FRUITPORT – The Fruitport football team’s big victory over Godwin Heights last Thursday was more than just a very welcome first win of the season.
It was a huge psychological lift and confidence builder for the Trojans, who have sometimes struggled to close out victories in recent years.
That was particularly true against Godwin Heights. The Trojans lost to the Wolverines in the final seconds in both 2024 and 2025, and those memories still lingered for the older guys on the team.
And of course the memory of the shocking loss to Hopkins in Week 1 – which occurred on a stunning pick-six very late in the game – was still very fresh and painful.
But the Trojans woke up from those nightmares last week, taking control of the game early and keeping it the rest of the way.
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[2]They led 13-0, 20-8 and 27-8 at various points in the game. There was no late drama, because the issue was settled.
The offensive workhorse for Fruitport was running back Josh Eppard, who piled up 161 yards with three touchdowns. Johnnie Kempker added 57 yards on only two carries.
The leading tacklers (solo plus assists) were Eppard and Kempker with five apiece, and Alan Jackson, Braylan Houston and Mason DeVries with four apiece. Eppard also had an interception.
New head coach John Shipley thinks his team may have turned a corner by learning how to play passionately, but with more emotional control
“They showed their togetherness and stayed true to our core values and the work they have put in,” Sbipley said. “They played with emotion, but they were not emotional. They did not let their emotions overcome the task at hand.”
Taking another crack at Belding
The Trojans started the season with two big games against teams they have struggled with in recent years, and came out with a respectable 1-1 split.
At this point it would only seem fair for them to get a little bit of a break against a lesser opponent – but that is certainly not the case.
The Trojans will now face what might be their toughest task of the season by going on the road against Belding, the big bully of the O-K Silver conference.
The Black Knights have not lost an O-K Silver game in the past four seasons, going 23-0 between 2022 and 2025.
They have been particularly hard on Fruitport in the two years since the Trojans joined the conference, winning 58-7 in 2024 and 36-7 last year.
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[4]Some people might have wondered if this would be the year that Belding finally slips, because the team only returned a total of five starters from last year’s squad, according to media reports.
But so far the Black Knights seem just as good, beating Kelloggsville 60-20 in Week 1 and Holland 55-35 last week.
One particular concern for the Trojans might be Belding senior All-State running back Ethan King, who put up some pretty amazing numbers against Holland last week, rushing for 317 yards. He has already scored an astonishing 12 touchdowns, with six in each of the first two games.
“They do what they do and they do it well,” Shipley said about Belding. “They are a good team and they have some electric players, including a really good running back.
“For us, it’s just another opportunity to go out and compete and execute our game plan agianst a quality opponent, and play the game the Frutport way. This is a game where there will probably be very little room for error.”
Weekly battle for the Silver crown
Remaining in contention for a conference title will be an almost weekly concern for the Trojans. That’s because the O-K Silver has changed.
Last year there were seven football teams competing in the conference, because two member schools, NorthPointe Christian and Calvin Christian, were playing eight-man football.
This year both of those schools returned to 11-man football, so there are nine teams in the conference, and all but one of Fruitport’s regular season games are O-K Silver games.
The Trojans’ only non-conference matchup this season will be next week at Allendale.
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[6]Weeks 5 through 9 will all be conference games, at home against Kelloggsville and Holland, at Calvin Christian and Comstock Park, and back at home against NorthPointe Christian to end the regular season.
Belding and Hopkins are currently 2-0 in the O-K Silver standings. Fruitport, Comstock Park, NorthPointe Christian and Godwin Heights are all 1-1, Calvin Christian and Kelloggsville are 0-1 and Holland is 0-2.
“There are a lot of great teams and great coaches in our conference,” Shipley said. “We approach each game and each week the same, by doing our work daily, getting game plans in and focusing on us and what we can control. That will put us in position to be successful.
“Eight conference games is a lot, but it’s the same mental and physical preparation.”
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