FRUITPORT – For the Fruitport football team, Friday night was about more than just one victory.

The Trojans had nine seniors playing their final regular-season game at Doc Pierce Field, and they were putting the cap on a great regular season that will culminate with their return to the state playoffs.

That last part will become official on Sunday, when the Michigan High School Athletic Association announces the first round Division 4 playoff pairings. The Trojans are pretty much guaranteed to be in that mix for the first time since 2022.

Behind a dominant rushing attack and several crucial defensive stops, Fruitport defeated NorthPointe Christian 27-14, extending its winning streak to six games and finishing the regular season 7-2 overall.

For a senior class that endured back-to-back losing seasons in 2024 and 2025, Friday’s victory was indeed a big deal.

“Oh man, it’s special, and I’m just so happy for our seniors,” said first-year Fruitport head coach John Shipley. “I’m so proud of them. They left their mark on this program moving forward. They’ve done a great job buying into the culture, into the vision, and they’ve worked their tails off.”

The Trojans were led by sophomore Johnnie Kempker, who rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, while adding 22 receiving yards. Senior Josh Eppard contributed 104 rushing yards on 17 carries, while Liam Campbell added 57 rushing yards and a touchdown on five attempts.

Fruitport established control early behind its ground game, marching downfield on its opening offensive possession.

Senior quarterback Brady Hanson broke free for a 42-yard run to move the Trojans into NorthPointe territory before connecting with senior Mason DeVries on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 6:06 remaining in the first quarter.

The Trojans wasted little time extending their advantage.

Kempker broke through the middle of NorthPointe’s defense before bouncing outside for a 23-yard touchdown run, giving Fruitport a 14-0 advantage.

While the Trojans’ offense started strong, NorthPointe Christian refused to go away.

The Mustangs threatened to cut into Fruitport’s lead early in the second quarter, advancing inside the Trojans’ 20-yard line behind several completions from their passing attack.

However, Fruitport’s defense delivered a crucial fourth-down stop when the Mustangs attempted a quarterback keeper near the goal line.

NorthPointe threatened again just before halftime, moving inside the Fruitport 25-yard line with seconds remaining.

Brady Hanson ended the scoring opportunity by intercepting a fourth-down pass, preserving the 14-0 halftime lead.

The Trojans fumbled on their opening possession of the third quarter and NorthPointe recovered in Fruitport territory.

Three plays later, the Mustangs broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 14-7.

Fruitport responded by leaning heavily on Eppard, who helped orchestrate a lengthy drive that carried into the fourth quarter.

The senior repeatedly powered through NorthPointe’s defensive front, moving the Trojans inside the Mustangs’ 5-yard line.

However, NorthPointe delivered a goal-line stand of its own, stuffing Eppard on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line to keep the game within one possession.

Later, Eppard and Kempker moved the Trojans into scoring position before Campbell broke free on a 42-yard option pitch from Hanson, extending Fruitport’s lead to 21-7 with 6:33 remaining.

NorthPointe responded with a 44-yard touchdown pass with 5:38 remaining, cutting Fruitport’s advantage to 21-14 and putting additional pressure on the Trojans.

But they wouldn’t be denied their victory.

Facing a crucial third-and-long situation, Hanson connected with Kempker on a diving reception to extend the possession.

Just a few plays later, Kempker broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run with 3:30 remaining, giving the Trojans a 27-14 advantage after an conversion attempt.

Hanson sealed the victory with his second interception of the evening on NorthPointe’s ensuing possession.

The senior quarterback finished with 48 rushing yards on four carries while completing three of seven passes for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Looking ahead, Shipley emphasized the importance of correcting mistakes before postseason competition begins.

“There’s lots of room for us to grow,” the coach said. “There’s lots of room for us to keep getting better, and there’s lots of room for us to keep working. Once you get in the playoffs, everybody’s good. So I’m excited to get back to work next week.”

For Kempker, the mentality heading into the playoffs is simple.

“We’re ready for whoever we’re going against,” he said. “We love this sport to death.”