A rematch of one of the best games of the season did not disappoint with a district title on the line at Mona Shores Friday night, as the 9-1 Sailors looked to repeat their 14-12 win from the regular season over the  9-1 Byron Center Bulldogs. This game would live up to the hype, as the Bulldogs would survive a furious Mona Shores comeback to capture their second straight district title in thrilling fashion.

After opening the game with a quick 3 and out the Bulldogs defense would come up big, as safety Eli Farrow came away with the first interception of the. night to set up a short field, where the Bulldogs would eventually connect for the first score of the night as senior QB Landon Tungate found fellow senior WR Will Lake for a 21 yard TD pass.

B.C. would score twice in the second quarter, all while their defense shutout the dangerous Mona Shores attack on the other side, first via a 25 yard Dawson Hillard field goal to stretch the lead to 10-0 and then an end-around give to H-Back Luke Laska for a 5 yard TD run with 2:59 left in the quarter to set up a 17-0 Byron Center lead into the break.

The Bulldogs would then turn the game even more in their favor to open the half, as they were able to recover a pooch kick on the opening kickoff of the half to flip the possession and then on the first play, Tungate would find Laska for a 27 yard TD strike, followed by a missed XP for 23-0 advantage nine seconds into the second half.

Then the Sailors comeback began, first senior QB Jonathan Pittman would find senior Slot Back Tyrese McCorvey-Hill from 37 yards out on a deep shot to the end zone with 8:13 left in the half; 23-8 after successful 2 point try.

Mona Shores would score again with four seconds left in the third, as Pittman ran through – and over – defenders for a 17 yard score before adding his own 2 point conversion run to make it a 23-16 game headed to the final frame.

After the Sailors came up with a stop, a B.C. punt from Laska would bounce of the back of a Mona Shores up-man leading to a scrum for the ball and discussion of officials that would eventually reward the Sailors with plus field position inside the Bulldog 47 yard line. Pittman went quickly to work through the air, but especially with his legs – leading another drive all the way down the field before punching it into the end zone from 7 yards out, Ezra Carefelle would add the PAT for a tie game with 8:33 remaining.

Byron Center, now on a 23 point skid, would answer – in huge fashion – Tungate drove them down the field before the senior QB would plunge into the end zone for his third total score of the night with 5:45 on the clock – 30-23 after XP.

The Sailors would again power their way down the field, using several consecutive QB keepers of a fake give to the slot from Pittman to drive inside the 10. Then on 3rd and 6 from the 8 yard line, they would go to the air, as Pittman lofted a pass to the right corner of the end zone that would be intercepted by Byron Center’s Will Lake. Lake would begin returning the ball before attempting to slide and going down inside his own one yard line.

B.C. would QB sneak their way out of the end zone, pick up a first later with Tungate and kneel the clock out to survive a thrillr and live t0 play again 30-23.

Byron Center will host Portage Central in the Regional Final next weekend.

Mona Shores finished the 2024 season with a. 10-2 overall record and 5-0 OK-Green Championship to their resume.

 

KEY STAT LEADERS

 

BYRON CENTER – 30

QB – Sr – Landon Tungate: 19 completions, 159 yards – 2 TD / 22 rushes, 51 yards – 1 TD

H-Back – Sr – Luke Laska: 5 rushes, 38 yards – 1 TD / 2 receptions, 32 yards – 1TD

WR – Sr – Will Lake: 2 receptions, 32 yards – 1 TD / 1 INT on Defense

 

MONA SHORES – 23

QB – Sr – Jonathan Pittman: 6 completions, 122 yards – 1 TD, 2 INT / 20 rushes, 69 yards – 2 TD

SB – Sr – Tyrese McCorvey-Hill: 2 rushes, 19 yards / 1 reception, 33 yards – 1 TD

RB – Jr – Tomarion Steward: 9 rushes, 57 yards / 2 receptions, 54 yards