COOPERSVILLE — The Fruitport football team had another tough night on Friday as it continues through a difficult O-K Blue conference schedule.

Fruitport traveled to Coopersville, where the Trojans battled through the rain in a 55-16 loss.

Coopersville jumped out to a 42-0 halftime lead before the Trojans found a rhythm offensively late in the game to get on the board.

The Trojans were without head coach Nate Smith, who was out with an illness. Offensive line coach Bryce Belter stepped in as the interim head coach for the night.

Fruitport quarterback Bradon Dornbos (11) looks for some running room. Photo/Tyler Lirones

“When Coach Smith’s not here, the standard is already set, they know the expectations,” Belter said. “We had some guys step up in certain ways, some things didn’t come our way. We’ve got to get better.

“I know they have it in them. They can find it. Next week is going to be a big week to find it.”

Belter hopes that Fruitport’s pair of late touchdowns can help the Trojans build momentum heading into next week’s Battle of the Bayou rivalry game with Spring Lake.

“They know how important that is, how much they want it,” Belter said. “We’ve got the oar right now and the guys sure as heck don’t want to give it up. They’re going to do everything they can to keep that oar in Fruitport.”

Fruitport’s DayDay Williams (2) tries to elude a Coopersville tackler. Photo/Tyler Lirones

Coopersville raced out to a 42-0 lead with six first-half touchdowns. The Broncos added another score early in the third to lead 49-0.

Fruitport got on the board on the first play of the fourth quarter when quarterback Bradon Dornbos found Kayden Beardsley for a 33-yard touchdown pass. Dornbos then ran in a two-point try to make it 49-8.

After another Bronco touchdown, Fruitport capped the scoring with 4:06 to play when Ricky Wiggins ran in a 13-yard touchdown, dragging several defenders to the end zone with him. Dornbos again ran in the conversion to make it 55-6.

Fruitport’s Bobby Canfield (17) tries to break up a Coopersville pass in the end zone. Photo/Tyler Lirones

Dornbos finished 3-for-5 passing for 66 yards and a TD and rushed for 53 yards on 10 carries. Wiggins had 31 yards and a TD on seven rushing attempts.

Bobby Canfield led the receiving corps with one catch covering 36 yards while Beardsley caught two passes for 30 yards.

The Trojans are now 0-7 on the season while Coopersville improved to 5-2.  eddie