The Sparta Spartans and Wayland Wildcats met on Friday night as a pair of 1-0 teams. This game felt like a launching pad opportunity for both programs, with each looking to take a huge momentum step with a 2-0 record. For most of this game, it looked like Wayland was going to take it home. A roaring comeback by Sparta, with twenty unanswered points, gave them a thrilling 36-35 victory.
After Sparta started the game with a 33-yard field goal, Wayland went on a big run. After last week’s impressive 450 yard rushing attack, the Wildcats once again relied on the ground game to race out to a 21-3 halftime lead. First, it was Jacob Crater on a 11-yard run to the outside. Next, it was Jake Reeder rocketing through the teeth of the Sparta defense for a 64-yard sprint to the end zone. Finally, it was Henry Maass on a 38-yard counter run, giving the Wildcats all of the momentum heading into the locker room.
As the second half began, it looked like more of the same for Wayland. Jake Reeder returned to the end zone with another bolt up the middle, this time a 51-yard dash, lifting Wayland to a 28-3 lead. Sparta would finally start to claw back with a pair of third quarter scores. Aaron Merdzinski lined up in the wildcat formation and took the direct snap for a 5-yard touchdown carry. On their next drive, Warren Gebhardt found Sawyer Jansma on a 42-yard touchdown strike. With one quarter to play, Wayland’s lead was trimmed to twelve, 28-16.
The Wildcats padded their lead with eight minutes to go, as Henry Maass scored on a 19-yard end around. Ahead 35-16, many in the Wayland bleachers exhaled, with thoughts that Sparta’s run was quelled.
What came next was nothing short of miraculous. Sparta scored three times in the final eight minutes to race back and secure the 36-35 victory. First, Gebhardt and Jaxon Vanhoutum linked up on a 12-yard touchdown toss. Next, Gebhardt and Jansma connected for their second touchdown, this one from 24 yards out. Finally, after recovering an onside kick with 1:58 to play, their first successful recovery in three attempts in this game, Sparta put together the winning drive. Warren Gebhardt, after completing 17 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns, capped off the night with a one-yard touchdown run. A successful PAT kick from Degraff put Sparta ahead by a single point, 36-35.
Sparta is now 2-0 for the first time since 2019, the season in which they went 8-1 and reached the District Finals. They will try to move to 3-0 next week against Northview. Wayland falls to 1-1, and they begin league play next Friday against Middleville.
