teams got their tickets Friday.


Newaygo 41 Reed City 38
Wow.
The Coyotes came into Lion Country teeming with confidence and aiming to secure at least a share of the title they have held throughout this decade. Since being beaten and blanked in their opener against Montague they have pounded every opponent but Grant the only other team able to corral the productive Reed City offense. A win would also guarantee a 10th straight playoff appearance.
Newaygo had to be hurting after seeing a 3 game win streak halted at the hands of their oldest rivals and facing down a team that has ruled this newer rivalry the past few years.
The first 3 quarters the teams exchanged scores but while Guerrera was punching it through the uprights for the extra points the Coyotes were chalking up 2 point conversions so the final quarter began with the Yotes holding a 24-21 lead.
Then it got a little crazy. 
RC's Landon Tomaski broke free for a 63 yard TD but for the first time the 2 point conversion failed. Still, Reed City held a 30-21 edge. The Lions struck back immediately when Wismar took a kickoff and found paydirt 60 yards later. The PAT failed and the score went to 30-27.
Tomaski scored on the next drive and the successful 2 point attempt stretched the Coyote led to 11 and the pressure was on the Lions.
No problem.
Brechting twice found Jibson in the final minutes for a pair of scores and the Lions went 1-2 on 2 point conversions to snatch a 34-31 win, keep their playoff hopes alive and deny the Coyotes the title.
Gonzales finished with 160 yards while Brechting hit on 12 of this 15 passes, with 9 of them finding the hands of Jibson, four for touchdowns.
Klitschko??? And Bristman ???( bad handwriting those coaches) led the team in tackles.
The Lions (5-2, 5-3) now need one more win to play game 10 and next Friday they hit the road to face Saranac (2-6) of the Central Michigan Conference.
The Coyotes (5-2, 5-3) will head north to Leroy to battle the Bucks of Pine River (3-5).



Grant 21 Big Rapids 10
The Tigers punched their playoff ticket winning the way they have all season with defense.
The Grant Tigers notched their 6th win, and 3rd playoff berth in the last 4 years, tonight in a hard-fought affair with the Cardinals. The game was played in front of a packed house at the Tigers Homecoming. 
Once again, the Tigers defense shined allowing just 10 points against the Cardinals veer attack. Leading the Tigers in tackles, again, was senior Jarret Railling. He had 11 tackles including a tackle for loss and a sack. Junior Brett Long had 10 tackles, including one for loss and 2 pass break-ups. Isiah Powell had 9 tackles, 1 for loss and 1 pass break-up. Hayden Crosby and Orion Evans had 7 tackles apiece.  Sophomore Brady Jacobs had an interception, 2 pass break-ups and 5 tackles.
The Tigers offense had 260 rushing and just under 50 yards through the air. Orion Evans led the ground attack with 155 yards and 1 touchdown. Junior Trevor Lowry had 76 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. 
The Tigers trailed at halftime, 7-6 but quickly responded to the half-time adjustments that were made by the coaching staff and played inspired football in the 2nd half.
 “We challenged our offensive line to take over the game in the second half, they responded,” said Coach Geraghty.
 The Tigers had a convincing drive for a touchdown to open the second half which was capped off by a 1-yard plunge into the end zone by Lowry. The defensive effort in the second half was outstanding, and allowed just a long field goal by the Cardinals.
“I wouldn’t say this was our best performance of the year, but in this conference, I’ll take a W wherever we can get one,” the coach added. “Big Rapids played until the final whistle, which is a testament to their kids and coaching staff”
The Tigers (5-2, 6-2) welcome in Kent City (3-1, 6-2) for Senior Night next Friday. Big Rapids concludes its season by hosting the Panthers of Alma.



Chip Hills 41 Fremont 6
A second quarter 1 yard plunge by Cody Andree proved to be the only Packer points of the night as the Warriors took advantage of 5 turnovers to pass and run their way into the endzone 5 times and capture the conference finale for both teams. 
Tristen Marfia and Payten Mansfield led the defense in tackles and Marfia also collected 44 yards on the ground while toiling in the Packer backfield.
Fremont (0-7, 0-8) will travel to Lakeview to take on the Warriors  with a final shot at snapping the current 13 game skid.

Central Montcalm 20 Tri County 17
The Hornets escaped with a tight win over the Vikes to claim the undisputed conference crown.
The loss dashed any remaining hopes for a TC return to the playoffs. The Vikings will finish with a road game at Holton while the Bees travel to Millington to face the Cardinals of the Tri Valley West conference.


Perry 67 Holton 12
The Ramblers on the road proved to be too much for the Red Devils. 
Holton (0-4,1-7) will finish the season at home against the Vikings of Tri County


Morley Stanwood 38  CCC 0
The ‘Hawks are in. 
Morley started the scoring early and never looked back blanking the Eagles and grabbing a spot in the playoff picture for the 6th year in a row.
Justin Bialik scored four times for the Mohawks and Ryland Nelson found Carter Veldkamp for a 28 yard scoring strike.
The defense was led by Nelson with 10 tackles while Joe Doyle and Kevin Phillps collected 9 apiece
The Mohawks (4-0, 6-2) will host Beal City (7-1) on Friday 


Orchard View 50 Hesperia 0
The Cards scored 3 times in the opening quarter and four more times before the half as the Lakes 8 champs  cruised to their 8th straight win.
The Panthers had two scoring chances,the first was early in the second quarter when they missed a 35 yard FG attempt and in the third quarter when freshman Armondo Escobedo caught a pass from Balkema at the OV one yard line and was stripped of the ball with OV returning it 99 yards for their final TD.
Logan Balkema was 6 of17 for 115 yards in the air withJohnny Majersky the recipient of 3 of those passes for 50 yards...
Balkema led Panthers in tackles with 8 and Connor VanBuskirk finished with 7.
With the loss the Panthers fall to 2-6 overall with the season finale at Shelby next Friday

Kent City 62 Calvin Christian 14
The Eagles scored as often as they got the ball as they routed the Squires.
Kent City (3-1, 6-2) wraps up the regular season with a trip to Grant to face the rugged Tiger defense.