The Grandville Bulldogs and Hudsonville Eagles met on Friday night in a premier matchup of two of the OK Red’s unbeaten teams. This game lived up to the billing, and in the end, the Bulldogs got a touchdown in the final plays of the contest to emerge victorious 21-17.
Grandville got out to a hot start in this game, as they scored all fourteen points in the opening half. In the first quarter, they got a touchdown pass from Ian Sanders to Tommy Gregwer, a sixty-six yard play, to take an early 8-0 lead. On their next drive early in the second quarter, Marcel Love found the end zone for the eighth time in 2020 when he ran it in from four yards out.
Hudsonville had four chances with the football in the first half, but they never went more than eight plays with the football, and none of their drives ended with anything but a punt. As a result, Grandville took a 14-0 edge into break.
In the locker room, Hudsonville coach Brent Sandee must have pressed the right buttons, because his team came out on fire. On their opening drive, the Eagles went fifteen plays and seventy three yards to the end zone. Brennan Hayes tossed the touchdown on a four yard pass to Keaton Meduna. After their defense got an interception, Hayes capitalized. He led a seven play drive that ended with a quarterback keeper from eight yards out to tie this game at 14 as the fourth quarter commenced.
After forcing a Grandville punt, Hudsonville started with the football near midfield. They only went twenty five yards before Emanuel Dieppa booted a 44-yard field goal to put the Eagles in front 17-14, their first lead of the ball game.
Coach Stiegel’s offense can score fast, but Grandville is also built for long sustained drives. The final scoring drive in this game was one of those lengthy, power football drives, as the Bulldogs started on their own twenty yard line. Fifteen plays and eighty yards later, Marcel Love was in the end zone and Grandville was back in front. Love capped off that drive with a four yard touchdown run.
Hudsonville had enough time for two plays, but they ultimately could not get down the field to take the lead back. Grandville escaped this game with a thrilling 21-17 victory to remain perfect in league play.
The Bulldogs (3-0) will take on West Ottawa (0-3) next week in another OK Red battle. As for Hudsonville, they will be broadcast LIVE on Michigan Sports Radio in their road venture to Caledonia to take on the Fighting Scots (1-2).
