EGELSTON TOWNSHIP – The Oakridge football team came into its district final matchup on Friday with just one loss this season – but it was a loss that still stings and still motivates the Eagles.

The Eagles very much wanted to win another West Michigan Conference title this year, but fell just short of that goal with a loss to eventual WMC Lakes Division champion Whitehall in Week 6.

That defeat left Oakridge with a chip in its shoulder that’s paying off so far in the playoffs.

The Eagles captured their third straight Division 5 district championship on Friday with a 30-8 victory over Belding on their home field.

Oakridge coach Cary Harger hoists the district championship trophy. Photo/Jeremy Clark

The victory brought Oakridge one step closer to its ultimate goal – to be playing at Ford Field in three weeks for a state championship.

“It feels fantastic,” said Oakridge coach Cary Harger about winning the latest district title. “The kids have worked hard for this, and it was a major goal. We wanted the conference title, but that one eluded us, so the next goal was districts.”

The Eagles will play the winner of Gladwin and Kingsford next weekend in the regional finals.

Oakridge had a large advantage over the Black Knights offensively, especially during the first half, outgaining the visitors 220-66 and scoring three crucial touchdowns before halftime.

“The big challenge for the kids this week was to match them physically,” Harger said. “Belding is a super physical team.”

Oakridge quarterback Matt Danicek runs past Belding defenders. Photo/Jeremy Clark

The Eagles scored on their first drive, marching the ball 70 yards on 12 plays.

The drive ended when quarterback Matt Danicek connected with Chris Knapp on a 27-yard scoring pass with 4:58 left in the first quarter. Danicek added the two-point conversion with a run to give Oakridge an 8-0 lead.

The Eagles forced Belding to go three-and-out on its first possession, then scored on a 10-play, 94-yard drive that melted over five minutes off the clock.

Danicek ended the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run, and the PAT game the Eagles a 14-0 edge with 11:53 left in the second quarter.

The Black Knights responded with a nine-yard touchdown run by Jack Ward with 5:58 left in the second quarter. Belding completed a pass for the two-point conversion.

Brayden Cunningham (1) runs down a Belding ball carrier. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Oakridge struck back eight plays later on a three-yard touchdown run by Trevor Jones with 3:43 remaining in the first half. Jones added the two-point conversion and the Eagles led 22-8 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third, but Oakridge wiped out over six minutes of clock of its lone possession of the quarter.

The Black Knights tried to cut their deficit early in the fourth quarter, but Oakridge forced a turnover on downs at its own 25-yard line.

Belding turned the ball over on downs again, at its own 9-yard line, with 3:31 left in the game.

Jones closed out the scoring on the next play with a nine-yard touchdown run. Danicek found Ty Maitland for the two-point conversion pass.

Evan Miller (7) gets tackled by a Belding defender. Photo/Jeremy Clark

The Eagles had a 325-132 advantage in total offense on the night.

Danicek went 9-for-11 passing for 93 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 80 yards on 13 carries and one score.

“It feels great to have three in a row,” Danicek said about the district championship. “That was our plan and I think we earned it tonight.”

Jones added 152 rushing yards on 21 attempts with two touchdowns. Knapp caught four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles were paced defensively by Brody Jennings with 10 tackles while Jones had nine.

“A win next week will put us a little more on a path,” Harger said. “I told the boys we need to keep focusing on one week at a time and make sure we are studying our assignments.”