The Montague Wildcats and Hart Pirates met in the 2020 season opener. In that game six weeks ago, Montague dominated Hart 55-0. On Friday night in the rematch, the Wildcats’ offense ramped it up and they scored 75 points in a shutout victory.
In the first quarter alone, Montague scored 44 points. Drew Collins got things going with a forty-four-yard touchdown run. On their next drive, Collins found Andrew Kooi for a forty-yard touchdown. Kooi converted both extra points to make it 14-0.
After the Wildcats recorded a safety, they scored their third touchdown. Dylan Everett became the third Montague player to cross the goal line when he ran for an eight-yard score. Drew Collins tossed his second passing touchdown moments later, when he found Sam Smith for a seven-yard touchdown.
Ahead 30-0, Montague scored two more touchdowns in the first quarter. Dylan Everett scored for the second time on a twenty-yard touchdown. Finally, Zach Nelson carried the football for a twenty-one-yard touchdown to make it 44-0.
The scoring slowed down in the second quarter, but Montague still found the end zone twice. Andrew Kooi rushed for a thirty-five yard touchdown, and then he tossed a forty-seven yard touchdown to Reece Taylor. A successful boot from Kooi on the first touchdown in the quarter pushed the total to 57-0 after just one half of football.
In the final half, the running clock was churning and Montague’s opportunities to score were limited. Zach Nelson got his second touchdown when he ran two yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Adam Baird kicked off the final quarter scoring with a nice fourteen yard touchdown that made it 69-0. Finally, Chase Gowell rumbled five yards across the goal line to make it 75-0 Wildcats.
Montague outgained Hart 435-53 in this game. Hart was held to just one first down, and they committed four interceptions in the defeat.
Andrew Kooi is tonight’s Redi Rental Wildcat of the Game, as he did a little bit of everything. He was 4/4 for 98 yards and a touchdown, he had one carry for a thirty-five yard touchdown, and he caught a forty-yard touchdown. Kooi also booted seven extra points in this game.
Next week, Montague will host Clare in the district semifinals. The Pioneers advanced tonight, defeating Kent City 41-6. These two schools have not met since 2008, when Montague beat Clare 13-10 in the district finals. That game was a stepping stone on the way to their Division 6 State Championship, a feat they hope to replicate this fall.
