It was a thrilling night under the lights as CatchMark SportsNet covered six high school football matchups across the region. From blowouts to comebacks to classic rivalry showdowns, Week 8 delivered a full slate of drama. Here’s a recap of every game.
At Cardinal Stadium, Ludington continued their dominant season with another decisive performance on both sides of the ball. The Orioles jumped out to a 14–0 lead in the first quarter and controlled the pace early. Orchard View showed fight, scoring right before halftime thanks to a kickoff return from Reese and a two-point conversion to make it 28–8 at the break. However, Ludington’s offense exploded in the second half, capitalizing on turnovers and controlling field position. The Orioles extended their lead to 48–8 by the end of the third quarter before cruising to a 55–15 final. Ludington remains unbeaten with one week left in the regular season.
Muskegon 61, Reeths-Puffer 7 – Big Reds Roll Again
Muskegon flexed its firepower in a conference battle at Reeths-Puffer. The Big Reds struck early and often, building a 13–0 lead in the first quarter and piling up points behind a powerful rushing attack. Arquez Petty added a 7-yard touchdown, followed by Mason Darke’s electrifying 84-yard kickoff return to ignite the sideline. Junior quarterback M’Khi Chandler contributed a 20-yard touchdown run as Muskegon took firm control. By halftime, Muskegon led 40–7 and never looked back, finishing with one of their most dominant wins of the season. The Rockets simply couldn’t keep pace with the Big Reds’ speed and physicality.
Whitehall 56, Fremont 0 – Vikings Dominate in Shutout Fashion
Whitehall delivered a statement victory against Fremont behind a balanced and explosive offense. Liam Leeke opened scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run, and the Vikings never took their foot off the gas. Quarterback Corde Anderson connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass, and Hunter Osborne added a 60-yard score to highlight a big-play night. Whitehall led 42–0 at halftime and capped things off with second-half touchdowns from Isaiah Lewis, who scored twice. The Vikings controlled every phase of the game and posted a dominant 56–0 shutout win.
Montague 24, Manistee 22 – Wildcats Hold On in Homecoming Thriller
In our featured rivalry battle at Townsend Field, Montague edged Manistee in a high-energy homecoming showdown. Montague set the tone early with quarterback Eli Petersen scoring twice on keepers to give the Wildcats a 21–6 lead late in the first half. But Manistee stormed back behind Neil-Berry’s touchdown pass to Guenthardt and a late third-quarter score from Zimmerman to pull ahead 22–21. Montague responded in the fourth quarter, converting a key interception by Logan Roesler into points. Kicker Henderson booted a clutch field goal to give the Wildcats a 24–22 lead, and the defense closed it out in dramatic fashion. Montague improves to 4–4 heading into Week 9.
Oakridge 26, Ravenna 29 – Bulldogs Rally for Game of the Week Comeback
In the CatchMark Game of the Week, Ravenna delivered a comeback for the ages. Oakridge came out strong, jumping to a 20–0 halftime lead behind physical line play and a steady ground game. But the Bulldogs refused to go quietly. Ravenna chipped away in the third quarter and entered the fourth trailing just 20–14. Momentum swung completely in the final minutes as Ravenna took its first lead of the night, 29–26, with just over a minute remaining. The Bulldogs’ defense made one final stop to seal the win and stun the Eagles on the road. A rivalry classic from start to finish.
North Muskegon 56, Newaygo 34 – Norsemen Outlast Lions in Shootout
In a high-scoring affair, North Muskegon and Newaygo traded big plays all night long. The Norsemen led 35–20 after a pair of third-quarter touchdowns and a fumble recovery but had to survive a push from the Lions, who cut the deficit to 35–26. Quarterback Cullen Bartos powered NM late, finding Bryce Colbert for a 43-yard touchdown in the fourth and punching in another score himself. North Muskegon finished strong, winning 56–34 and improving to 6–2 on the season. They travel to Oakridge next week in another marquee matchup.
Hart 44, Hesperia 21 – Pirates Power Past Panthers
Hart wasted little time getting on the board, scoring on a long touchdown run early in the first quarter. Momentum flipped briefly as both teams traded interceptions, including a Panthers pick-six, but the Pirates took control behind a physical run game and big plays on special teams. By halftime, Hart held a 20–14 lead and continued to pull away in the second half. The Pirates closed out a strong road win, improving their offensive rhythm heading into Week 9.
