The Grand Haven Buccaneers have been a pleasant surprise to the football landscape in West Michigan this fall. That continued on Friday, when they got the best of West Ottawa to improve to 3-1, their best four-game start since 2014.
In the first quarter, Owen Worthington got the scoring started. The quarterback kept the football, and he powered across the goal line from a yard out. Nate Boehnke added an extra point to give Grand Haven a 7-0 lead.
The second quarter saw more of the same, as the Bucs’ gunslinger kept the football to make an impact. He added an 8-yard touchdown that saw the lead extend to fourteen points as the teams went to halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but West Ottawa came to life in the opening minutes of the final frame. Ryan Stam snapped the scoreless drought with his 20-yard run to the end zone. This brought the Panthers within seven points with ten minutes to go.
Ryan Francis would ice this game for Grand Haven, as the senior scored a pair of touchdowns. His first score was a 9-yard run, and he rounded out the scoring with a 32-yard sprint.
Owen Worthington was 6/10 passing for 85 yards, and he added 50 rushing yards on 18 carries. Ryan Francis led the Bucs in rushing with 104 yards on two carries. Bashir Neely paced the receivers with three catches and 63 yards. Jaxon Franz was the leading tackler with 10.5.
Cole Tulgestke finished 7/19 for 40 yards for the Panthers. Ryan Stam added 83 rushing yards on 16 carries. Juan Gomez was the leading West Ottawa tackler with 7.5.
Next week, Grand Haven (3-1) will take on Caledonia. West Ottawa (0-4) will look for their first win against East Kentwood.
