**PHOTO CREDIT: LOU MURRAY**
Check out photos of the game here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/45681226@N02/albums/72177720310942794
South Christian entered the season as the defending Division 4 State Champions, and entered Friday night as the winner of 15 straight games. This week, they hosted East Grand Rapids, a program that is looking to return to its former glory under head coach Josh Shattuck. In what we may someday define as a program-defining win for Shattuck and the Pioneers, they bested South Christian in an epic, 23-21.
An early 36-yard field goal gave East Grand Rapids a 3-0 edge. That would be erased early in the second quarter with a touchdown pass from Carson Vis to Jake Vermaas. This 35-yard strike put South Christian ahead 7-3.
East Grand Rapids would respond with a Scotty Millman touchdown run. His 8-yard scamper capped off a 12-play, 65-yard drive, giving EGR a 10-7 edge.
South Christian would once again respond, as Vis used his legs. He broke free for a 24-yard run, giving South Christian a 14-10 advantage headed into the locker room.
Tripp Hoekstra ripped off a 49-yard run for the Pioneers in the third quarter that set up another touchdown. It was Millman again, this time powering across the goal line from 4 yards out.
Trailing 17-14 with less than a minute to go, South Christian began its drive on their own 41 yard line. After a huge 33 yard pass from Vis to Vermaas, South Christian was in the red zone. With 28 seconds to play, Vis used his legs again for a 10-yard touchdown scramble. This gave South Christian a 21-17 lead, seemingly snatching the victory out of the hands of the Pioneers.
EGR started its final drive on its own 32 yard line. After a few quick passes, they were down to the Sailors’ 30 yard line with time for one last play. Pioneers’ quarterback Carson Thornton was able to find Tommy Cavanaugh, who crossed the goal line for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.
Carson Vis finished 12/18 for 175 yards passing, in addition to 107 rushing yards on 17 carries. The Sailors, now 1-1, begin OK Gold play against Kenowa Hills next week.
Carson Thornton finished the game 15/20 passing for 164 yards and the winning touchdown. East Grand Rapids, 2-0, will take on rival Lowell in their OK White opener next Friday.
