**ARTICLE BY JOSH LONGSTRETH**
The Chix of Zeeland East started the season looking to see if they can get back to what they are accustomed to. The Chix are a perennial playoff team, but they fell short of that goal in 2022. They would head into week one facing a Williamston team that has been to seven consecutive playoffs. This one would be everything expected for two teams that could both see themselves playing into November.
After both defenses would hold the offenses scoreless in quarter one, we would see Williamston put the first points in the second quarter. Quarterback Zach Cribbs would connect with slot man Max McCune to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead. The Chix would have a difficult time sustaining much offense thanks to a stout Williamston defense. Late in the half the Hornets would strike again as Cribbs scored on a 1-yard run. The Hornets were threatening to grab all the momentum as they would head into the with 13-0 lead.
East would come out of the half as a completely different team. They would find the endzone themselves after a Tyler Loeb 18-yard rushing touchdown to make it a 6-13 game. Late in the third Loeb would do it again, as he would find space to score from 12-yards out. The Chix then held a 14-13 lead to that point. Williamston would bounce right back as Cribbs would find McCune on a 83-yard touchdown pass. The Hornets would take a 21-14 advantage into the final quarter.
Then 2022 all-conference selection Austin Keur would breathe life right back into the Chix as he would head into the endzone on a 18-yard run. We then had ourselves a tie ball game, 21-21. Midway through the final quarter Keur had it going again, this time connecting with Ethan Rosenberg on a 35-yard touchdown pass to give East a 27-21. The Hornets would show their toughness here, though. Cribbs would work has magic again to Miles Keener on a 63-yard passing touchdown. The PAT was good, and it was now 28-27 Hornets late in the game. With just 1:21 remaining, back come the Chix as Loeb would head in from 2-yards out. That would be all as East pulls off an absolute thriller, 35-28.
It was truly a tale of two halves for Zeeland East. They had just 82 yards of offense in the first half, but 266 after coming out of the break. Tyler Loeb led the way with 21 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Austin Keur added 87 rushing yards, 80 passing yards, and two scores. Ethan Rosenberg paced the receivers with 73 yards and a score.
Williamston will start the season at 0-1 but has a chance to rebound next week when they take on Battle Creek Pennfield for their home opener. Look for the Hornets to get over this one quickly. Pennfield defeated Lake Odessa Lakewood, 34-13, on the road.
Zeeland East showed what type of team they will be this season, a gritty one. They’ll start on a high note and look to continue that next week when they face Flushing. The Raiders fell in a heart break to Bay City Central, 27-28.
