FRUITPORT – Some may have expected the Fruitport football team to roll over and call it a season after starting out with a disappointing 0-7 record.

However, the Trojans showed heart and fight on Friday in a 34-19 Senior Night loss to rival Spring Lake, which came into the game with a 5-2 record.

“They showed a ton of grit,” said Fruitport head coach Nate Smith about the effort his team displayed in a game in which they trailed just 20-19 after three quarters. “’It shows everything. All year long we’ve known what we’re capable of doing.

“The challenge was to have the seniors walk off the field and know they left everything on it, and it was a heck of a fun game. Not the result we wanted, but it says a lot about the core of our team.”

Smith said it was hard to see the senior class leave its home field for the final time with a loss, but he said the group has left a legacy, on and off the field.

“I love these guys,” the coach said. “They’re awesome. They’re one of the groups that was in middle school when I first got here. Four or five of those guys have been locked in unbelievably. It’s been really cool to see them grow and develop as men and leaders.

“Some of those guys are doing some service and mentoring other students. To see them lose this game hurts and you feel for them.”

The Trojans started out strong on Friday, taking a 7-0 lead when junior quarterback Bradon Dornbos broke loose for a 36-yard touchdown run down the right sideline with 8:18 left in the first quarter.

Spring Lake cut the Trojan lead to 7-6 with a touchdown with 14 seconds left in the first quarter. The Lakers jumped ahead 13-7 with another score with 3:44 left in the second quarter.

Fruitport responded on the next offensive possession with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Dornbos to DayDay Williams, and the game was tied 13-13 with 2:04 left in the first half.

Spring Lake scored on the final play of the first half on a 17-yard touchdown pass to take a 20-13 lead.

The lone third quarter touchdown came from Fruitport senior Kayden Beardsley, who punched home a five-yard scoring run to cut the deficit to 20-19 with 5:49 left.

Spring Lake finally took control of the contest with two fourth quarter touchdowns, with 8:38 left in the game and 1:21 remaining.

Beardsley led the Trojans with 101 yards rushing and one touchdown on 18 carries while Dornbos totaled 42 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries.

Senior Gianni Rowan led the Trojan defense with six tackles while seniors Daiton Campbell and Ricky Wiggins each had a fumble recovery.

The Trojans will wrap up the season next Friday with an O-K Blue conference clash at Grand Rapids West Catholic.