Game-clinching pick-6 headlines Muskegon-area football roundup for Aug. 24

HS Media Day 2023 — Spring Lake poses for a portrait during high school football media day in Grand Haven, Michigan on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com

MUSKEGON – Deja vu was hitting the Spring Lake football program as they entered the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s season opener at Montague down 21-20 to the host Wildcats.

Last season, the Lakers dropped a heartbreaking 20-17 decision to Montague to kick off the 2022 season but this year’s squad found a way to right the ship in time to avoid a similar fate and secure a hard-fought 34-28 road win over the Wildcats.

Wren Dephouse made the play of the game for the Lakers late in fourth quarter when he intercepted a Montague pass attempt and took it back 14 yards for a defensive score to push the Spring Lake lead to 34-21 with less than three minutes remaining.

Montague scored on its final possession of the game but couldn’t prevent Spring Lake from running out the clock and bringing a highly entertaining contest to a close.

Reid Grimmer rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns and was 3-for-7 passing for 46 yards to pace the Spring Lake offense, while Dephouse added 99 yards rushing on 10 carries and Bryce Collins had 60 yards rushing and one touchdown.

Jackson Lemmen led the Spring Lake defense with seven tackles, while Dephouse added four stops.

Isaiah Atchison hauled in four receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Montague offense, while Mason Darke was 12-for-21 passing for 185 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and Adam Baird had 48 yards rushing and one touchdown.

Up next: Spring Lake (1-0) will face Belding in Week 2, while Montague (0-1) takes on Ravenna.

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Oakridge football defeats Muskegon Catholic Central 20-14 — Muskegon Catholic Central's Byran Convertini (22) runs against Oakridge at Muskegon Catholic Central on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. Oakridge won 20-14. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com

New Lothrop 34, Muskegon Catholic 20

Bryan Convertini finished with 105 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 18 carries and was 3-for-5 passing for 30 yards and one interception to pace the Crusader offense, while Henry Rosema rushed for 27 yards and added a 17-yard reception and Vince Szymanski added 26 yards rushing and caught two passes for 13 yards.

Easton Cook anchored the Muskegon Catholic defense with 10 tackles, while Convertini added 5.5 stops and Jake Westhoff had five solo tackles.

Jack Kulhanek was 17-for-20 passing for 177 yards and one touchdown with one interception and rushed 65 yards and one touchdown to lead the New Lothrop offense. Rakeem Woods rushed for 110 yards and one touchdown, while Kaven Unangst had 65 yards rushing and one touchdown and hauled in nine receptions for 94 yards and one touchdown.

Up next: Muskegon Catholic Central (0-1) takes on North Muskegon in Week 2.

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West Michigan Football Media Day 2023 — Fruitport senior junior Brandon Dornbos (11) poses for a portrait during high school football media days at West Ottawa in Ottawa County on Tuesday, Aug.1, 2023. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Kenowa Hills 18, Fruitport 10

Brandon Dornbos finished 8-for-12 passing for 62 yards and added 74 yards rushing and one touchdown on 10 carries to lead the Fruitport offense, while DayDay Williams hauled in four receptions for 46 yards and Kayden Beardsley had four receptions for 16 yards.

Giles Ansmits finished with 133 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 21 carries to fuel the Kenowa Hills offense, while Jack Zegunis was 8-for-19 passing for 89 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed for 56 yards on 14 carries.

Up next: Fruitport (0-1) takes on Grand Rapids Christian in Week 2.

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Whitehall vs Unity Christian — Whitehall senior Ca'Mar Ready (3) breaks a Unity Christian tackle during the MHSAA season opener in Whitehall, Michigan on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. Whitehall defeated Unity Christian 34-28. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Whitehall 34, Unity Christian 28

Kyle Stratton finished 13-for-17 passing for 244 yards with three touchdowns and one interception and rushed for 64 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries to power the Whitehall offense.

Junior wideout Cam Thompson hauled in five receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown to lead the Whitehall receivers, while senior wideout Trannon Aylor added four receptions for 64 yards, including what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.

Malcolm Earvin added 55 yards rushing on six carries and added a 39-yard touchdown reception, while Darnell Mack added a 20-yard touchdown run, Ca’mar Ready added three receptions for 35 yards.

Senior quarterback James Karel was 4-for-7 passing for 48 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Unity Christian offense, while Max VanKoevering added 27 yards rushing and one touchdown on eight carries and Hugo VanderWaal had two receptions for 23 yards and one touchdown.

Issac Stienstra registered a 10-yard touchdown reception and later added a critical third-quarter interception that led to a Nolan Vis 4-yard touchdown run a few plays later.

Up next: Whitehall (1-0) travels to Tecumseh in Week 2, while Unity Christian (0-1) travels to Oakridge.

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MORE: Whitehall stretches past Hudsonville Unity Christian in stressful season-opener

MORE: Images from Thursday’s game between Whitehall and Unity Christian

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Muskegon Media Day 2023 — Ludington’s Cameron Gunsell on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. (Ridley Hudson | MLive.com)Ridley Hudson | MLive.com

Petoskey 32, Ludington 14

Sophomore quarterback Cameron Gunsell rushed for 101 yards on 13 carries and threw for 151 yards and one touchdown to lead the Oriole offense, while Joe Bentz added 51 yards on seven carries.

Gage Jones hauled in five receptions for 61 yards and also led the Ludington defense with 13 tackles, while Darric Duncil added seven tackles and Connor Such had six stops.

Up next: Ludington (0-1) faces Shelby in Week 2

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Manistee 45, Kalkaska 0

Nick Hornkohl rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns to power the Manistee rushing attack, while Isaiah Davis added 61 yards rushing and two touchdowns, Kaden Kott had 54 yards on seven carries and caught two touchdown passes from freshman quarterback Dayvion Neal-Berry.

Up next: Mansitee (1-0) takes on Mason County Central (1-0) in Week 2.

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Mason County Central 27, Godwin Heights 7

Gus McLouth rushed for two touchdowns to power the Spartan rushing attack on Thursday, while sophomore Tyler Norton added a second-half touchdown run and Ethan Huffman registered an interception return for a score.

Up next: Mason County Central (1-0) faces Manistee (1-0), while Godwin Heights (0-1) takes on Orchard View (1-0) in Week 2.

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Orchard View 52, Holton 6

Stephon Oakes rushed for 74 yards and one touchdown to lead the Orchard View rushing attack, while Alex Theile added 40 yards rushing and two touchdowns and was 2-for-3 passing for 68 yards and one touchdown.

Korson Bowen rushed for 41 yards and one touchdown, Mason Tuttle had 26 yards rushing and one touchdown, Gerald Dyke Jr. added a 4-yard touchdown run and Curtis Scott registered 68 yards receiving and one touchdown reception.

Bowen led the Cardinal defense with five tackles, including four for loss, while Collin Riley added six tackles and Dyke Jr. had five tackles.

David Addison finished with 75 yards rushing to lead Holton, while Rylee Pierce had 42 yards passing and 10 yards rushing.

Up next: Orchard View (1-0) faces Godwin Heights (0-1), while Holton (0-1) takes on Perry in Week 2.

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POSTPONED TO FRIDAY

Reeths-Puffer 14, Grand Haven 7 (2Q)

Oakridge 0, Sparta 0 (1Q)

Wyoming Kelloggsville vs. Grant (7 p.m.)

Kent City vs. Newaygo (7 p.m.)

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FRIDAY’S GAMES

Muskegon vs. Rockford, 7 p.m.