The Grandville Bulldogs and Hudsonville Eagles both entered Friday night at 4-3, with plenty to prove, and plenty to play for in the playoff hunt. You felt the passion on both sides, as the teams battled throughout the evening. In the end, Grandville was able to hold off Hudsonville 44-36.
Midway through the opening frame, Grandville got on the board first. Cade Pilczuk powered across the goal line from a yard out, but the Bulldogs failed to convert the two-point try. Hudsonville would quickly respond, with Drew Baine toting the football into the end zone. Donnie Osborne would give Grandville the lead back, as he ran it in from a yard out. Ian Sanders and Brayden Gable paired up on the conversion, giving the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.
In the second quarter, Grandville continued to grow their lead. First, Gable completed the octopus, catching both the touchdown and the two-point try. With three minutes to go until half, Drew Baine returned to the end zone for Hudsonville with a one-yard run. Grandville wrapped up the first half scoring with a 9-yard touchdown carry by Cade Pilczuk that gave them a 30-14 lead.
The midway point of the third quarter saw Grandville score once more. Donnie Osborn returned to the end zone with a 2-yard carry. Hudsonville would respond quickly, as Drew Baine fielded the kickoff and raced 95 yards for a score. Trey Carr and Dylan Ham paired up on a conversion that trimmed the lead to fifteen, 37-22.
Early in the fourth, Hudsonville got a 29-yard passing score from Trey Carr to Brad Raredon. Grandville’s lead had been trimmed to eight, before Donnie Osborn’s third touchdown run of the evening. Osborn finished this game with 89 rushing yards on 23 carries.
Hudsonville scored with 36 seconds to go on a 1-yard quarterback keeper from Trey Carr. Emmanuel Dieppa booted an extra point, brining the Eagles back within eight points. They opted for the onside kick, but they could not recover. Grandville was able to run out the clock and leave with a victory.
Grandville wraps up their regular season, hoping to seal their playoff spot. The lone team on the schedule remains the West Ottawa Panthers. Hudsonville, 4-4 on the year, will take on Caledonia in the regular season finale.
