The Newaygo Lions welcomed Reed City to town on Friday, with the CSAA Gold leaders looking to clinch a share of the conference title. With their 50-13 win, the Coyotes did just that.
In the first quarter, Reed City raced out to a 22-6 lead. Midway through the opening frame, Noah Morgan reeled off a 70-yard sprint to the end zone. Brayden Bloom added the two-point run. On their next drive, Zach Erickson would extend the Coyotes’ lead with a 28-yard carry. Nick Wirgau chipped in a conversion run. Newaygo’s Ethan Reyburn returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, but Reed City would add one more score to their opening frame tally. Noah Morgan ripped off a 20-yard touchdown run that gave them the 16-point edge.
These two teams exchanged scores in the second quarter. First, Reed City’s Seth Jackson stepped in front of a pass, racing 41 yards to the end zone. In the final minute of the opening half, Grant Harkness and Remy Wells paired up on a 9-yard touchdown. Josiah Long booted the extra point, bringing Newaygo within fifteen, 28-13.
In the second half, it was all Reed City. The Coyotes scored all three touchdowns, with two in the third quarter. Three minutes into the frame, Nick Wirgau plunged across the goal line from two yards out. Five minutes later, Noah Morgan powered through the front line, a 3-yard touchdown run that was his third of the game. With just over a minute to play in the game, Grant Rohde joined the Coyotes’ scoring tally with a 5-yard touchdown run.
Reed City improves to 6-1 with this victory, and they secure at least a share of the CSAA Gold. Next week, they go for the outright, undefeated championship with a game against Fremont. Newaygo, now 1-6 on the year, will conclude CSAA Gold play against 0-7 Chippewa Hills.
