Article by Josh Longstreth
It was a big week for the Central Montcalm Hornets in week four. After falling two weeks in a row, Central Montcalm was able to put together a dominant performance over Chippewa Hills last week. This week, they would battle but it just wouldn’t be what they hoped for.
The Hornets would get off to a monumental start on the night. Anthony Schultz would get Montcalm off and running on a 38-yard touchdown scamper. Before fans had a chance to grab their seats, the Hornets led 7-0. Reed Citt would get some things started midway through the opening quarter. Max Hammond found Landon Jackson from 5-yards out. This would make it a 7-6 game after a failed PAT attempt and that’s where it would stand after one.
Both defenses would settle in for much of the second quarter. With just 3:25 remaining in the half, the Coyotes would grab their first lead of the night. Hammond would reach the endzone on his own this time on a 1-yard dive to give Reed City a 12-7 lead. The Coyotes would hold all the momentum with under a minute to play in the half. Striking with just seconds remaining, Hammond would reach the endzone again, this time from 2-yards out. The Hornets would find themselves down, 7-20, to that point. That momentum would swing right back the other way, however. Montcalm, showing some big time resiliency, would decide the half would end on their terms. Sophomore signal caller, Emmett Lingeman, would find fellow sophomore Jamison Johns on a 65-yard touchdown pass. The Hornets would be down at the half, 14-20, but carrying some momentum into the locker room.
Reed City would strike early to begin the third quarter as John Ondrus found his way in from 7-yards out. This would make it a 28-14 Coyotes advantage after a good two-point try. Time and time again on the night, Montcalm would show that they just weren’t going to lie down for anyone. This time, Lingeman would find Brayden Peak from 30-yards out to give the Hornets life at 20-28. Late in the quarter, Reed City would take the life right back out of Montcalm as Ondrus found space from 11-yards away. It would be the Coyotes holding the lead, 36-20, after three.
Things would come at a slower pace in the fourth but the Hornets offense wouldn’t be able to get much going. Reed City would put the game away after a 1-yard touchdown run from Zach Erickson. This one was a lot closer than the score indicates, but nonetheless, the Coyotes come out on top 42-20.
Reed City had their offense rolling for much of the night. They would put up their biggest point total on the year and came up with some big plays when the game could have turned. The Coyotes will move to 2-3 on the season, setting up a big showdown with Newaygo next week. The Lions are coming off their most impressive performance of the year.
This one will sit with Central Montcalm as they had several chances to take over at points in the game. They will need to get over it in a hurry, however, as they face quite possibly the hottest team in the conference in Tri-County next week. The Vikings sit at 5-0 on the season. It sets up an interesting battle as the series has gone back and forth throughout the years.
