By Mark Blentlinger
After winning the SAC Valley Conference 5-0 and 8-1 in the regular season, the Golden Eagles qualified for the Division 7 playoffs. The first opponent they faced was the Vikings from Bronson at Roy Davis Field November 1.
The Eagles pulled off the win, defeating the Vikings 28-14. With that, they advanced to the District championship game against the Lawton Blue devils at Lawton’s field. With dedication and determination the Eagles topped the Blue Devils, 38-0, winning the Division 7 District Championship and sending them onto the next level of the bracket.
The next opponent standing in the Eagles’ way: the Hudson Tigers. The Eagles and the Tigers had met one just other time, in 2001 in a state semi final. The Eagles had come out on top 21-12 sending them to the state championship, winning by defeating McBain for the Division 6 State championship.
Against the Tigers, the Eagles started out slow and gave up a safety when Eagles punter Gavin Knowlton accidentally stepped out of the back of the endzone soon as he received the snap. giving the Tigers an early 2-0 lead. Shortly after that the Tigers worked the ball downfield and scored putting them up 10-0 with a 2-point conversion.
The Eagles were able to capitalize on a fumbled snap by the Tigers and recovered it on the Hudson 15-yard line The Eagles again had a little trouble getting something together and was facing a 4th and 23. Eagles Quarterback Jack DeVries took to the air and hit his cousin Landon DeVries in the endzone with a perfect pass, but on an extremely controversial call the referees called it off, stating DeVries did not have both feet down. At the end of the first quarter the Tigers still had a 10-0 lead.
It didn’t last long when DeVries hit TJ Luyten for a 51-yard pass, With a good extra point the Eagles shortened the difference 10-7. The Eagles again were able to put some good offense together and Jayden Reiber took the ball into the end zone from the Hudson 5-yard line, giving the Eagles the lead at 14-10
With the start of the 2nd half, both teams were doing everything they could to top the other. Finally with 7 seconds left in the 3rd quarter Evan Feller took the ball 32 yards into the endzone giving the visitors a 21-10 lead starting the last 12 minutes of play. In the final quarter the Eagles’ Cooper Howard hit paydirt, giving the Eagles an 18-point lead going up 28-10. Hudson was not finished. With some trickery, the Tigers ran a hook and ladder that went 80 yards. They tried a 2-point conversion that failed, putting the score 28-16. The game finished with that score and giving the Eagles the Division 7 Regional Championship and into the final 4 for the state championship.
The next obstacle for the Eagles was on November 22 at Harper Creek High school in Battle Creek where they faced the Falcons of Monroe St, Mary Catholic Central. Looking at both sidelines seemed very different with the Eagles having around 30 players while the Falcons had closer to 45. The Eagles attempted the first score with a field goal that Monroe blocked denying the Eagles’ first score. At the end of the first quarter the score was knotted up at 0-0. The Falcons were the first to score with a field goal, giving them a 3-0 lead The Eagles were able to go up 7-3 when Gavin Hart broke through the Falcon line from the 3-yard line. With 19 seconds left in the first half a pass from the Falcon Quarterback to a open receiver gave the falcons a 10-7 lead at halftime. The Falcons held the Eagles to no more scores but added 28 more giving them the win 38-7, sending them into the Division 7 state championship game at Ford Field on November 1. Head Coach Ferency told all the players as much as this loss hurts the boys had no reason to hold their heads down.”Keep your heads up as you leave. You all accomplished so much this season.”
The Eagles finished the season as Conference Champions, District Champions, Regional Champions and a final 4 team. The overall record for the team was 11-2 with a 86.7 win percentage. The Eagles scored a total of 440 points allowing only allowing 163 for 15 games, equaling 10.866 points per game.
