FRUITPORT – It was Bradon Dornbos’ first start as a varsity quarterback, and he was looking down the barrel of a fourth-and-seven with under two minutes to go with Fruitport trailing by eight points.

He responded well to the challenge and came very close to leading the Trojans to victory.

Dorbos put a pass right on the numbers of sophomore Day Day Williams, who shook a defender for a 35-yard catch-and-run.

Then he completed two more passes – to senior Kayden Beardsley and again to Williams – to get the ball down to the Kenowa Hills 25-yard line.

Dornbos was sacked on a third down with no time outs left and under 40 seconds to go, and went into the hurry-up offense for fourth down.

Then he was sacked again, ending the game and leaving the Trojans with an 18-10 loss to Kenowa Hills in the 2023 season opener.

It was Kenowa Hills’ first victory over Fruitport since 2018 and snapped the Trojans’ three-game win streak over the Knights.

“I got a little nervous there for a little bit, but I just had to stay positive and lead the team,” Dornbos said. “It didn’t end our way, but I think we definitely had the fight in us. We could’ve done a couple things to make it better, but I’m happy with how it turned out, effort-wise.”

Fruitport Coach Nate Smith liked what he saw from his new quarterback, despite the outcome.

“He played like a quarterback that is very driven,” Smith said.

The game was plagued by punishing heat and humidity and a thunderstorm delay with 1:16 left in the first quarter.

Kenowa Hills took a 6-0 lead into the half. Fruitport rebounded to take a 10-6 lead in the third, but the Trojans were outscored 12-0 in the final frame.

“We’re going to look at the tape and the tape will show us exactly some things that went on,” Smith said. “I think this is gonna be a good thing for us. You don’t wanna lose, I’d rather we learn the lesson a different way, but I think in some ways our guys needed to see some of the things that took place tonight.”

Giles Ansmits put the Knights up 6-0 on an eight-yard run, then the first quarter was halted due to a weather delay at the 1:16 mark. Play resumed at 8:33 p.m. and the 6-0 score remained in place at halftime.

The first drive of the second half proved to be the Trojans’ best.

A few short runs were followed by a Dornbos pass completion, a six-yard dart to Beardsley. A 12-yard run with an additional 15 yards tacked on from a facemask penalty put the Trojans at the Knights’ 15-yard line.

Dorbos walzted in for a touchdown seconds later, and the PAT kick gave Fruitport its first lead of the game, 7-6.

“We practiced it all week where the guard and tackle pull and the hole is right there, so I just took off,” Dornbos said about his touchdown run.

Fruitport had a chance to increase its lead with a fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line a couple drives later, but senior Ricky Wiggins was stopped short by a stout Knights D-line.

A Kenowa Hills punt set up a 37-yard field goal from Fruitport senior Brady Brown to put the Trojans up 10-6 heading into the fourth quarter.

Midway through the fourth, Fruitport’s Williams went up for a jump ball on an intended pass from Kenowa Hills quarterback Jack Zegunis to receiver Lachlin Acker in the end zone. The ball was tipped into the hands of Fruitport senior Bobby Canfield for an interception, but pass interference was called, keeping the Knights’ drive alive.

“I thought Day Day made a great play – two athletes going up for the ball and then Bobby comes over and gets the interception,” Smith said. “It was a late call, part of me says they were considering it, too. I talked to (the refs) and they said there was early contact, which I can understand.”

Following the near interception, Zegunis threw a touchdown pass to Juliusz Andino in the left corner of the end zone, giving Kenowa Hills a 12-10 lead with 6:34 remaining.

A Trojan three-and-out series set up a 64-yard run by Ansmits, who scored a couple plays later on a six-yard scamper for the final points of the game.

Dornbos finished 6-for-8 passing for 59 yards and had 19 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown. Beardsley had an interception near the end zone just before halftime.