The Grandville Bulldogs were back at home for the first time in a few weeks and were looking for a bounce back after they fell to now outright OK-Red champion Hudsonville a week ago 35-16. At 3-4, Grandville was in need heading into the night of one more win to likely lock up their postseason spot regardless what happened in their season finale vs. Caledonia.
West Ottawa sat at 1-6 on the season and additionally would be playing shorthanded with stars RB Kayden Forbes and LB/TE Elijah Reynolds both out for at least this game – with Reynolds announcing this week he will be out for the rest of the season.
West Ottawa would open the game with a bold pooch-kick that they would be able to recover inside the Grandville 25 yard line and flip the possession immediately. The Panthers would drive inside there Bulldogs 5 yard line, before the ‘Dawgs would come up with a stop on fourth down by the goalie to take the ball for the first time.
Grandville answered with a methodical drive that took up the rest of the first quarter clock, before All-State junior RB Jayden Terry would find the end zone for the first of three times on the night a minute into the second quarter. ‘Tank’ Terry would also add the 2 point conversion to put Grandville up 8-0.
After WO recovered an onside kick attempt of Grandville’s own the Panthers again drove into Grandville territory, before Panther QB Makai Campos would throw an interception to Grandville’s Miguel Rojas, who brought the pick all the way back to the end zone for a TD – But, the score was taken off the board due to a hold, but was still and interception and 77-yard return that set the ‘Dawgs up in the red zone.
Terry would score again at the 5:39 remaining mark of the 2nd, this time from 13 yards out, after a missed 2 point try – it was 14-0 Grandville.
Terry would strike once more before the end of the half after another Grandville defensive stop, Grandville would lead 21-0 into the break.
Out of the half, WO would use some unique ‘trick’ ‘get-out’ formations to find some offensive movement, before Easton Suidinski would come up with the Bulldogs second interception on Campos on the night – on an incredible diving, sideline-grab effort. Suidinski would also finish off the next drive with a one-yard TD plunge and 28-0 lead.
Each team would trade field goals in the middle part of the half – Jake Keranen for Grandville hit the longer of the two makes – nailing a 39-yarder late in the 3rd.
Grandville senior QB Ethan Newville would cap the win with 4:59 to go, as he took a bootleg keeper to the end zone for a 13-yard TD and a 38-3 win.
Grandville is now 4-4 on the yard and 4-2 in the OK-Red, West Ottawa drops to 1-7 and 1-5 in the ‘Red’.
KEY/LEADING STATS
GRANDVILLE – 38
QB – Sr – Ethan Newville: 1 Rush TD, 16 yards / 1 Pass Completion, 32 yards (To Jayden Terry)
RB – Jr – Jayden Terry: 3 Rush TD, 20 att., 156 yards
RB/DB – Sr – Easton Suidinksi: 1 Rush TD, 45 yards / 1 Interception
DB – Sr – Miguel Rojas: 1 Interception
WEST OTTAWA – 3
QB – So – Makai Campos: 11 completions, 105 yards / 6 rush att., 15 yards
RB – Sr – Calem Montgomery: 13 rush, 64 yards
WR – Sr – Connor Knapp: 3 receptions, 29 yards