MUSKEGON HEIGHTS – The Muskegon Heights football team wrote another chapter in what has been an amazing story this season.
After not playing last season due to COVID-19, the Tigers earned a spot in the playoffs with a 5-4 record, and a lot of folks probably would have figured that was good enough.
But the Tigers aren’t done. They demonstrated that on Saturday with a convincing 66-42 win over Holton in a Division 8 pre-district game on their home field.
It was the Tigers’ first playoff game and win since 2010.
[1]“I can’t even put it in words really,” Muskegon Height coach Van Parker said after the game. “It’s just a beautiful thing, coming off the fact that we didn’t get to play last year. It’s like a story.
“I’m hoping this game takes our program to the next level. That’s the goal. We know that we can now. Hopefully we continue to build on this and continue to go forward and be our best selves.”
Senior quarterback Ja’Kari Edwards had a monster game for the Tigers with six rushing touchdowns and a pair of TD throws.
“This is great, we love it,” Edwards said of getting the win. “This is great for the community. We’ve been wanting this since freshman year, we knew it was going to happen soon.”
[2]“He was the quarterback that I know he can be,” Parker said about Edwards. “He’s a special kid, a special talent, a leader. You couldn’t ask for more from that young man.”
Muskegon Heights will visit Carson City Crystal (9-1) next week in a Division 8 district final. The Tigers lost to the Eagles 41-14 in Week 8.
Holton ends the season at 5-4. This year’s senior class will graduate with three playoff appearances in four seasons.
“They set the blueprint for how it should be done,” Holton coach Alex Smith said. “These are great kids, they’re great in the classroom, they’re great in the community, they work really hard. I just thank them for being a great example for the kids.”
Muskegon Heights scored first on a 27-yard run by Edwards. Holton scored on a 17-yard pass from Austin Fowler to Kevin Erickson to pull within 8-6 at the end of the first quarter.
[3]Edwards added two more rushing TDs in the second quarter, a 45-yarder and a 2-yarder. Fowler tossed two scores in the second as well, an 8-yard TD to Brett Hosmer and a 19-yard score to Rice Robins. Muskegon Heights led 22-18 at halftime.
The Tigers added three scores in the third quarter – an Edwards pass to Diamond Davis for 48 yards, an Edwards pass to Hanif Guyton for 10 yards and an Edwards 52-yard run. Holton’s lone third-quarter score was a 22-yard pass from Fowler to Erickson. Muskegon Heights led 42-26 after three.
Edwards ran in two more touchdowns in the fourth, from one and nine yards out. Darice Totten added a 75-yard touchdown run for the Tigers.
Holton scored twice in the final quarter on a 54-yard pass from Fowler to Hosmer and a six-yard run by Fowler.
[4]Edwards totaled 160 yards on 10 carries and was 8-for-16 passing for 178 yards. Anthony Floyd had 103 rushing yards, while Totten had 85. Guyton was the leading receiver with three catches for 97 yards, followed by Davis with two grabs for 70 yards.
Although Muskegon Heights allowed 42 points, the defense forced six Red Devil turnovers, including four interceptions. Guyton, DaCarri Moore, Jimarea Jackson and Ashton Smith each picked off a pass.
Fowler led Holton with another impressive performance through the air. He completed 33-of-50 passes for 510 yards and five TDs. He also led the team in rushing with 38 yards and a score.
Three receivers had over 100 yards for Holton. Kaleb Nichols had 10 catches for 154 yards, Erickson had 10 grabs for 146 yards and Hosmer totaled 142 yards on six grabs. Hosmer also had two interceptions on defense for the Red Devils.
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