Eight weeks of the 2023 high school football season are in the books for West Michigan Conference teams.
Here is a roundup of Week 8 games that took place Friday, Oct. 13.
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 56, FREMONT 0: Whitehall clinched the outright title in the WMC Lakes Division with this win, coupled with Manistee’s loss at Montague. It’s the third straight WMC championship for the Vikings, who have posted four shutouts in five divisional games.
CLICK HERE for complete coverage.
MONTAGUE 24, MANISTEE 22: Host Montague picked up a huge win, knocking off Division 6 sixth-ranked Manistee behind Adam Baird’s monster game. The Wildcats senior rushed for 201 yards and scored all three of his team’s touchdowns, plus he recorded a key sack late in the game.
CLICK HERE for complete coverage.
LUDINGTON 41, ORCHARD VIEW 14: Visiting Ludington snapped a two-game skid with a runaway victory at Orchard View in WMC Lakes play.
Ludington sophomore QB Cameron Gunsell had a big game. He ran 19 times for 231 yards and four TDs, plus he completed 7 of 9 passes for 100 yards and two more scores. Joe Benz ran eight times for 50 yards for the Orioles (4-4, 3-3 WMC Lakes), while Gage Jones had four receptions for 85 yards and two TDs. Deric Duncil led Ludington’s defense with nine tackles, while Jones notched seven stops. Cam Fetter and Jeron Hathaway recorded fumble recoveries.
Enrique Gutierrez ran eight times for 42 yards and a TD for Orchard View. Sam Jordan broke free for an 83-yard run for the Cardinals (3-5, 1-4) to close the game’s scoring. Korson Bowen led OV defensively with four solo tackles, two assists, and a tackle for loss.
WMC NONDIVISIONAL
OAKRIDGE 48, RAVENNA 13: Host Ravenna jumped on Oakridge early with Derek Finlay’s 70-yard TD run in the first minute of the game. The contest was tied at 7 midway through the second quarter before the Eagles began to pull away. Oakridge scored seven straight TDs between Ravenna’s first and second TDs.
Oakridge outgained Ravenna in total yards, 372-127, including 289-92 in rushing yards. Bryson Stephenson led the balanced Eagles (5-3) with 92 yards and a TD on 15 carries. Trever Jones ran 15 times for 75 yards and two TDs, while Bryce Bisson had 76 yards and a TD on only four carries. Evan Miller completed 3 of 5 passes for 83 yards and two TDs, one to Jones and the other to Braydon Peterson. Stephenson also led Oakridge defensively with seven tackles, including to tackles for loss. Jullian Primmer notched six stops for the Eagles.
For Ravenna (3-5), Finlay finished with 80 yards on nine carries. Nick Mabrito finished with 10 tackles to lead the Bulldogs defense, while Finlay recorded nine stops. Blake Homoly scored the second TD for the ‘Dogs on a 7-yard run.
WMC RIVERS
NORTH MUSKEGON 64, HOLTON 0: North Muskegon secured at least a share of the WMC Rivers Division title, the second in a row. This game was scheduled to be played at North Muskegon’s Fred Jacks Memorial Field, but it was moved to Holton’s turf in an attempt to preserve the Norse’s grass field for the playoffs.
Hunter Wilder, Jourdan Ealom-Yff, and Cullen Bartos all had big nights running the ball for North Muskegon (8-0, 5-0 WMC Rivers), which is ranked No. 2 in Division 7. Wilder rushed three times for 165 yards and three TDs, Ealom-Yff ran seven times for 104 yards and three scores, and Bartos had three carries for 120 yards and a TD. Alec Newville and Bryce Colbert also scored rushing TDs for the Norse. James Young was 3-for-3 passing for 102 yards and a TD. TJ Byard made two catches for 61 yards and a TD. Defensively, Chuck Meyers notched six tackles, one for lost yardage. Henry Hussman had five tackles, one for lost yardage, while Jack McNally and Wilder also recorded five tackles apiece. Newville, AJ Larkin, and Lamarkis Graham each picked off passes for North Muskegon.
For Holton (0-8, 0-5), Riley Pierce finished with 59 yards passing and 18 rushing, while Hunter Zang had 30 yards receiving and 24 rushing.
HART 54, HESPERIA 0: Visiting Hart rolled to the WMC Rivers victory over Hesperia and notched its seventh win, the most in a season for the Pirates since the eight-win team in 1968. Seven wins ties the 1951 and 1952 Hart teams for second-most victories in a season for the program.
Joseluis Andaverde ran wild again for Hart, finishing with 207 yards and two TDs on 17 carries. Austin Martinez ran for 84 yards and three TDs on only four carries for the Pirates, who have scored more than 300 points in a season for the first time in school history. Peydan Stone led Hart with seven tackles, while Alex Hicks had five tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. Connor Edwards made six stops for the Pirates, who have posted multiple shutouts in a season for the first time since 1994.
No stats or details were submitted for Hesperia (1-7, 0-5).
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL 28, SHELBY 7: Mason County Central secured its first winning season since 2015 with the home victory over Shelby.
Tyler Norton had a big night for the Spartans (5-3, 4-2 WMC Rivers), rushing for 216 yards and three TDs on 37 carries. Gus McLouth ran seven times for 55 yards. Pierce Bladzik completed 4 of 8 passes for 49 yards and a TD with no interceptions. Eathen Huffman caught a TD pass for MCC. Gradyn Wilson led the Spartans defense with four solo tackles, one assist, and three tackles for loss. Colton Sanders also had four solo tackles for MCC along with a TFL.
No stats or details were submitted for Shelby (2-6, 2-3).
