It wasn’t supposed to be close, but the Wayland varsity football team scared the dickens out of heavily-favored Grand Rapids Christian before finally falling grudgingly, 28-21.
And things might have turned out differently had it not been for three pesky turnovers, consecutive in the late third quarter and early fourth.
The loss in the first round of the post-season playoffs left the Wildcats with a final overall record of 1-6. Christian, meanwhile, faces a daunting task next weekend in the second round against a 6-1 South Christian team that was seeded first in the district.
Wayland opened the game by falling behind 14-0 in the first period, but midway in the second quarter QB Justin Holtz scored from three yards out and Aadon Wagner booted the extra point to pull to within seven by intermission.
The ‘Cats looked like they were playing a little bit of “Dare to Be Great” midway in the third quarter when Holtz stepped in front of an Eagle receiver, picked off a pass and returned it 40 yards for a pick six.
So now it was a 14-14 tie, and the shocked Christian lads afterward only escaped with a victory because of three consecutive Wayland miscues.
The first was a sack and fumble recovery at the Wildcats’ 12-yard line. Ja’marte Hogan then took the football over the goal from two yards out two plays later.
Alec Koval came up with a huge play not long afterward by scooping up a fumble and returning it 41 yards to the end zone. Just minutes after that, early in the fourth period, Eagle Ace Thomas came up with a pass interception at midfield.
The ‘Cats finally regrouped offensively when Holtz took off on a 51-yard quarterback scramble to the Eagles’ 29, tossed a pass to Austin Reeder at the 5-yard line and after absorbing a sack, hooked up with Kaden Dole on an 11-yard TD strike.
Down by seven points in the final five minutes, the ‘Cats gamely tried to move the football from their own 40, but were stopped on downs at the 48, enabling Christian to run out the clock.
It’s amazing what a difference a coaching staff can make. Coaches that believe in the players and put them in the position to succeed are key. Players respond. Good work Wildcats.