Photos by Letisha Mikkelsen for CatchMark
Montague and Ravenna have played some hard-fought, close football games in recent seasons.
The latest matchup Thursday night at Townsend Athletic Complex did not seem to follow that script through the majority of the contest, but it sure ended up that way.
Montague held on for a 39-34 victory over Ravenna, which put a late scare into the Wildcats, who had enjoyed an 18-point lead with 8:51 remaining in the game.
Senior receiver Paul Olson and sophomore quarterback Mason Darke had big nights for the Wildcats, who rebounded from the season-opening home loss to Spring Lake.
Watch the highlights and reaction video here with footage provided by Bill O’Connell:
Here are more details and notables from the game:
- Montague took control in the first half, building a 14-0 lead just past the midway point of the opening quarter. Senior Adam Baird scored on a 21-yard run and Darke scored on a 19-yard run. Ravenna pulled within a score in the closing seconds of the first quarter on a 32-yard TD pass from senior Blake Homoly to senior Chase Thomas.
- Montague regained its two-touchdown advantage early in the second quarter on an 8-yard scoring run by Baird. The Wildcats led 20-7 at halftime.
- The second half got interesting. Ravenna pulled within 20-14 on senior Drew Mabrito’s 3-yard TD run with 7:18 left in the third quarter, but two big pass plays (74 and 76 yards) from Darke to Olson gave Montague a 33-14 cushion that the Wildcats held entering the fourth quarter.
- Ravenna pulled within 33-21 one minute into the fourth quarter on Derek Finlay’s 1-yard run, but Montague answered back on Darke’s 45-yard TD run to take a 39-21 lead with just under 9 minutes remaining in the game.
- Ravenna struck back on Homoly’s 20-yard scoring pass to Thomas with 5:46 left to make it 39-27, then the Bulldogs hit another TD pass from Homoly to Thomas covering 33 yards with 2:45 remaining to pull within 39-34.
- Ravenna got the ball back with one last chance, but a fumble essentially sealed the win for Montague.
- Olson caught six passes from Darke for 184 yards and two TDs. His scoring plays came within minutes of each other late in the third quarter, covering 74 and 76 yards.
- Darke finished 13-of-15 passing for 278 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. He also led the Wildcats in rushing with 96 yards and two TDs on 22 carries.
- Montague senior Adam Baird ran 12 times for 58 yards and two TDs.
- Defensively, senior Austin Cook led Montague with 10 tackles.
- Montague junior Ryver Jarka made seven stops, while sophomores Cooper Bradley and Fletcher Thommen recorded five tackles apiece.
- Homoly finished 15-of-25 passing for 220 yards with three TDs and one interception for Ravenna. Thomas completed his lone pass attempt for 36 yards.
- Thomas caught seven passes for 160 yards for the ‘Dogs. Mabrito made five receptions for 51 yards.
- Mabrito led the Bulldogs’ ground game with 55 yards on 14 carries. Homoly ran 11 times for 51 yards.
- Finlay paced Ravenna’s defense with eight solo tackles and two assists.
- Mabrito had six solos and one assist for the Bulldogs.
- Carter Schullo notched five solo tackles and one assist for Ravenna.
- Next up: Montague (1-1) visits Orchard View (2-0) in a WMC Lakes Division opener at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Meanwhile, Ravenna (0-2) hosts Holton (0-2) in a WMC Rivers Division opener at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8.
DON’T FORGET THE TIKTOK
Which student section brought its game better: Montague or Ravenna? Watch the TikTok below and be the judge!
