The Belding Black Knights and Ludington Orioles battled in an OK Silver/Lakes 8 non-conference showdown on Friday night. The game would require overtime, as the 38 points scored by both teams in regulation couldn’t prove a winner. In extra time, Belding emerged victorious, 44-41.
Trey Forfinski got things rolling for Ludington early. He found Wilson Gunsell on a 6-yard touchdown pass. Belding would quickly respond with a short touchdown run by Jack Ward. Just seconds later, a bit of trickery extended the Orioles’ lead. Forfinski found Gunsell on a lateral, and Gunsell aired it out, hitting a wide-open Nathan Gilchrist for a 73-yard touchdown strike. This put Ludington ahead 14-6 after the first quarter.
Belding would respond thirty seconds into the second frame, as Koden McNeil broke off a 7-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing Orioles drive, Miles Wilson booted a 39-yard field goal.
Trailing 17-12, Belding went on a three-minute touchdown march. This time, Dylan Rockburn broke the plane with his 11-yard carry. Belding would extend their lead when McNeil scored again, a 5-yard carry.
Ludington quickly answered back with another explosive passing play. Forfinski and Aidan Gilchrist connected on a 75-yard strike, trimming the halftime deficit to one, 25-24.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, setting up a fascinating final frame. With just over eleven minutes left, Belding struck first. Anthony Szubinski kept the football, scampering through the Orioles defense for a 30-yard touchdown run. This gave the Black Knights a 32-24 lead.
With 4:20 to play, Forfinski used his legs on his own quarterback keeper, but a failed two-point try left the Orioles behind, 32-30. With fifty-seven seconds left, Isai Badder appeared to score an insurance touchdown when he capped off a Belding drive with his 25-yard jaunt to pay dirt. The extra point was blocked by Ludington’s Gage Jones, leaving the count at 38-30 Belding.
On the ensuing kickoff, Franco Biella kicked it to Aidan Gilchrist. Gilchrist fielded the kick on his own eight yard line, and he weaved his way through the oncoming coverage team. Using his return abilities and a few key blocks, he sprung free for a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown. Now Ludington just needed the equalizing two-point try.
The Orioles opted to give the ball to Forfinski, and the star quarterback used his legs for the successful conversion, sending the game to overtime at 38-38.
Ludington got the football first, and they saw Miles Wilson boot a 29-yard field goal. As it sailed through the uprights, the Orioles led 41-38. On Belding’s first possession, they reached the eight yard line, before they gave the ball back to Dylan Rockburn. During the final play, Rockburn covered all eight yards, and when he broke the goal line, the game was over.
Belding now sits at 5-2 on the season. The Black Knights will play Godwin Heights in OK Silver action next week. Ludington, now 2-5, will look to get back on the wagon against Morley-Stanwood on Friday.
