FRUITPORT – Fruitport’s Blair Zimmer did just fine last year, in his junior season of varsity football.

His biggest contributions came as a defensive back. He was fourth on the team with 46 tackles, and led the Trojans with seven stops against Big Rapids and 10 in a big win against Muskegon Catholic.

As a wide receiver on offense, he was a great blocker who caught a few passes when he had the chance, including an exciting 65-yard touchdown reception against Hopkins.

All in all, a very solid season.

But being solid wasn’t good enough for Zimmer. He wanted to become better and do more for his team this year, so he texted Fruitport head coach Nate Smith during the offseason, asking how he could improve.

That was the type of message that coaches usually don’t get in the offseason, and it sent a strong message.

“When kids ask you that out of the blue, it means they want to put a plan together,” Smith said.

Zimmer said he followed up by attending all of the team’s offseason events, something he hadn’t been great about in the past. He said he also started lifting weights daily and put on a good 10-15 pounds of new muscle.

“I was just thinking, this is my senior season,” Zimmer said. “I want to give it my all and I want to go out there and give my team as much as I can. Coach told me exactly what I could do. He mentioned how I overthink a lot and I think he really helped me with that.”

Zimmer seems on target in his goal to have more of an impact this season. He had a great game on Friday at Kelloggsville, totaling six tackles and an interception on defense and adding a touchdown catch on offense.

His most important work came in the second quarter, when he had a direct hand in helping the Trojans double the size of their early lead.

His interception came early in the second quarter, giving Fruitport the ball at the Kelloggsville 38 yard line.

A few plays later, the Trojans scored on a one-yard touchdown run and led 21-0.

“We were in zone coverage,” Zimmer said about his first pick of the season. “I remembered it was the same play we went over in practice. The receiver ran the exact same route, and I just saw the ball coming right at me.”

His touchdown catch came with 11 seconds left in the first half, when Zimmer leaped above the defender to haul in the pass from quarterback Brady Hanson.

The TD and extra point gave Fruitport a 28-0 lead at halftime. They went on to win 49-8 and claim their first victory of the season.

“The other receiver and I were running a route combo,” Zimmer said. “I knew one of us was guaranteed to get the ball. One of us is always open, and as soon as I cut, I knew I was getting the ball. I saw it in the air and just did my best to grab it.”

Coach Smith said the TD reception “was pretty,:” partly because the Trojans expected Kelloggsville to be in zone coverage, but they came out in man-to-man, and Zimmer recognized the change immediately and made a quick run to the end zone.

“Blair made a nice move to get some separation, and Brady threw it so that it was going to be Blair catching it or nobody,” Smith said. “Blair jumped up and got it.”

Zimmer wants more catches and victories for team

Zimmer and Smith hope the impressive catch was just the first of a lot more to come.

Last year the Trojans did not throw to their wideouts a lot. When they did pass, the target was usually slot receiver DayDay Williams, a fast and shifty offensive talent, or Bradon Dornbos, a jack-of-all-trades senior last year who made a lot of big plays.

In the first two games of this season, the Trojans mustered very little offense, so there was little opportunity for Zimmer to see the ball.

But now the schedule has become a little easier for the Trojans, and Hanson, the junior quarterback, has developed his ability to throw deep and get the ball to any receiver on the field.

That should work to Zimmer’s advantage.

“I think he can be one of the best in the conference,” Smith said about Zimmer. “He has good size, he’s strong, he runs really good routes and he catches the ball away from his body. Those are all things that are staples in a really good receiver.

“Last year we didn’t have as much ability to get the ball to outside receivers, but this year we can do that more.”

That sounds great to Zimmer.

“As a receiver, my hope is that we pass it more,” he said. “But more than anything, I hope that we can just execute plays a lot more.”

Zimmer has four catches for 45 yards and one touchdown so far this season, and he’s hopeful that by the end of the year, those numbers will be much higher.

“A breakout season for me would be three more touchdowns and 200 more yards,” he said.

More than anything, Zimmer would like to help the Trojans get back to the playoffs, something he and the majority of his teammates have not experienced. That push continues on Friday at home against Napoleon, followed by five more games that the Trojans believe they have a good chance of winning.

“It would mean the world to me,” Zimmer said. “We haven’t been to the playoffs in a couple seasons. I think that my senior class has what it takes. I think that with a little more work, we definitely have that.”