‘Cats absorb 15th straight defeat on gridiron, 42-28

The Wayland High School varsity football team is proving it’s still rebuilding, as it lost 42-28 at Middleville Thornapple Kellogg Friday night.

It was the Wildcats’ 15^th consecutive defeat over the past three seasons, approaching its last victory drought of 18 straight from 2011 to 2013.

It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this for those fans who put a lot of faith onto scores against common opponents. Middleville also entered the contest with an 0-2 record and had lost by wider margins to common O-K Gold Conference foes Cedar Springs (32-7) and Grand Rapids Catholic Central (50-7).

It was a disastrous start that doomed Wayland, as it fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and was in danger of going into intermission down 28-0.

But the ‘Cats put together a two-minute drill style drive late in the first half, going 65 yards and capping it with a one-yard quarterback sneak by Justin Holtz. They were helped by three TK penalties and Holtz picked up a lot of yardage on a scramble.

They were able to cut their deficit to 28-14 in the third period, but the Trojans answered. They came back again with an 80-yard drive, with a long pass from Holtz to Ian Thompson putting the ball at the 25-yard line. Holtz picked up a first down with two keepers and he did an encore with a sneak over the goal line to bring the count to 35-21.

But Middleville came up with another touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Wildcats did another two-minute drill style march late in the fourth period, with Holtz hitting Dustin Simmons with a six-yard TD strike. But kicker Aadon Wagner’s interesting onside kick attempt failed and TK was able to cap off the evening by taking three consecutive knees.

The Wildcats will try to end the losing streak at homecoming this Friday against Forest Hills Eastern, the last team they beat, back in 2018.