Despite loss, playoffs loom for Red Devils
Story and photo by Joseph Mclean The lights of Red Devil Stadium were shining bright for the CSAA crossover matchup. The Newaygo Lions rolled into town to take on the hometown Red Devils. This game was 8 years in the making as the last time they played was in 2013. The Lions took that one 54-36 and the last win for the Devs in the series was a 40-14 win in ‘07. A win would more than likely guarantee Holton a spot in the big dance. A loss would make that quest a bit tougher. The game opens with the Devs trying the helicopter kick, but it’s recovered by the Lions. The Devils stifle the running attack on the first couple plays before Grant Harkness finds Dylan Bazzett for the first down. It looked to be a turning point in the game when Harkness ran up the middle and got banged up but Wells takes the helm, and gets them inside the five. The Devils defense bending but not breaking as Chase Albright returning from injury makes the goal line stop on Jayden Joseph. The Devils offense can’t get going, and on the punt it’s bobbled in the endzone by Fowler and he gets tackled for a safety by Dylan Bazzett. With the Lions up 2-0 Harkness shows off the arm as he hits Bazzett on a 17-yarder to make it 9-0. The first frame ends with the Devs driving into Lion territory after Fowler’s arm starts to get going. Erickson catches the pass from Fowler and fumbles on the first play of the new quarter. The Devs hold the Lions to a 3 and out after a costly chop block penalty on 1st down. The Devils come to a big moment on 4th down and Fowler, a dual threat, sees the opening and goes. Fowler throws it up for Bret Hosmer who wrestles it away for the Devs first score. Halfway through the 2nd quarter and Newaygo is holding a 9-6 lead. The Holton defense makes another stand in their own territory as after a Joseph run, they throw the screen, but it’s caught with a knee down. Holton gets the ball back, but not for long. Fowler throws with a guy in his face, it’s tipped, and picked by Kody Bazzett. Newaygo would turn that into another score by way of Harkness hitting a wide open Josiah Long and Newaygo goes up 16-6 late in the half. The Lions recovered the kick after it rebounded off the Devils front line. Newaygo, trying to get a lengthy lead into half eventually finds the end zone as Harkness finds Wells who makes the acrobatic catch for the touchdown. They go into the break up 23-6. Coming out of the break both teams start flat with back to back 3 and outs. The Devils drive was all Erickson as he starts the drive with a big play, saves the drive with a 27 yarder on 4th and 2, and gets the touchdown from Fowler. Robins makes the difficult catch on the 2 pt to make it a 23-14 game. Harkness drops back to pass on the next drive, and gets sacked by Robins coming out of nowhere. A desperation throw by Harkness bounces off the hands of the receiver, and lands in the hands of Erickson deep in Red Devil territory. The Devils do nothing with the gift, and are forced to punt. The time is ticking for the Devs as they trail 23-14 going into the final frame. The Lions score quickly as a Harkness rushing touchdown gets set up by a Wells big time play. The Lions might have put the icing on the cake after that one as they lead 30-14. Fowler’s pass is intercepted by Miguel Alvarez, and the Lions defense takes the ball away from one of the best passers in the area! The Lions ride the back of premier runner Jayden Joseph who finds the endzone to put the Lions up by a commanding 23 points. Fowler runs the hurry up and finds Hosmer, and then hits Erickson who breaks the Newaygo defender to find paydirt. Fowler hits Robins for 2 to make it 37-22. Jayden Joseph adds to his big last career game campaign as he hits the left sideline, and scores easily to put the Lions up 43-22 with 1:22 left. On the last drive of the night, the Red Devils went for all pride. Fowler showed off his arm, and quickly moved the Devs down the field as he eventually hits Robins in the back of the endzone as he lays out with a toe tap. The Devs go a little Philly Special throwback as Nichols hits Fowler in the endzone to make the final 43-30. Newaygo comes in and gets the job done with an upset of the 5-3 Devils to push them to 5-4, and holding on to a playoff berth pending the result of some Saturday contests in D8. The tram will likely gather Sunday for the 5:30pm Selection Show on Bally to learn their fate for game #10.
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