It wasn’t the start that Muskegon had hoped for for the 2023 season. The Big Reds started the season at 0-2 but as a championship program shows, it doesn’t take long for them to recover. Muskegon would take their final seven games of the regular season to head into the playoffs on a hot streak. Outside of a tight battle with Mona Shores, the Big Reds have been off and running during their run. Now on the last Saturday in November, they had a chance to earn a little payback on the biggest stage of all.
Both the Muskegon and De La Salle defenses were able to force punts early in this one. It wouldn’t take long there after for the Pilots to strike first. On their second drive of the game De La Salle would set up shop in good field possession and pay it off on a Sante Gasperoni 4-yard run. The PAT from Bebe Rabhi would be good and the Pilots had a 7-0 advantage midway through the opening quarter. It wouldn’t take long for the Big Reds to feel some urgency and respond. Quarterback M’Khi Guy would get loose and take one in all the way out from 80-yards. An Adrian Ramos Valasquez PAT would go through and we were knotted at 7-7. The defenses would settle in the rest of the quarter and that’s where things would stand after one.
Just a few minutes into the second quarter, the Pilots offense would find life again. Quarterback Sante Gasperoni would connect with sophomore wide-out Damion King IV on a 55-yard passing touchdown. This gave De La Salle the lead back at 14-7 to that point. The De La Salle defense would really start to make things difficult on the Muskegon offense. After forcing another Big Reds punt, the Pilots went to work again. With 4:33 left in the half, Gasperoni continued his big half when he took one in from 2-yards out. De La Salle would force another Muskegon half and they had all the momentum heading into the locker room with a 21-7 halftime lead.
Coming out of the half the Big Reds had it rolling. Sensing some urgency they would put together a sixty-one yard drive capped off when Guy found daylight again. This time the senior signal caller would take it all the way in from 52-yards out. The Velasquez PAT would connect and we had ourselves a 14-21 game just minutes into the third. A quick three-and-out from the Muskegon defense would get them the ball right back. They would strike right back on another scoring drive. This time Guy would find Destin Piggee through the air and the speedster would do the rest taking it all the way in from 94-yards away. Muskegon, in an offensive flurry, would knot this would at 21-21. With turnovers at a premium we would get our first of the game. De La Salle would look destined for points getting into Muskegon territory but Keon Drummer wouldn’t let it be forcing a fumble that would get the Big Reds the ball back. Muskegon would put together a sixty-five yard drive coursing over 3:20 and they would grab their lead of the game. De’Carion Taylor would haul in a pass from Guy from 23-yards away and Muskegon found themselves looking up at a 27-21 lead with one quarter left to play.
The Muskegon offense was on another level in the second half and they weren’t about to let up. Jakob Price was a man possessed on their following drive and he would reach the endzone for the first time on the day with a 12-yard touchdown run. With 10:43 on the clock, the Big Reds pushed the lead to 33-21. De La Salle feeling the urgency would get their offense going. A drive that seemed destined for points turned into doom for the Pilots. They would turn the ball over on downs after a fumble giving the ball back to the Muskegon offense with 8:02 left. The Muskegon offense wanted to put it away and it appeared they would before a big stop from the De La Salle defense. But the Big Reds offense would take up nearly 7:00 on the clock. The Pilots would drive but it just wasn’t going to be enough as the clock would run out on their season. Muskegon puts together a dominant performance in the second half to take their 7th State Championship , 33-21.
The De La Salle offense was led by Sante Gasperoni who finished 17 of 30 passing for 249 yards and a touchdown. He added 50 yards on the ground with 2 touchdowns. The Pilots were limited on the ground for much of the day. Damion King IV finished with 5 catches for 103 yards and 1 touchdown. Bebe Rabhi added 4 receptions for 65 yards. Dewayne Williams III and Sam Wakula led the Pilots defense with 10 tackles a piece. De La Salle was able to add 3 sacks as a team.
Muskegon was led by their signal-caller, M’Khi Guy who finished with 247 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. He added 159 yards through the air and 2 passing touchdowns. Jakob Price added 88 yards rushing and 1 touchdown. Destin Piggee had the most explosive play of the day on a 94 yard receiving touchdown. D’Carion Taylor added 1 receiving touchdown of his own. Keon Drummer had as big day for the Muskegon defense with 8 tackles and a big forced fumble recovery. Da’Shaun Wallce Oakes added 8 tackles and the Big Reds lone sack on the day.
These are two teams that have success just about every year. Two programs that truly re-load and gear up for another run. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them both do that again in 2024.
