The Cedar Springs Red Hawks have had some tremendous teams in their football history. In 1954, they went undefeated with a perfect 9-0 campaign. In 2000, they reached the State Semifinals with a program record 11 wins. Neither of those teams, nor any team at Cedar Springs, has ever done what the 2021 Red Hawks did on Friday night. Cedar Springs put up 70 points in a shootout win over Ottawa Hills, taking home a 70-35 victory.
Despite scoring nine touchdowns, Cedar Springs got off to a surprisingly low start in this game. In the first quarter, Antuwan Nicholls powered up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown run. Aiden Brunin‘s conversion gave the Red Hawks an 8-0 edge after the first quarter.
The second quarter was the busiest, as 45 total points were scored. Four seconds into the frame, Carter Falan ran to the right side for a 6-yard score that moved the Red Hawks lead to sixteen points. Ottawa Hills would respond with a Scharai Horton pass to Kamarion Beal, a 54-yard scoring play.
Ryan Mitchell would respond with a 4-yard run for Cedar Springs, but the passing duo of the Bengals broke off another long touchdown strike. This time, their 65-yard aerial attack brought Ottawa Hills within eleven at 24-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, Aiden Brunin fielded the football at his own 5-yard line. He weaved his way through oncoming traffic, and 95 yards later, he was standing in the end zone. Ryan Mitchell would extend Cedar Springs’ lead to 40-13 at halftime when he put together another touchdown run in the closing seconds of the half.
Scharai Horton started the second half scoring, as he tossed his third touchdown of the game. He found Anthony Gordon for an 11-yard strike, and Keymarion Gibson added a two-point conversion run. The Red Hawks would respond with two rushing scores, a 45-yard sprint by Antwuan Nicholls and a 12-yard run by Carter Falan. As a result, the lead was 54-21 in favor of Cedar Springs.
In the final frame, each team scored twice. The Red Hawks continued to use their ground attack, as Carter Bayink (8 yards) and Logan Troupe (2 yards) found the end zone. Ottawa Hills used two more big plays for touchdowns. Horton tossed his fourth touchdown, a 61-yard pass to James McClenton, for Ottawa Hills’ first score. Keymarion Gibson concluded the scoring with a 58-yard sprint to the end zone in the game’s final minute.
This offensive attack by Cedar Springs is truly in rarefied air. In fact, the Red Hawks basketball programs have not even scored 70 points in a game since January 5, 2018. Cedar Springs gained 533 yards of offense in this game, and all 533 came on the ground. Antwuan Nichols (167), Carter Falan (68), Aiden Brunin (59), and Nolan Myers (42) all eclipsed 40 rushing yards. There were 13 ball carriers that contributed to the 50 carries for Cedar Springs.
Ottawa Hills saw a stellar performance by Scharai Horton. He finished 6/12 passing, as he threw for 230 yards and four scores. On the ground, Horton chipped in 21 yards. Keymarion Gibson paced the rushing attack with 145 yards on 15 carries.
The 2-1 Red Hawks will continue OK Gold play next week against Kenowa Hills. Ottawa Hills (1-2) will look for their first league victory when they face Wayland.
