FRUITPORT – In a game filled with big plays, Fruitport’s football team proved to have many more of them and made enough stops on defense to finish off a 54-28 victory over Ludington in a Division 4 first-round playoff game Friday night at Doc Pierce Field.
The teams traded touchdowns twice in the first quarter, when ended with Fruitport holding a 16-14 edge. The Trojans broke it open in the second quarter, outscoring the Orioles 30-0 in the frame and cruising to the victory.
Fruitport (8-2), which shared the OK Blue Conference title with Grand Rapids West Catholic, has earned a district finals showdown with Whitehall (10-0). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. next Friday at Whitehall.
Ludington, a newcomer to the West Michigan Conference, finishes a solid season with a 7-3 record.
Here are notables and other details from the game:
This was Fruitport’s first home playoff game and first postseason win in 16 years.
Ludington led 7-0 three minutes into the game on Chase Hackert’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Aidan Gilchrist. The Orioles then led 14-8 with 4:55 left in the quarter on Hackert’s 5-yard run.
Fruitport senior running back Paschal Jolman was a game-breaker. He busted a 93-yard touchdown run during the Trojans’ second-quarter outburst and finished the night with a game-high 227 yards and three TDs on 13 carries. That’s good for 17.5 yards per carry.
Fruitport senior quarterback Collin Jolman added 61 yards and two TDs on five carries. He averaged 12.2 yards per carry. Jolman also completed 7 of 11 passes for 134 yards with two TDs and no interceptions.
Fruitport’s Bobby Canfield turned both of his receptions into TDs, one for 8 yards and the other for 44 yards.
Fruitport’s Daiton Campbell led his team defensively with 6.5 tackles, while Brock Dornbos made six stops.
Ludington senior quarterback Chase Hackert completed 12 of 27 passes for 222 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.
Ludington senior David Shillinger caught two passes for 87 yards. Seniors Levin Laman and Aidan Gilchrist each had a TD reception. Laman made four passes for 77 yards.
Ludington senior Trey Forfinski rushed for 31 yards on 12 carries. He paced the Orioles defensively with 5.5 tackles.
Ludington junior Gage Jones made four stops.
Fruitport outgained Ludington in total offense, 461-285.
Fruitport and Ludington are former conference opponents going back to their days in the Seaway Conference, Western Waterways and Lakes 8.