Photos by Emma Pendell for CatchMark
Football teams for Oakridge and Montague knew they were headed to the playoffs regardless of the outcome in their rivalry game Friday.
Looks like Oakridge enters with momentum and Montague goes in looking to rebound.
Oakridge rode its running game, led by senior Trever Jones, en route to a 35-14 victory over Montague at Russell A. Erickson Stadium.
Jones carried the ball 32 times for a game-high 173 yards and four touchdowns. He scored on runs of 3, 1, 4, and 24 yards.
It’s the third straight convincing win for the Eagles, who take a 6-3 record into the Division 5 playoffs. They were 4-2 in the West Michigan Conference Lakes Division, tied for second place with Manistee behind unbeaten Whitehall.
Montague heads to the Division 6 playoffs with a 4-5 record. The Wildcats were 3-3 in the WMC Lakes.
Photos by Kiara Mikkelsen for CatchMark
Here are more details and notables from the game:
- Oakridge outrushed Montague, 330-130. The Eagles outgained the Wildcats in total offense, 342-229.
- Oakridge’s Bryson Stephenson provided a fine complement to Jones, rushing for 116 yards and a TD on 21 carries. Stephenson scored on a 35-yard run.
- Stephenson paced Oakridge defensively with five unassisted tackles.
- Jones had three solo tackles and two assists for the Eagles.
- Oakridge’s Brody Jennings notched four tackles.
- Montague’s Adam Baird rushed for 87 yards and two TDs on 10 carries.
- Montague’s Mason Darke completed 6 of 16 passes for 125 yards with no TDs and one interception. He ran nine times for 29 yards.
- Montague’s Paul Olson caught three passes for 54 yards.
- Defensively, Ryver Jarka led Montague with seven solo tackles and two assists.
- Montague’s Talan Degen had seven solo tackles and one assist.
- Montague’s Tavian Caszatt recorded six solo tackles.
- Montague’s Ezekial Morales notched four solo tackles and five assists.
