I have a couple of things I would like to say prior to getting into this article. First, I want to throw out a huge thank you to our SportsNut Jay Courtland. He has been an absolute stud for us throughout the last two years. He does great work and, when what I would call the archon of CatchMark Technologies was present with some quilts of Valor on Friday, say things like “Jay was awesome, really got into the action,” you know you have found the guy. We are so lucky to have you on our team Jay. Thank you. Oh, and don’t want to forget, thank you to Isaiah King for taking some excellent photos! Those will be posted throughout this article!
Now, that leads me to my second item of business today, Ludington fans, I meant no harm in picking the Cats over y’all. Montague is my hometown and I may have had a little bit of a “The boys in blue moment.” That moment, of course, proceeded to bite me in the arse when the Orioles swooped in and absolutely dismantled the Cats. Montague, I may owe all of you an apology. Maybe I stirred the nest and gave the Orioles some extra motivation to put on a show.
Well, enough of my babbling. Prior to the game, we had an awesome ceremony put on by Jacquie Wood and her crew. The Wildcat Salute honored our service members, first responders, fire and police, and so many more. A reminder of the people who keep us free every day.
Now let’s get into the game. The Cats entered Friday sitting at 1-3, and while that record looked rough on paper, it didn’t tell the whole story. Two of those losses were heartbreakers — one by two points to Oakridge and another by just a touchdown to rival Whitehall. They had been close, competitive, and scrappy. Ludington, on the other hand, hadn’t been touched. The Orioles had been flying high with four straight wins, all blowouts by nearly four touchdowns or more.
Montague’s game plan was simple: hang on to the football, chew clock, and limit possessions. It worked against Whitehall for long stretches, but against Ludington the wheels came off in the worst way possible. Six turnovers by the Wildcats gave the Orioles all the fuel they needed, and by the time the night was over, Ludington walked out with a 49-0 shutout.
Things started with promise for Montague, who drove into Oriole territory on their opening possession. But a fumble set them back, forcing a punt, and from there the miscues snowballed. Ludington turned a third-and-long into a massive gain and cashed in for the game’s opening score. That sequence set the tone — every time Montague threatened to push back, the Orioles answered with speed, precision, and playmaking all over the field.
The Wildcats were especially hurt by the absence of some key names. Explosive receiver Cole Moss didn’t suit up, and injuries across the offensive line forced constant reshuffling. Without stability up front, Montague struggled to protect the football or establish rhythm. Even when they generated a spark, like a third-quarter interception deep in their own territory, it turned into another uphill battle as they were forced to start drives with their backs against the wall.
By the final whistle, Ludington had stacked up points through the air, on the ground, and even on defense with a late pick-six. Montague, meanwhile, was left searching for answers after its first shutout loss in two years.
At the end of the night, the story was about depth and execution. Ludington had it everywhere, Montague simply didn’t. And when turnovers pile up, even the best-laid game plan doesn’t stand a chance.
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