Michael Romero’s pick-6 early in the third quarter broke a tie and Justin Dirheimer’s touchdown run early in the fourth gave Fremont some breathing room in a 20-8 season-opening football victory over host Hart Friday night.
The teams were tied at 8 at halftime, but the Packers pitched a shutout in the second half and gave head coach Jared Hudson a win in his debut game with his alma mater.
Dirheimer, who was a 1,000-yard rusher last season, finished with 182 yards on 31 carries. His 4-yard TD run with 9:36 left in the game gave Fremont a 20-8 lead.
Romero paced Fremont defensively with 6 1/2 tackles, including one stop for lost yardage. Owen Hertel had 4 1/2 tackles, including a sack, for the Packers.
Fremont held Hart to 98 yards of offense, while the Packers generated 255 yards of their own.
Fremont finished with a 28:57-19:03 advantage in time of possession.
No stats or details were submitted by Hart.
WHITE CLOUD 40, SHELBY 20: Host Shelby jumped out to a 12-0 lead, but the Tigers could not slow down Jace Silverthorn and White Cloud. Silverthorn rushed for 315 yards and four touchdowns to power the Indians.
Travis Boughan paced Shelby with 12 tackles, plus he scored two rushing TDs and passed for another score. Boughan was 12-of-24 passing for 156 yards. Bishop Lee caught five passes for 72 yards and a TD for the Tigers.
FRANKFORT 33, MASON COUNTY CENTRAL 16: Host Mason County Central held an 8-6 halftime lead, but Frankfort took control in the second half.
Will Chye finished 4-of-14 passing for 58 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions for MCC. Peyton Merz ran 19 times for 87 yards to lead the Spartans on the ground, while Jayden Perrone had two carries for 44 yards and a TD.
Kolden Myer led MCC defensively with seven solo tackles and three assists. Frankfort held a slight edge in total offense, 248-233. The Spartans had four turnovers to only one for the Panthers.
MANTON 37, HESPERIA 34: Host Hesperia dropped a tough game to Manton in Tyler Fehler’s head-coaching debut for the Panthers.
Alex Gleason was 11-of-26 passing for 124 yards with two TDs for Hesperia, plus he ran 10 times for 78 yards. Skyler Stalbaum added 63 rushing yards on 12 carries for the Panthers. Brock Bolles made six receptions for 67 yards and a TD, and he led the defense with 10 tackles. Maverick McKinnon made nine stops, while Noah Walker had eight tackles.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Coverage of the North Muskegon-Muskegon Catholic Central and Ravenna-Beal City games to come.
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