Five weeks of the 2023 high school football season are in the books for West Michigan Conference teams.
Here is a roundup of Week 5 games that took place Friday, Sept. 22.
If your team has only a score listed, then it’s because your stats and details were not reported to CatchMark. Please report scores, stats, and details by emailing sports@catchmarkit.com.
WMC LAKES
WHITEHALL 35, MANISTEE 0: In a matchup of unbeatens and teams ranked in the top five of their respective divisions, visiting Whitehall overwhelmed Manistee with its defense and big-play offense.
CLICK HERE for complete coverage.
LUDINGTON 34, MONTAGUE 31: David Shillinger scored two receiving touchdowns and two rushing TDs to help visiting Ludington spoil Montague’s homecoming night.
CLICK HERE for complete coverage.
OAKRIDGE 26, FREMONT 14: Visiting Oakridge scored two four-quarter touchdowns to break a 14-all halftime time in this WMC Lakes matchup. Evan Jozsa scored on a 6-yard pass from Evan Miller and Trever Jones capped the scoring with a 5-yard run to put it away for the Eagles (3-2, 2-1 WMC Lakes).
Jones led all rushers with 168 yards on 18 carries. He also completed a 76-yard TD pass to Brayden Cunningham. Bryce Bisson scored a rushing TD for Oakridge, plus he led the Eagles with nine tackles. Braydon Peterson had eight tackles for Oakridge, while Jullian Primmer and Zac Cribbins had seven stops each.
For Fremont (2-3, 0-2), Talen Reichert-Slater was 13-of-28 passing for 150 yards with one TD and one interception. Khai Noordyk ran 23 times for 68 yards and a TD, while Owen Hertel rushed six times for 53 yards. Daniel Romero had five receptions for 65 yards and a TD. Defensively, the Packers were led by Hertel’s eight tackles. Connor Pettis had seven tackles, while Kyler DeKuiper had four tackles, one forced fumble, and a recovery.
WMC RIVERS
NORTH MUSKEGON 34, HART 14: James Young passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in leading visiting North Muskegon past Hart in a battle of unbeatens and matchup of state-ranked teams.
CLICK HERE for complete coverage.
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL 34, RAVENNA 20: Visiting Mason County Central defeated Ravenna for the first time since 2015. Spartans head coach David Smith picked up the win over his alma mater, where he also used to coach.
Peyton Merz rushed 27 times for 142 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown, for MCC (3-2, 2-1 WMC Rivers). Pierce Bladzik was 3-of-5 passing, all three of his passes going for TDs. Eathen Huffman caught a pair of 6-yard scoring passes from Bladzik, while Colton Sanders hauled in a 33-yard scoring toss. Huffman led the Spartans defensively with six tackles, while Colter Kirchner had five tackles.
No stats or details were submitted by Ravenna, which is now 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the WMC Rivers.
SHELBY 21, HESPERIA 7: Host Shelby picked up its first win of the season in this WMC Rivers matchup. The Tigers are now 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the division. Hesperia is 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the division. No stats or details were submitted for this game.
NONCONFERENCE
MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL 27, ORCHARD VIEW 6: Host Muskegon Catholic Central won its third straight game in this nonconference matchup between former league foes. The Crusaders (3-2) built a 27-0 lead before Orchard View got on the board on Gerald Dyke Jr.’s 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
Total stats were even in many regards: Total plays (MCC 53-51), total yards (Orchard View 270-263), rushing yards (Orchard View 250-237), and first downs at 13 apiece.
Stephon Oakes led the Cardinals (2-3) defensively with six solo tackles and two assists. Curtis Scott had four solo tackles for OV.
WHITE CLOUD 66, HOLTON 12: Host White Cloud improved to 3-2 on the season with this nonleague win against former league foe Holton.
Riley Pierce was 6-of-11 passing for 58 yards with a TD and two interceptions for Holton, plus he ran for a score. David Addison rushed for 48 yards for the Red Devils (0-5), while Hunter Zang made three receptions for 62 yards and a TD.
