***Article by Josh Longstreth
Through six weeks of the regular season, things couldn’t be coming as good for many teams. For the Zeeland West Dux, they’re a rare case. West has cruised through many games this season and hasn’t looked back. But, coming down the back stretch of the season will tell them a lot. Starting tonight, the Dux face three teams that are playoff-caliber. In their first test in the three-game span, it wouldn’t be the start they were hoping for in facing the Big Reds of Muskegon.
This one started off as one heck of a defensive battle, heavy rain wouldn’t help with that for most of the night. With just seconds remaining in the opening quarter Muskegon would be the first to get on the board. M’khi Guy would get in the score books on a 1-yard plunge. A good PAT attempt would make it a 7-0 Big Reds lead as that’s where things would stand after one.
For the first time on the year, West would find themselves in a big hole. Muskegon would add to the lead when Guy took one in from 3-yards away. The Dux would trail 0-14, late in the half. West would finally find a way to put something together very late in the quarter when Isaac VanderZwaag found the endzone on a 1-yard dive. They would trail at the half, 8-14, but the Dux had life.
West would keep that momentum up in the third quarter. Getting their offense rolling again, Trenton Bolhouse found his own 1-yard touchdown. After a good two-point try, the Dux had their first lead of the night at 16-14. The West defense found a way to limit the Big Reds and we have ourselves a tight battle heading into the final quarter of play.
Feeling some urgency of their own, Muskegon would find a way to put a wrench in Wests plans early in the fourth. Guy would reach the endzone for the third time on the night, this time from 9-yards out. The Big Reds defense would pitch a shutout the rest of the way and Muskegon finds a way in a not so friendly weather. Zeeland West falls for the first time all year, 16-22.
Muskegon will move to 5-2 on the season after winning their fifth game in a row. They will welcome in Grand Rapids Union next Friday night. The Red Hawks played Mona Shores in week seven.
West will taste defeat for the first time this season as they come down a tough stretch. They fall to 6-1 on the season and will take on a very solid Mona Shores team in week eight. The Dux have fallen to the Sailors the past two seasons.
