MUSKEGON – The Zeeland West football team was rolling.
Starting with a 20-point lead and leading into the fourth quarter after an impressive 12-minute scoring drive, it looked like the Dux were poised for a big win.
But Muskegon had other ideas.
The Big Reds surprisingly took the lead with 1:44 left in the fourth quarter. But that 1:44 was key as the Dux came back down the field and scored on Skyler Geurink’s 26-yard run with 49 seconds left to seal an unlikely comeback Friday night at Hackley Stadium.
“It felt amazing. I put a little movement on them at the end and it felt really good. They finally got us the last two years and it felt good to get it back,” Geurink said. “We knew they were going to keep hitting and we kept hitting back. They never gave up, we never gave up. This is the best stadium in the world, it feels amazing. It showed that we can be with anyone.”
The Dux was able to shake off the surprising turn of events to earn his first regular season win in series history for the Dux (5-0, 3-0 OK Green). The Big Reds fell to 3-2 and 2-1 at the OK Green.
“We told the kids we could take them down, but we won’t take them out. They play better with desperation. They’ve done it three years in a row. Two years ago, we were ahead 14-0 with 2:53 to go and they beat us,” said the coach of Zeeland West, John Shillito. “
Zeeland West led 26-7 at halftime and then used a 12-minute scoring drive to lead 32-21 with 7:37 left in the game.
The 11-point lead seemed secure as things were going, but it quickly evaporated.
Muskegon quarterback M’Khi Guy marched the Big Reds down the field and scored on a 9-yard run. After an onside kick, Muskegon deflected the ball and scored on Jakob Price’s 11-yard run, dragging three defenders more than five yards into the end zone with 1:44 left.
But the Dux kept his composure, converting a fourth-down pass from Trevor Wallar to Orion Yant on the next drive, setting up Geurink’s run, the 19th straight drive he didn’t end a half or game with a knee that the Dux have. he scored this season.
“We’re quicker on all ends. Our linemen played amazing up front and the running backs made plays when we needed to make plays,” Geurink said.
It capped off a 6-for-6 performance on fourth downs for Dux, which was enough to offset 1-for-6 on 2-point conversions.
“Wow once (we struggled for conversions), but a big play with Trevor on Orion on fourth down (was huge),” Shillito said. “Obviously if we make three of the conversions, we’re not in the same situations. Our first drive to start the second half was huge. But credit to Muskegon. They blocked us a lot in the second half and we didn’t come out of the blocks well. They wore us down in the second half, but if we have to win in attack, let’s win”.
The Dux led 20-0, but when the Big Reds closed within 26-21 in the third quarter, Zeeland West went to work with a slow, impressive and methodical drive to put the game out of reach.
The series featured three fourth-down conversions and lasted an impressive 12 minutes. Seriously… 12:09… more than a quarter. It was capped off by a 4-yard run from Skyler Geurink, stumbling and balancing to cross the goal line with 7:37 left in the game, raising the lead to 32-21.
Zeeland West got down to business to start the game, scoring on a 53-yard touchdown run by Rolando Robelin. He also ran in the two-point conversion and Dux led 8-0 with 9:38 left in the first quarter.
The Dux forced a three-and-out and then scored again on Parker Holman’s 52-yard touchdown run. The conversion failed and it was 14-0.
El Dux again forced a clearance, but the Big Reds attempted a feint. However, Zeeland West’s Orion Yant didn’t and stuffed the run and the Dux took over at the Muskegon 37-yard line.
On fourth-and-8, Trevor Wallar found Skyler Geurink down the right sideline, a 27-yard gain to the 7-yard line. Geurink scored on a 7-yard run with 1:18 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Big Reds finally got the offense going when M’Khy Guy’s 42-yard run went to the 5-yard line and Jakob Price scored two plays later on a 2-yard run, getting Muskegon inside. 20-7.
But the Dux responded by marching down the field and scoring on a 2-yard run by Robelin. The conversion failed and the Dux led 26-7 with 3:40 left in the half.
Muskegon responded after a fourth-down conversion when Guy found Da’Carion Taylor for a 3-yard TD reception in the corner of the end zone, pulling the Big Red within 26-14 at halftime.
The momentum the Big Reds showed late in the first half carried into the second when Muskegon took the second-half kickoff and marched down the field and scored on Price’s 22-yard run to bring the Big Reds closer. 26-21. with 7:46 to go in the third.
Guy scored on a 9-yard run with 4:23 remaining to pull the Big Red within 32-27. Guy scored on a two-point conversion and the Dux held on for a 32-29 lead.
The Big Reds recovered an onside kick and then Guy ran 31 yards to get to the Zeeland West 20-yard line. Price pushed the pack 11 yards for an impressive touchdown that put the Big Reds up 36-32 with 2:37 to go.
Muskegon fell behind by 20 and slowly pulled away. The Big Reds scored just before halftime, scored to start the second half and took advantage of Zeeland West missing four 2-point conversions.
Geurink had 19 carries for 157 yards. Robelin had 16 runs for 95 yards. Holman had nine runs for 70 yards.
Guy had 20 rushes for 202 yards.
“I’m so proud of the guys. When Muskegon gets his back against the wall, they play harder than anyone I’ve ever trained against,” Shillito said. “We told our kids they had to keep playing, and I’m proud that we did. Trevor did a great job running things and we made three big plays in that final drive. It was a tremendous effort and it feels great.” Better than being on the other end, no doubt.”