Lions Fall to Cardinals

Lions Fall to Cardinals
Photos and story by Alexis Mercer
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Lions 14 Big Rapids 42

After an extremely close game in week one, ending with a one point loss only in the last seconds of the game against Kent City, the Lions headed to Cardinal country to try to earn the first W of the season.

Big Rapids, with their student section decked out in Hawaiian gear and spirit for days, was well prepared for the Lion onslaught. The home team's opening drive resulted in a Cardinal touchdown: the Lions had to find their toughness early.

With a much publicized new coach in Ralph Munger, and the fourth coaching staff in four years, this Newaygo team has been forced to endure a lot of change and adversity. What was made very clear throughout the four quarters, was that they are willing to dig in when the going gets tough, and then tougher, to fight with pride. Throughout the entire game, the coaching staff could be heard speaking with respect and specific encouragement to the boys.

At the 3:43 mark in the 2nd quarter, Damone Moore used his impressive speed and agility to return a kickoff for 85 yards and put the Lions on the board. A 2 point conversion was made good from quarterback Blake Kerr to Aaron Garza. The score was 35-8 heading into the locker room.

The second half was much the same with an impressively strong Big Rapids team finding ways to score on offense and then stop the Lions on defense. But another moment of brightness came with 3:31 left in the game when Kerr passed wide to Isaiah Lopez, who then ran hard through a few defenders to find the end zone, making it 42-14.