Coopersville scored 42 points in its season-opening victory over Big Rapids last week. It scored 42 points again Thursday night in Wayland, but 35 of them in the first period alone to prompt a 42-0 rout.
The visiting Broncos wasted no time with their impressive blitzkrieg, scoring five touchdowns and five extra points before the second period began.
They went 65 yards in six plays in their opening drive, highlighted by a couple of smartly executed passes from quarterback Colton Bosch to receiver Ryan Serba.
Hard-charging running back Ryan Merlo opened the scoring with a five-yard run and Nick Gordon booted the first of his six extra points. The game wasn’t even two minutes old.
The Wildcats helped the visiting group with three turnovers, two fumbles and an interception, setting up three more touchdowns.
Though Merlo got into the end zone with three short runs, Serba caught a 12-yard scoring strike.
It looked like Wayland couldn’t stop Coopersville in anything it tried to do and the final score was the same at it was at halftime.
Wildcat quarterback Dustin Loomins came up with a couple of first down runs to get the football into Coopersville territory at the 43, but the efforts stalled on downs.
Another highlight for the home team was Ian Thompson’s 39-yard punt that pinned the Broncos back at their own four-yard line. But the half was almost over .
Thompson returned the second half kickoff to his own 45 and he and Loomans took turns with first down runs to the 32 with fourth and seven, but another interception ruined the ‘Cats’ most serious drive of the evening.
Because the score was so lopsided in the first 24 minutes, the entire second half mercifully resulted in a running clock.
Wayland will be back on the home field again Friday evening, Sept. 10, to entertain Kenowa Hills in the first of seven O-K Gold Conference contests this fall.
COVER PHOTO: The Wildcat football team last week was banged up while doing battle with Hamilton. Caleb DeHaan (68) now is out for the season while junior varsity running back Kaharrie Pureifoy will be out with a serious concussion.
Looks like that new artificial turf is paying off , better luck next time.
And get off my lawn! Come on Gar, these are high school kids. Lighten up
Money could have been better spent on education, I’m sure the kids had no decision in how it was spent , just my opinion. Skoal!