MUSKEGON – When you play a good team year after year in a high-pressure playoff game, eventually you’re going to lose one.

That’s what happened to the Muskegon Big Reds on Saturday

The Big Reds had hosted and dominated Cedar Springs for three straight years in the Division 3 playoffs, and a lot of people assumed that was going to happen again this weekend.

After all, Muskegon was on an eight-game winning streak, and hadn’t been seriously challenged since Week 2 of the season, when it lost at home to Detroit Cass Tech.

But Cedar Springs, effectively using its Wing-T rushing attack, scored two touchdowns on long runs in the second half, then hung on to beat the Big Reds 21-14 in a Division 3 district championship game at Hackley Stadium.

Muskegon experienced uncharacteristic problems by giving up big plays on defense, having trouble snapping the ball, getting called for penalties at really bad moments, and coughing up the ball with the game on the line.

The Big Reds had a chance to come back in the fourth quarter, after Myles Walton picked off a pass at the Cedar Springs 49-yard line with about seven minutes left.

But the Big Reds fumbled two plays later, Cedar Springs recovered and killed a bunch of time off the clock, and Muskegon went down to defeat.

The loss was a different kind of experience for Muskegon, which has a tradition of long runs in the state playoffs. The Big Reds made it to the Division 3 state finals for four years in a row, between 2016 and 2019, and seven of the previous eight seasons.

Saturday’s loss marked the earliest the Big Reds has been eliminated from the playoffs since 2011, when they also fell in the district finals.

“You win them and you lose them,” said an emotional Muskegon Coach Shane Fairfield after the game. “You just don’t know which way it’s going to bounce and how things are going to play out. I am not ashamed or disappointed. There was not one kid out there today who did not play with all of his heart.

“Hats off to (Cedar Springs). They came in here and executed and scored one more touchdown than us.”

Cedar Springs had the first chance to score in the game when Antwaun Nicholls broke off a 42-yard run and got the ball to the Big Red 10 late in the first quarter. The Red Hawks drove to the Muskegon 2, where they faced fourth-and-goal, but the Muskegon defense held firm and the ball turned over on downs.

That Cedar Springs drive was only possible because the Big Reds were flagged for running into the kicker when the Red Hawks punted from their own 28. The mistake didn’t end up costing Muskegon any points, but it was a hint of problems to come.

Cedar Springs had its second big play of the game with 7:28 left in the second quarter when Ryan West caught a pass and gained 32 yards, putting the ball at the Big Red 14. Three players later Ryan Mitchell plowed into the end zone from two yards out, and the extra point gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.

The Big Reds struck back on their next possession when Jakob Price broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown run, and the PAT left the score tied 7-7 at halftime.

Cedar Springs took the lead for good early in the third quarter when West broke through the line and scored a 50-yard touchdown. The PAT made the score 14-7.

Muskegon drove to the Red Hawks’ 34 on the next possession, then another wild snap pushed the drive back to the 49. The Big Reds managed to keep the effort alive on fourth-and-seven from the Cedar Springs 35 when Jeremiah Dault caught a pass, broke tackles and drove to the Red Hawk 11.

But that promising drive stalled four plays later at the 5-yard line, when Walton was stopped for no gain and the ball turned over on downs.

The Red Hawks got their final score early in the fourth quarter when West dashed for another long touchdown run, this time from 34 yards out. The PAT made the score 21-7 with 10:58 remaining, and suddenly Muskegon was in trouble.

Dominic Sugin gave the Big Reds a new lease on life on the ensuing kickoff, retuning the ball 45 yards to the Cedar Springs 25. Price scored from a yard out five plays later, and the extra point made the score 21-14.

Muskegon had a great opportunity to tie the score or pull ahead when Walton picked off a long Cedar Rapids pass at the Red Hawk 49 with 6:55 left, but just two plays later the snap from center was fumbled and bounced away, and Cedar Springs recovered.

“Our two centers were battling some things, but we had other opportunities,” Fairfield said. “There were so many plays that we wish we could have had back.”

The Red Hawks took over at the Muskegon 46 and methodically drove to the 13. They faced a fourth-and-two situation in the middle of the drive, but the Big Reds were called for jumping offside, giving Cedar Rapids a fresh set of downs.

The drive ended with the Red Hawks missed a field goal attempt, but there was only 32 seconds left, and the Big Reds were not able to mount another offensive threat.

After the game Fairfield gave credit to his small 11-man senior class for getting through the COVID experience and leading the team as it returned to full-time classroom activity and football this season.

‘I’m ecstatic with the seniors,” he said. “These guys played their hearts and souls out for this team. They were the ones who were there to pick up the pieces and get us back on track. This senior class means more to me than any other senior class I’ve had.”