It was supposed to be a spectacular “Battle of the Titans” Friday night between homesteading Gobles and visiting Martin. But the latter prevailed with a surprisingly decisive 52-6 verdict.
Both teams were undefeated when the opening kickoff took place. Gobles had scored 142 points in its three wins and Martin’s total was an even more hefty 165, a 55 points per game average.
Things went south quickly for the Tigers, as Martin quickly scored four touchdowns en route to a 36-6 advantage at the half. The Clippers added two TDs a and two, two-point conversions in the second half to turn the anticipated showdown into a rout.
Martin now has scored a whopping 217 points in its four early season victories. And it will take its impressive 4-0 record next Friday into battle with Eau Claire, which has a respectable 2-1 record, but its one loss was a blowout decision vs. Gobles.
Forest Hills Eastern 27 Wayland 16
Forest Hills Eastern Friday evening handed Wayland its third straight loss, 27-16.
The Wildcats had won their season opener against Lansing Waverly, but since then have lost to Sparta, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg and now the team coach Tim Gibson used to guide after leaving Wayland earlier in this century.
The contest was somewhat unusual in that both teams successfully kicked at least one field goal. Both had one three-pointer by halftime as the Hawks led 17-3. Forest Hills kicked another in the second half while the Wildcats scored two TDs, but no conversions in the second half.
Wayland will have a decent change to turn things around next Friday when it plays a Hamilton team that also is 1-3, with its only victory coming at the expense of Grand Rapids Union.
Wyoming Godwin Heights 26 Hopkins 16
There was a time in recent years when Wyoming Godwin Heights was dismissed as “a basketball school” that offered O-K Silver Conference grid teams a breather on their schedule.
To quote 1970s crooner Eric Carman, “Those days are gone.”
The Wolverines have come up with a passing game that helped propel them to a 26-16 triumph over Hopkins and hike their overall season record to 3-1. Hopkins is 2-2.
Godwin passed for an impressive 255 yards for the evening. Scoring three touchdowns through the airways.
Viking Jaxson Koperski started the scoring in the opening quarter by coming up with a safety, but then the Wolverines responded with a five-yard TD run. Justin VanWagner crossed goal line from five yards out just before halftime and Hopkins pulled to within four, 14-10, at intermission.
Godwin came up with two TD passes in the fourth period and VanWagner closed the scoring with a two-yard run.
VanWagner gained 84 yards in 22 carries and QB Merek Zapolnik had 42 in 10 attempts and 45 yards passing.
Henry Teunissen had 11 total tackles to lead the defensive unit.
