First off — huge shoutout to SportsNut Dave Osborne for helping us cover Friday night’s showdown. Couldn’t do what we do without our crew. If you’ve ever wanted to be on the sidelines, part of the action, and helping us tell these stories, check out catchmarksports.com/sportsnuts-what-is-it/ and see how you can join the team.
Now, onto the game.
If you asked any of our Friday Night Lights selection crew last week, we all would’ve rolled with the defending 2024 Division 3 state champion Zeeland West Dux. Would’ve was actually we all did go with the Dux. I mean, why wouldn’t we? But here’s the thing about the West Michigan Conference: the second you bet against it, it finds a way to bite back. Friday night, Whitehall proved that point loud and clear.
The Vikings wasted no time taking control, punching in three first-half touchdowns to build a commanding 21-0 lead at halftime. But the Dux didn’t win a state title last year by accident — they stormed out of the locker room with a vengeance, scoring 16 unanswered points in the third quarter to suddenly put the pressure right back on Whitehall.
From there it was a slugfest. Both teams traded blows in the fourth, but the Vikings answered every punch and held off Zeeland West just long enough to escape with a 35-28 victory.
The headliner was junior running back Liam Leeke, who absolutely torched the Dux for 241 yards on 34 carries — that’s nearly a first down every time he touched the ball — and piled up two touchdowns in the process. Quarterback Cole Essebaggers kept things balanced, tossing a touchdown pass and adding a pair of scores with his legs.
On the defensive side, Hunter Peterson led the charge with four tackles, including one for loss. Kolton Weiler and Cody Manzo each recorded four stops, while Colten Kyser chipped in two tackles, one of them behind the line.
Whitehall moves to 2-1, their only blemish still that hard-fought loss to Hudsonville Unity Christian earlier this season (recap here). Next up? The stage every Viking and Wildcat circles on the calendar: the Battle for the Bell. Whitehall marches across the bridge Friday to square off with rival Montague — and if Friday night was any preview, this year’s clash is probably going to be a must-see.
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