HUDSONVILLE — A young and promising Whitehall squad faced a tough challenge in their season opener, suffering a decisive 43-21 defeat against Unity Christian. This loss drops Whitehall to 0-1 overall, marking a challenging start for the Vikings, who many had expected to hold their own against the Crusaders.
Unity Christian proved to be a well-oiled machine, executing flawlessly on both offense and defense. The Crusaders showcased their versatility, excelling in both the passing and running games, leaving the Vikings struggling to keep up.
Whitehall’s offense, led by first-year quarterback Cam Thompson, had its share of difficulties. Thompson opened the game with an impressive pass over the center, showing flashes of potential. However, his inexperience showed when he threw a poorly timed interception after a defensive stop, halting the Vikings’ momentum.
“We have a lot of learning going on right now across the board,” said Coach Tony Sigmon. “We’ll settle in and be just fine. It’s good film to go ahead and teach from, and I’m not really that concerned about it right now.”
Despite the setback, Thompson displayed glimpses of talent, connecting with receivers Abram Stoudt and Corde Anderson on several notable plays. As the game progressed, Thompson temporarily moved to wide receiver, a position he played most of last season.
“We just wanted to see if we could do it or not,” Coach Sigmon explained. “We want to be as dynamic as possible.”
While the season opener didn’t go as hoped for the Vikings, the team remains optimistic about their potential to grow and improve as the season continues.
Notable Plays from Tonight:
- Cam Thompson opened the game with a pass over centerfield for a touchdown. Starting off the game 7-0 for the Vikings.
- Gavin Craner hit a pocket and scored the second of the Vikings four touchdowns.
- RB Craner was the heart of the ground game for the Vikings, taking most of the touches there.
- Cam Thompson switched to WR and was a target twice at that position, catching both.
- Abram Stoudt emerged as the go-to receiver for the Vikings throughout the game. He was targeted on multiple occasions, consistently proving himself as a reliable option for Whitehall.
- Towards the latter half of the 4th Quarter, Ryan Goodrich caught a pass for about 40 solid yards, giving the Vikings solid position for a score.
- Midway through the second half, Corde Anderson was involved in a heated moment that led to two significant penalties. He was flagged for a late hit and subsequently for a “Removal of Helmet” penalty. These infractions not only cost the Vikings valuable yardage but also forced him to sit out for a substantial chunk of the third quarter.
- Brock Morningstar aced every PAT attempt and made several well-mannered kicks for the Vikings as the primary kicker.
Thank you to our SportsNuts, Zoie French and Shayla Hardy for the wonderful pics and videos!
