Lions Roar Past Morley

With the sidelines looking on intensely and a flag flying in the air, Logan Klomp makes an acrobatic catch

Wrapping up his opponent, Noah McLaughlin grimaces

Lions Roar Past Morley
Story by Ken De Laat photos by Alexis Mercer

The home opener for Newaygo had a celebratory feel to it as the stands were packed with fans eager to get a look at their team under the tutelage of legendary coach Ralph Munger.
They weren’t disappointed.
Coming back home after a heartbreaking loss at Kent City and a pretty good thumping in Big Rapids the Lions dominated the early part of the game capitalizing on Mohawk mistakes that began with the kickoff. The return was mishandled but recovered by the visitors who couldn’t move the ball. Forced to punt, the snap was mishandled and Newaygo recovered on the Mohawk 12. Two plays later Damon Moore punched it into the endzone and the hosts went up 6-0. 
Morley responded with a drive that took them to the Lion 20 but were stopped on downs. An unsportsmanlike penalty that led to the ejection of the Mohawk player involved moved the ball forward for the Lions where they pounded ahead behind the running of Moore, Brian Badgero and Aaron Garza. When they approached mid field Blake Kerr pulled off a beauty of a quarterback keeper breaking into the secondary then weaving his way downfield for a 54 yard score and the Lions went up 12-0.

Blake Kerr kicks off to Morley

Hunter Yearsovich switches directions on a dime to avoid being tackled after intercepting the ball for the Lions

Another scoring chance for the Lions came when a scrambling Kerr hit Hunter Yearsovich coming back for the ball for a catch that put them back into the red zone. The next play saw Morley’s Chapin (a name heard often from the loudspeakers)  pick off a pass to end the Lion threat and the half ended with the Lions holding the two touchdown lead.
While the first half provided the bleacher (and fenceside) crowd some flashes on both sides of the ball, the start of the second half provided a view of what a classic Munger-led team does best. Fielding the kickoff, the Lions methodically marched down the field with a well executed drive that ate up 7 ½ minutes of clock and culminated in a short scoring pass from Kerr to Jordan Holm and after their third failed conversion the Lions were up 18-0.
Late in the third a Morley fumble was scooped up by the Lions and Julian Guajardo took it in for another 6 and a 24-0 lead. The Mohawks put together a drive led by Isaiah Kukla who put together some bruising runs into the Lion line and the visitors got on the board adding a 2 point conversion to make it 24-8.

With Coach Munger back on the field, his friends and former Rockford co-workers traveled to see the action (l to r): Steve Lewis, Dave Price, Kathy Munger, Kevin O'Rourke and Jim Haskins

Midway through the final period the game was halted after a severe leg injury to Mohawk Junior Tanner Little required him to be transported for medical care. When play resumed the Mohawks drive fell short and the Lions had sealed their first win of the season and the first Newaygo win for Coach Munger (that’s 356 total if anyone’s counting).
From the sidelines it’s easy to see this is Coach Munger’s team. It takes a lot to turn a program around after a few down years and any coach is limited by the amount of talent on the field, but a good coach gets everything he can out of the players he has and Newaygo has a very very good coach. 
Observing his interactions with his players, his coaches and the officials as the game unfolds under his watchful eye makes the past success he brings to the table no mystery.
Kerr hit on 6 of 12 passes while leading all rushers with 48 yards. Moore put up 37 yards and Badgero added 30. Logan Klomp pulled in 3 Kerr passes while Wyatt Gorby, Jordan Helms and Yearsovich each pulled one in.
On defense Garza tallied 8 tackles while Luis Ceja ALvarez, Kiean VanDyke and Klopm finished with 6 apiece. 5 of Alvarez’ tackles were solo.
Newaygo (1-2) will see its defense tested when they welcome in the high octane offense of Tri County (3-0) next Friday.
Morley Stanwood (0-3) will finally get a home game when Lakeview (1-2) comes to town.
Side note: Halftime saw a field goal kicking contest and Newaygo Superintendent Ben Gilpin was recruited onto the field where, behind the encouragement of the student section, he booted a pair of beauties between the uprights much to the delight of the endzone denizens. Unfortunately ineligible to suit up, his kicking prowess could have added some PATs to the Lion TDs.

Superintendent Ben Gilpin watches as his field goal attempt is good!