The Vicksburg varsity football team finally turned the tables on Edwardsburg after several seasons of frustration, defeating the Eddies in a back-and-forth nailbiter.
Edwardsburg began the game in typical fashion; with a long scoring drive and successful two-point try that gave it an early 8-0 lead. The two teams then traded scores back and forth through the second quarter. Mitchell Beyer kicked a 45-yard field goal, but a missed extra point made the score 22-16 at the half.
The Bulldogs finally took the lead in the third quarter on a two-yard rushing touchdown from Michael Johnson. The extra point made the score 23-22. This set up a wild finish where the two teams traded the lead back and forth five times. It looked like Edwardsburg might sneak away with the win when they took 31-28 lead with less than three minutes left in the game.
However, Vicksburg responded in less than a minute thanks to a huge, 69-yard touchdown throw from Easton Moughton to Maguire Bowles. The extra point made the score 38-35. Vicksburg then intercepted the Eddies QB as they tried to mount a final comeback.
Travis Hostetler had four receptions for 88 yards in the contest. Breckin Meeks had 14 carries for 140 yards and a touchdown.
Vicksburg’s strong start to the year was diluted by a 1-3 record over their final four games. That was after the team started off the season 4-1. Unfortunately, the final stretch included powerhouse teams like Niles and Paw Paw. In the Niles game, the Bulldogs were unable to contain the Vikings’ high-octane offense. Subsequently, Vicksburg was subjected to a running clock early as Niles took a 35-0 halftime lead. The Bulldogs’ only score of the game came late on third and five from Vicksburg’s own 26-yard line.
Moughton made a great pass that connected with Bowles in stride. Bowles turned the ball up field and outran a defender for a 76-yard touchdown. The extra point made the score Niles 42, Vicksburg 7. This also ended up being the final score of the game.
The Bulldogs faced similar frustrations against a surging Paw Paw Red Wolves team. Vicksburg had a strong opening drive that stalled at the Paw Paw 15-yard line. Beyer booted a long field goal to make it 3-0 early. However, the lead was short-lived. The Red Wolves’ punishing ground game helped Paw Paw take the lead on the next drive. Moughton connected on a 45-yard bomb pass to Hostetler the following drive. Unfortunately, the drive stalled and Beyer kicked a second field goal in the first quarter to make things 7-6.
That was the last score of the night for the Bulldogs. Paw Paw won the contest 42-6 thanks to a punishing rushing attack. The loss sets up Vicksburg for a rematch against Edwardsburg on the road in the playoffs on Halloween night.
