FRUITPORT – For Fruitport football fans who might have tuned out early after a few weeks of disappointment, here’s a happy update.
The Trojans have zipped off three big wins in a row, and are preparing to play for first place in the O-K Silver conference on Friday.
That’s right. Since losing their first two games by sizable margins, the Trojans won three straight games in impressive fashion – 49-8 over Kelloggsville, 42-12 over Napoleon and 35-14 last Friday against Comstock Park.
The conference wins over Kelloggsville and Comstock Park left Fruitport with a 2-0 record in the O-K Silver standings, tied with Belding and Godwin Heights for first place.
[1]
[2]
Now the battle for the conference crown will begin to sort itself out, with the Trojans hosting Belding on Friday and Godwin Heights the following week.
Those are two big challenges, but Fruitport is definitely taking it one game at a time, particularly with Belding coming to town first. The Black Knights have won the O-K Silver championship three years in a row, and have qualified for the state playoffs four years in a row.
Last year the Trojans were in a similar situation, winning two games in a row before traveling to Belding, where they were handed their worst loss of the season, 58-7.
Belding did the same to every other team in the conference last fall, putting up at least 50 points against all but one Silver opponent, and 40 against the other.
[3]
[4]
Fruitport clearly was not ready for the Black Knights last year, and has many of the same key players in the lineup this fall. Trojan head coach Nate Smith believes the Trojans are far more mature and prepared to give Belding a real battle this year, however.
“The guys are in a really good place,” Smith said. “They started talking about Belding almost immediately after the game on Friday. We know this will be a measuring stick for us, and I think our guys are going to play well.
“I think the team we have this year is stronger in a lot of different ways. We are physically stronger, the team chemistry is stronger, and we’re starting to play much better as a unit. The resilience we have shown is something we can build on.”
Better game this year?
There is some evidence that suggests that the Black Knights may not be quite as dominant as they were last year. They have one loss – 24-0 to an always strong Reed City team in Week 2 – and had a very close call in the conference, sneaking past Hopkins 8-7 in Week 3.
But they won their other three games in typical blowout fashion, downing Ionia 63-7, Kelloggsville 44-14 and Holland 60-20 last Friday.
Coach Smith said there is no reason to believe that Belding is anything less than what it always is – an excellent team that’s always very tough to beat.
[5]
[6]
“They’re good,” the coach said. “They have had some close games, but I don’t think that means they are down. Just by following things on social media, I know that they are always very committed to their work in the weight room, and they are very strong in their schemes and techniques.
“They don’t make many mistakes, they make adjustments, and they are very fast and very strong. They pride themselves on their toughness.
“It’s going to come down to the team that can control the ball and limit turnovers, and the team that’s the most physical for the longest time.”
Offensive explosion in the first quarter
If the Fruitport offense does what it did in the first quarter against Comstock Park last Friday, the Trojans should be very competitive against Belding.
They exploded for four touchdowns in less than three minutes, on a 54-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brady Hanson to DayDay Williams, a 23-yard TD pass from Hanson to Williams, a 43-yard scoring run by Liam Campbell and a 23-yard touchdown strike from Hanson to Blair Zimmer.
The Trojans’ final TD came in the fourth quarter, when Campbell broke loose for a 35-yard scoring run.
The first quarter provided a head-spinning performance that made everyone think that a major blowout victory was on the way.
[7]
[8]
The running game was once again in great form, rolling up 226 total yards. Campbell finished with 123 yards on nine carries while Josh Eppard added 63 yards on nine carries.
The impressive new wrinkle was the Trojans’ passing game, which had not been utilized very much in the first four games, but clearly has the ability to do some damage.
Hanson completed 9 of 13 passes for 165 yards and three TDs. Williams had five catches for 131 yards and two scores, while Zimmer had two receptions for 34 yards and one touchdown.
Smith said the Trojans went to the air because the Comstock Park defense was focused on the run.
[9]
[10]
“They loaded the box and wanted to shut down the run,” the coach said. ”Brady throws the ball really well. He is understanding what the defense is trying to do. The biggest growth he’s had this year is that he throws to spots much better. He throws to where the receiver is going to be.
“There were multiple times on Friday night when we had what we thought was going to be a good play, and we executed it when we had to. The passing game presented itself to us, and when you have confidence, you don’t hesitate.”
Then there were the turnovers…
All was not great on the offensive side of the ball, however.
After the first quarter scoring explosion, the Trojans suddenly started coughing up the ball – a lot. They totaled six turnovers, with three lost fumbles and three interceptions.
After the last of the first quarter touchdowns, the Trojans’ next nine offensive possessions ended like this: missed field goal, interception, interception, lost fumble, end of half, lost fumble, three-and-out, lost fumble and interception.
They finally scored again with 6:27 left in the game to nail down the victory.
[11]
[12]
“It was incredibly frustrating,” Smith said. “I can’t even imagine the points we could have put on the board (if not for the turnovers). One fumble came after a 15-yard gain. One was on the transition on a reverse play that probably would have been a touchdown.
“We had a strong conversation about it in the fourth quarter, then we marched down and scored. I do feel good about that, how at the end of the game we found our identity again.”
Smith things the guys on offense may have been too exuberant about their early success, leading to overexcitement, sloppy play and turnovers.
“They were super excited, and it was almost like they were trying to do too much,” he said. ‘It wasn’t that we weren’t doing things the right way. I don’t think it will happen again.”
Defense stands tall when offense falters
The final score might have been a lot different if it hadn’t been for the Fruitport defense.
After all the turnovers, Comstock Park had multiple opportunities to capitalize and get back in the game, but that never happened, because the Trojan D stood strong, only giving up one offensive touchdown.
Comstock Park’s other TD came on a scoop-and-score after a Fruitport fumble.
The Panthers drove into Fruitport territory on six drives. One ended at the 42-yard line when the Trojans forced a fumble. One ended on downs at the Trojan 44. One ended on downs at the Fruitport 8. One ended on downs at the Trojan 27, and one ended on downs at the Fruitport 35.
[13]
[14]
In other words, the Panthers kept threatening, and the Trojan defense kept denying.
Kalan Teeter and David Johnson-Jiminez each had seven tackles, Easton Fett had six, Mason DeVries had five, Williams had four, and Zimmer and Alan Jackson both had three.
Overall 15 Trojans had at least one tackle.
“They are hitting and making a lot of plays,” Smith said about the defenders. ‘Our defense is starting to feel a high level of intensity and pride in what they do. When our offense sputters, the defense goes out there, and we have a lot of confidence that we’re going to get the ball back quick.
“The defensive coaches have done a great job, and when the players start to believe, great things can take place.”
[15]