In a script somewhat familiar to last week’s season-opening win over Hudsonville Unity Christian, Whitehall’s football team went on the road again and earned a 41-30 nonleague victory over Hastings Thursday night.
Last week, Whitehall fell behind early and went back and forth in the first half with Unity Christian before pulling away in the second half for a 54-26 win. On Thursday, the Vikings trailed early and traded blows with Hastings in the first half en route to a 28-24 halftime lead.
Whitehall outscored Hastings in the third quarter, 13-0, to take the upper hand and cruised to the victory from there.
Junior quarterback Kyle Stratton finished 10-of-13 passing for 197 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions to lead the Vikings. He added 54 yards rushing and a TD on 14 carries.
Junior Trannon Aylor caught three passes for 94 yards and a TD, while senior Nate Bolley had two catches for 52 yards, both for TDs. Senior Jackson Cook ran seven times for a team-high 63 yards and a TD. Junior Malcolm Earvin also ran for a TD for Whitehall.
Cook also paced the Vikings defensively with 7.5 tackles, including 1.5 stops for lost yardage. Senior Jaiden Altgilbers had five tackles, including a tackle for loss. Bolley had an interception.
Whitehall outgained Hastings, 424-351, in total offense. The Vikings (2-0) were penalized nine times for 85 yards compared to three for 15 for the Saxons (1-1).
In Week 3, Whitehall hits the road yet again for a nonconference game against Alpena (1-1) at Ferris State University’s Top Taggart Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. next Friday.
LUDINGTON 55, SHELBY 7: Visiting Ludington outrushed Shelby 335-11 and outgained the Tigers in total offense 521-116 en route to a West Michigan Conference nondivisional win.
In Week 3, Ludington will head to Fremont for a battle of 2-0 teams in their WMC Lakes Division opener. It will be the North Grove Brewers West Michigan Conference Game of the Week, which will include a free livestream by CatchMark SportsNet.
Ludington’s Chase Hackert was 8-of-8 passing for 186 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also led the way rushing with 139 yards and three TDs on six attempts.
Trey Forfinski added 75 rushing yards and a TD. Levi Laman (two receptions, 88 yards) and Nathan Gilchrist (one catch, 25 yards) caught TD passes for the Orioles.
Luke Hackert and Kohlbe Nelson led Ludington defensively with four tackles apiece.
Travis Boughan completed 6 of 19 passes for Shelby (0-2) for 98 yards and a TD. Treyjin Walker had three catches for 55 yards and a TD for the Tigers.
FREMONT 24, BEAVERTON 7: Fremont is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2007 after a nonleague home victory over Beaverton.
The Packers used offensive balance and strong run defense to earn the victory. They outrushed Beaverton 210-16.
Fremont’s Justin Dirheimer ran for a game-high 171 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. He also caught a 33-yard TD pass from Kyler DeKuiper, who completed 7 of 13 passes for 109 yards and two scores. Owen Hertel caught a 10-yard TD pass for the Packers.
Connor Pettis paced Fremont defensively with six tackles, including a tackle for loss. Michael Romero and Asa Barnhard made four stops apiece for the Packers.
Beaverton slips to 0-2 on the season.
MANISTEE 27, MASON COUNTY CENTRAL 6: Manistee improved to 2-0 on the season with a WMC nondivisional road win.
Mason County Central (0-2) took a 6-0 first-quarter lead on Will Chye’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Kaiden Cole. Manistee answered and led 7-6 at the half before the Chippewas outscored the Spartans 13-0 in the third quarter and 20-0 in the second half.
Manistee outgained Mason County Central, 372-140. Nick Hornkohl ran 21 times for a game-high 118 yards and a TD, while Kaden Kott added 104 yards and two TDs on 18 carries. Jeff Huber also scored a rushing TD for the Chippewas.
Isaiah Davis had a team-high nine tackles for Manistee, which hosts Oakridge in a big WMC Lakes Division opener next Friday.
Chye finished 5-of-13 passing for 64 yards, plus he led the Spartans with 73 rushing yards on seven carries. Ethan Domin had nine solo tackles and six assists for MCC, which visits North Muskegon next Friday, while Jayden Perrone notched nine solos and five assists.
HART 38, WHITE CLOUD 19: Hart bounced back from a season-opening loss to Fremont with a road win over White Cloud.
Joseluis Andaverde led all rushers with 173 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries to power the Pirates. He also ran for three two-point conversions.
Hart finished with 278 rushing yards on 41 attempts, and 324 yards of total offense.
Jace Silverthorn led White Cloud (1-1) with 96 rushing yards and two TDs, while Landyn McGowen had 95 yards and a TD.
In Week 3, Hart hosts rival Shelby for the “Blood, Sweat & Tears” jug. That one kicks off at 7 p.m. next Friday.
HESPERIA 18, ST. LOUIS 12: Tyler Fehler picked up his first win as a head coach as Hesperia edged visiting St. Louis in a nonleague game.
Alex Gleason ran 13 times for 91 yards and a touchdown, while he also completed 10 of 16 passes for 71 yards to lead the Panthers (1-1). Mav McKinnon had two carries for 20 yards and a TD, plus he led the defense with seven tackles.
Skyler Stalbaum had six tackles and an interception for Hesperia, while Gleason and Marcus Hoaglin notched six stops each.
Ian Fox had an interception and he caught a two-point conversion for the Panthers, who visit White Cloud next Friday for another nonleague contest.
St. Louis falls to 0-2 on the season.
PERRY 49, HOLTON 0: Host Holton dropped to 0-2 on the season with a nonleague loss to Perry. The Red Devils host Ravenna next Friday in a West Michigan Conference Rivers Division opener.
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