The second slate of Division 7 playoff games on Saturday delivered two very different storylines — both leading to an exciting district championship matchup next week. North Muskegon stormed through Saranac with an explosive offensive start and a stingy defense, while No. 2-ranked Pewamo-Westphalia turned a tight first half into a convincing win over Ravenna after a dominant third quarter.
Norsemen Dominate From the Start
North Muskegon came out firing, jumping ahead 21-0 in the opening quarter. Quarterback James Colbert connected on several deep passes, including one that stretched the lead to 28-0 late in the second quarter. Running back Hunter Wilder also sparked the offense with an early 70-yard touchdown run that set the tone.
Defensively, the Norsemen didn’t give Saranac much room to breathe. They pressured the quarterback, clogged running lanes, and forced multiple short drives. By halftime, North Muskegon held a commanding 28-0 lead, and they added another score early in the second half to make it 34-0, effectively sealing the victory.
The win keeps North Muskegon’s postseason hopes alive and sends them into the district championship against one of the state’s top-ranked programs.
Ravenna’s Strong Start Overshadowed by Pewamo-Westphalia’s Big Third Quarter
Meanwhile in Pewamo, Ravenna went toe-to-toe with Pewamo-Westphalia through much of the first half, trailing by just two points at the break, 14-12. Quarterback Dylan May found Aiden Ford for a touchdown that gave the Bulldogs early momentum, and the defense came up with several key stops to keep the game within reach.
However, the tide turned quickly after halftime. Pewamo-Westphalia capitalized on turnovers and scored 27 unanswered points in the third quarter, including multiple touchdown passes from quarterback Ty Thelen. The surge put the Pirates in complete control, and they closed out the game with a 41-12 victory.
Ravenna’s season ends with a 4-6 record, highlighted by flashes of toughness and progress against a challenging schedule. Pewamo-Westphalia, now 9-0, remains unbeaten and will host North Muskegon next week in the District Final.
Next Stop: District Championship Showdown
Next week’s matchup between North Muskegon and Pewamo-Westphalia promises to be one of the most anticipated Division 7 playoff games in the state. The Norsemen’s explosive offense will be tested by the Pirates’ disciplined, turnover-hungry defense.
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