The Mona Shores Sailors and Forest Hills Central Rangers played a pair of thrilling playoff games in 2017 and 2018. This year, they met for their third installment of the postseason series, and this may have been the most thrilling game of all. The Sailors held off a late Rangers attack and narrowly escaped with a 28-25 victory.
In the first quarter, Mona Shores got in the scoring column first. Brady Rose kept the football and ran fifty-seven yards to the end zone for a touchdown. In the closing seconds of the first quarter, Luke Gustafson booted a 47-yard field goal to bring the tally to 7-3 in favor of the Sailors.
Forest Hills Central took the lead in the second quarter. With just over two minutes to go in the first half, Hunter Robinson kept the football and plunged across the goal line to give the Rangers a 10-7 lead. Mona Shores did not score in the final two minutes, leaving the score.
The Rangers extended their lead to ten on the most thrilling play in football. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Jacob Bonnett weaved his way through the Sailors’ kickoff team. He covered eighty-nine yards and found his way across the goal line to give FHC a 17-7 edge. Mona Shores would pull within three on a quarterback keeper by Brady Rose from a yard out.
With five minutes to play, Rose powered across the goal line to give Shores the lead once again. This time, their edge was 21-17. Elijah Johnson gave the Sailors what appeared to be the nail in the coffin when he broke off a thirty-one yard touchdown. Mona Shores led 28-17 with 1:45 to play, creating a large lead.
With twenty-three seconds to play, Maguire Mahacek rushed for a twelve yard touchdown. A two-point pass to Jacob Bonnett brought the score to 28-25. The Rangers then lined up for the onside kick, and Luke Gustafson placed a beautiful onside kick to give FHC the football back.
In the closing seconds, Mahacek and Jonah Spates paired up for a pass that was caught inside the two-yard line of Mona Shores. The officials deemed that time had expired, although there are some within Sailors Stadium that believe there should have been time left on the clock after the play. Officials huddled to discuss the situation, and they determined that the game was over.
Forest Hills Central was led by Hunter Robinson. He rushed for a team high 74 yards and passed for a team high 92 yards. Ben Scholler was the leading receiver for FHC with 99 yards.
Mona Shores was led as usual by Brady Rose. He completed 4/6 passes for 73 yards. His larger impact was on the ground, as Rose turned 27 carries into 255 yards and three touchdowns.
Next week, the undefeated Sailors will remain at home for another football contest. They will welcome Caledonia to town for the district championship. The Fighting Scots are the #7 seed in the district, and they have upset Jenison and Lowell to reach this game.
