FRUITPORT – The Fruitport Trojans have achieved one of the big goals they were battling for all season.

They are O-K Blue conference co-champions with Grand Rapids West Catholic – a team they beat – and that’s certainly something to celebrate.

That became official last Friday when Fruitport beat Holland Christian 52-21.

After enduring some early disappointment this season, working hard to improve, and recording some big wins, the Trojans were all business against the Maroons, because they knew a loss would ruin their conference dreams.

Paschal Jolman, who has rushed for an amazing 1,801 yards and 22 touchdowns and caught five TD passes.

Running back Paschal Jolman rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Collin Jolman completed 4 of 7 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 107 yards and two TDs. Cody Nash caught two passes for 87 yards, including one touchdown, and led the defense with six tackles.

“Our guys believe in what we’re doing,” Fruitport head coach Nate Smith said after the game. “The message at the end was, ‘You guys have done it. You’ve accomplished your goals.’ This is a credit to the foundation that was laid before us. I’m really proud of our guys.”

But the celebration was short one, because now the Trojans have some new goals in their crosshairs.

They are headed to the Division 4 state playoffs, with the first test coming at home on Friday night against a good Ludington team.

The game is pretty significant for the Trojans – obviously because they want to keep winning and playing – but also because of recent program history.

QB Collin Jolman, who has passed for 1,154 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran for 764 yards and 15 TDs.

While the Trojans have had several very good teams over the past two decades, they have not won a first-round playoff game since 2006.

That year they went 9-0 in the regular season, won the Lakes 8 conference title, beat Mount Pleasant in the first round of districts 47-22, then lost to East Grand Rapids 44-13 in the district final.

Since then Fruitport has made five playoff appearances, not counting the 2020 COVID season, when every team in the state automatically qualified.

The Trojans were 8-1 in 2007 but lost in the first round. They were 7-2 in 2010 and 2011 but lost in the first round both years. They were 8-1 in 2012 but met the same fate in the postseason.

Last year they made the playoffs with a 4-5 record, based on the strength of their schedule, but fell to Cadillac 42-35 in the first round.

Cody Nash, who has 560 rushing yards, 497 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Head Coach Nate Smith did not realize it had been so long since Fruitport won a playoff game and says it would be great to end that long drought on Friday.

“We haven’t done a ton of looking at the history, but every week now that we can win means we have one more week to play.” Smith said. “So let’s break that trend!”

Smith said the players are not resting on their accomplishments. They are hungry to prove themselves in the playoffs and are focused on winning, he said.

“The guys are excited,” Smith said. “A home playoff game was something they had been hoping for and working for. Friday can’t get here soon enough.”

It’s been a while since Fruitport and Ludington have played, but they definitely qualify as old rivals from their many years together as members of the old Seaway Conference, Waterways Athletic Conference and Lakes 8.

Middle linebacker Brock Dornbos (12), who has 48 tackles on the season. 

Fruitport has dominated the series with a 32-6-2 all-time record against the Orioles. The Trojans have won the last 24 matchups, including the last one in 2015, 56-14.

The last time Ludington beat Fruitport was in 1989, 42-19.

But all of that is ancient history, and Ludington is pretty good this season.

The Orioles are 7-2 in their first season in the West Michigan Conference, with their only losses coming against powerhouses Oakridge (30-18) and Whitehall (56-6). They have outscored their opponents 232-167.

Ludington will be well-rested after getting Week 9 off because Orchard View forfeited.

The Orioles put up a lot of points, on the ground and through the air.

Quarterback Chase Hackert has passed for 1,033 yards with 10 touchdowns and rushed for 452 yards and seven TDs.

Andrew J. Fielstra (3), who leads the team with 74 tackles, teams with Ricky Wiggins (52) to take down an opponent. 

Hackert has a variety of receivers to choose from, including Aidan Gilchrist (20 catches, 375 yards, three touchdowns), Levi Laman (21, 303, 4) and Gage Jones (14, 175).

Running back Trey Forfinski has piled up 618 yards of rushing with eight touchdowns.

Smith and his staff have been watching Ludington game film and have been impressed.

“They’ve done some really good things,” Smith said about the Orioles. “They are 7-2 and obviously a really good football team. We watched their Whitehall game, and it was a heck of a lot closer than the score indicated. We know they are going to bring it.”

Smith believes his players are smart enough to avoid looking past Ludington toward a possible showdown with unbeaten Whitehall in the district finals.

Whitehall will host Big Rapids (7-2) on Friday in the other district semifinal.

“They know if they take their eyes off the prize the car goes off the road,” Smith said. “We’ve got to make sure we take care of business.”