Muskegon and Mona Shores, two teams separated by a few miles, have a very stark contrast when it come to high school football history. The Big Reds have the state single game scoring record (216), the most all-time wins (910 and counting), and seven state championships. For over a century, they have been one of the state’s top programs. On the other side, the entire Sailors’ football history worth any value dates back to the school’s first playoff appearance in 2013 (though true Sailors will share the tales of the 8-1 1968 team, and several 7-2 teams along the way). The “new kids on the block”, Mona Shores has created a blossoming rivalry on the Lakeshore with Muskegon, with recent memory far closer than the 38-9 all-time advantage. On Friday night at historic Hackley Stadium, we had the latest epic chapter. The 47th all-time meeting, and the 3rd in the postseason, came down to the wire. In the end, Muskegon will advance with a 39-34 victory, completing a two-game season sweep of the Sailors.
After an early interception from Bishop Davis, Mona Shores struck first. Ike Stewart carried the football from ten yards out, giving the Sailors a 6-0 edge midway through the first quarter. Muskegon would answer, as quarterback Lamar Bradford bowled across the goal line from two yards out, putting Muskegon ahead 7-6.
On the ensuing kickoff, fireworks continued. Bryce Muskovin, the return man for the Sailors, fielded the kick and eluded eleven oncoming tacklers on his way to an 85-yard kick return touchdown. Suddenly, the lead was back in Mona Shores’ hands, 13-7.
Muskegon took their possession into the second quarter, and four minutes in, they struck again. Lamar Bradford took to the air this time, finding Demetrius Rainey-Brown for a touchdown pass of 10 yards. Muskegon had the lead once again, 14-13.
For the first time in this game, a team scored consecutive touchdowns. The Big Reds took a 20-13 lead into the locker room thanks to another 2-yard plunge from Bradford, his third score of the evening.
Mona Shores started with the football after the break, and they marched down the field to score. Quarterback Owen Terpstra scored from four yards out to even the game at 20. Once again, this pendulum of momentum continued to swing, this time in Muskegon’s favor. Bradford carried the football across the goal line again, this time a 3-yard run, and Muskegon jumped ahead 27-20.
Not to be outdone by their rivals, Mona Shores responded once more. Dom Piggue, a Northwood commit, broke free for a 65-yard sprint to glory, racing past the oncoming Big Reds’ tacklers for a touchdown. We once again found ourselves tied at 27 with one quarter to play.
Muskegon put together their fifth scoring drive of the night, as Lamar Bradford carried the football for his fourth rushing touchdown of the game. A second failed PAT left the Big Reds ahead just six points, 33-27, with seven minutes to go.
To jump back ahead, Coach Matt Koziak dialed up his bag of tricks, stunning the Big Reds defense with a reverse pass. Terpstra pitched the ball to Dom Piggue, who found Ike Stewart wide open on a backside wheel route, a 65-yard touchdown strike. Andrew Fisher booted an extra point through the uprights, and Mona Shores found themselves back ahead, 34-33, with 4:44 to go.
Often in the playoffs, seniors have their “legacy game”, where their performance lifts their team to victory despite all else. On Friday night, perhaps this was that game for Lamar Bradford. With 1:11 to go, he ran for his fifth touchdown of the game. Though the two-point try failed, the more important thing here was that Muskegon led by five.
Mona Shores would reach midfield, but they coughed up the football. A Muskegon recovery with less than a minute to go sealed the Sailors’ fate, ensuring that the Big Reds would fight to play another week.
With this win, Muskegon will host Traverse City Central in next week’s District Championship. This is an opponent that is special to longtime lakeshore football fans, as these two were a part of the revered LMAC conference from 1961-1985. Since 1950, this is the opponent besides Mona Shores that the Big Reds have faced the most (45 times, 18-27 record).
