When the MHSAA released the football playoff brackets, the groans could be heard from Alpena to New Buffalo, and everywhere in between. Thanks to some Week 9 surprises, two of the state’s top teams, Grand Rapids Catholic Central and West Catholic, were placed in the same district. A game that many on the west side dubbed the “Division 5 State Championship” took place in the second round, rather than the fifth. Instead of a trip to Ford Field, this game was played at the CAT, home of GR Catholic Central.

For all of the hype surrounding this game, the product exceeded expectations. So much so, that we needed a fifth period to decide its winner. After extra time, it was West Catholic who will advance to next week’s Regional Finals, poised to make a run back to Ford Field.

West Catholic started this game with the football, and the Falcons marched all the way down to the GRCC two yard line. A stonewalling effort by the Cougars front line kept West out of the end zone, and the game tied at zero.

The Cougars would march the length of the field, building off of that momentum to seize the lead. Odin Spencer found Nick Schaab, and suddenly it was 7-0 GRCC. After one quarter, it sort of felt like the movie we had seen play out a million times. GRCC would let someone hang around, but soon enough they would strike.

With just under five minutes to go, West Catholic found their tying score. Grady Augustyne connected with Thomas Puksta on a 13-yard pitch-and-catch, and after a PAT was converted, the game was knotted at seven.

GRCC put together a nice responding drive, but the West Catholic defense forced a turnover on downs inside their own red zone. This was a huge response, matching that earlier GRCC goal line stand. The teams took the 7-7 draw into the locker room, and I’m sure that in the West Catholic locker room, belief had never been higher.

The Cougars started with the football in the third quarter, and they jumped ahead once again. Kamall Hillard took a handoff off-tackle, racing fifteen yards through contact to the end zone. GRCC once again led 14-7 with 9:00 to play in the third quarter.

For the second time in this game, a miscue by West Catholic left the possibility for points on the table. They were back in the red zone on their responsive drive, but they coughed up the football. Suddenly, GRCC had all of that momentum back again, and the doubt crept closer for West.

Perhaps one of the bigger plays in this game came on the next drive, as GRCC made it down near the outskirts of the red zone. On a fourth-and-five, West Catholic was able to sack Spencer, turning the ball over, and creating new opportunities near midfield.

Just thirty seconds into the fourth quarter, West Catholic once again tied this game. Grady Augustyne used his legs on a 10-yard keeper that saw his extended arm need every inch of length to touch the white line. After a PAT kick sailed through the uprights, the teams were tied at 14.

After exchanging empty possessions, West Catholic got the football back at their own 28 yard line with 47 seconds to play. They worked their way down to the GRCC 18 yard line, setting up for a game-winning 35-yard field goal attempt with just four seconds to play. That field goal was engulfed by the front line of the Cougars defense, and the block sent the game to overtime.

In the extra frame, West Catholic got the football first. Grady Augustyn kept making plays, as the signal-caller used his legs on a designed keeper. The five-yard touchdown run put the Falcons ahead 21-14, as the ball turned back over to the Cougars.

GRCC had no problem scoring, as Odin Spencer matched the quarterback running fun with an 8-yard keeper of his own. Rather than kicking the ball to pursue a second overtime, Todd Kolster kept his offense on the field. On the two-point try, they dialed up a designed power run for Spencer. Though he had lineman dragging him to their fullest extent, Spencer was brought down two yards shy of the end zone. West Catholic’s sideline swarmed the field in a 21-20 victory.

For as much of a storied program that West Catholic is, this victory felt momentous for this program. Since winning the 2022 Division 6 State Championship, the Falcons had been unable to get past GRCC in the Division 5 playoffs. In 2023, it was a 30-28 loss in the Regionals. In 2024, a 21-18 defeat in the District Finals. Finally, Landon Grove and the Falcons were able to get past the Cougars on Friday night, setting up a date with Kalamazoo United in next week’s Regional Championship game.