Vikings Remain Undefeated in Conference Play, Taking Down the Mariners

MANISTEE — The Vikings left zero doubt Friday night. Whitehall delivered a complete performance on both sides of the ball, smothering Manistee 46-0 and flexing the kind of dominance that makes you think this squad is hitting its stride at just the right time.

The defense set the tone. Against Manistee’s wing-T, a scheme that can make you miserable if you’re not disciplined, Whitehall slammed the door. The Mariners managed just 115 total yards and were a miserable 2-for-17 on third downs. Every time Manistee thought it found daylight, a swarm of Vikings was already waiting. Corde Anderson was flying around with 11 tackles, while Colten Kyser added the exclamation point with a pick-six just before halftime that sent Whitehall jogging into the break up 26-0. Ballgame.

The offense wasn’t messing around either. On their third offensive play — and facing a third-and-22, no less — quarterback Cole Essebaggers uncorked a deep strike to Anderson for a 74-yard touchdown that sent the Vikings sideline into a frenzy. From there, Essebaggers was everywhere: three rushing scores, another touchdown through the air, and 200+ total yards of production. Add in 65 hard yards from Liam Leeke and some big grabs by Musk and Osborne, and suddenly the Vikings looked like an offense that can hurt you in a dozen different ways.

The second half was about efficiency. Whitehall put together three long, clock-eating touchdown drives, mixing the run and pass, leaning on an offensive line that owned the trenches from start to finish. By the time the final whistle blew, the Vikes had strung together four straight wins, outscoring opponents 162-20 in that span.

If last week’s rivalry win over Montague was about emotion, this one was about execution. Whitehall is 4-1 overall, 3-0 in the West Michigan Conference Lakes, and looking more dangerous with each passing week.

The Ludington V Whitehall matchup, couldn’t come any sooner…

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