MUSKEGON – Liam Campbell made quite the first impression on Fruitport football fans Friday night.

The freshman got his first extended playing time at the varsity level and carried the ball early, often, and effectively, helping the Trojans to an exciting 35-14 win on the road over Muskegon Catholic Central.

Fruitport scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Crusaders and earn the victory, their second in a row.

It’s the first time the Trojans have won two games in a row since Oct. 21 and 28, 2022.

Campbell, normally the starting quarterback for the Trojan JV team, was pulled up due to injuries and got the start at running back. He rushed 27 times for 122 yards and a touchdown in the win.

“It feels pretty good, knowing last year we didn’t have such a good season, but now coming out here and being able to get a win,” Campbell said. “(I wasn’t) in my usual position, but I helped the team and I’m just glad we came out with a W.”

“Liam was able to step right in – he did a really good job,” said Fruitport head coach Nate Smith. “He’s the JV quarterback, he spends a lot of time with the varsity players. We know he’s going to be a very special player.”

Campbell gave credit to the Trojans’ offensive line for creating big running lanes for him and the other running backs, including Frankie Kotecki and Kalan Teeter.

“I love my big guys up front,” Campbell said. “Being a freshman, knowing that I have such a good O-line makes a huge difference for me, tucking the ball and running the ball. I know they will get a push and make a hole for me to run through.”

Another young player who stepped up big on Friday was sophomore Brady Hanson, who started at quarterback in place of the injured Bradon Dornbos. Hanson commanded the offense and threw a critical touchdown pass to DayDay Williams that put the Trojans ahead in the fourth quarter.

“He’s a kid that is incredibly football smart, he’s savvy, he puts in a ton of work and it showed tonight,” Smith said. “He had a touchdown pass, it was a free read for him and he made the right read.”

The Trojan defense also came up big, stopping MCC’s rushing attack for most of the night and coming up with two major takeaways that led to touchdowns for the offense.

Friday’s win meant a little extra to Smith, and it’s not just because his team is starting to win again after going 0-9 last season. He’s a former assistant coach at MCC and has great memories of his time there.

“My time here was really special and it really helped me,” Smith said. “I love this place. There was no animosity, it was nothing like that. I wanted our team to play well because I love this place and I feel like they did a really good job helping form me, so I wanted to have a good game, because I want them to feel like they lost to a good football team.”

MCC scored first on a 1-yard run by Bryan Convertini and the PAT made it 7-0 with 4:09 left in the first quarter.

Fruitport responded with an 11-play drive to even the score. Campbell capped the effort with a 1-yard TD, the first of his career, with 11:53 left in the second quarter.

After the Trojan defense forced a three-and-out, the offense marched on another long scoring drive.

Fruitport drove 64 yards in 16 plays, taking 8:34 off the clock. It ended with a 16-yard scoring run from Teeter, putting Fruitport up 14-7 with 52 seconds left in the first half.

Fruitport fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, opening the door for MCC. The defense held, however, and forced a punt.

After a Trojan drive stalled, MCC managed to convert a fourth down into a touchdown when Convertini found Henry Rosema for an 8-yard TD pass. That evened the score at 14-14 with 3:09 left in the third.

Fruitport took the lead for good on its next drive, scoring on the first play of the fourth quarter. Hanson found Williams on a pass in the middle of the field, and Williams took it to the house for a 49-yard touchdown, putting Fruitport up 21-14.

Five plays later, Teeter came up with a big defensive play, intercepting a pass near midfield, then he cashed in on his takeaway with a 44-yard touchdown run just three plays later.

That gave Fruitport a 28-14 lead with 8:14 to play.

On the next play from scrimmage, the Crusaders fumbled a backward pass and Ethan Riggs pounced on the ball for Fruitport. Four plays later, Kotecki found the end zone to make it 35-14 with 6:26 to play.

Campbell led Fruitport with 122 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Teeter had six carries for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Kotecki rushed for 28 yards and a TD.

Hanson went 3-for-6 passing for 62 yards and a score, while Williams grabbed three catches for 62 yards and a TD.

Blair Zimmer had six tackles to lead the Trojan defense. David Johnson-Jimenez, Easton Fett, Carson Crow and Teeter each had several stops, as well.

Riley King was 5-for-5 on extra points.

Fruitport, now 2-2 on the season, will travel to Belding next week for an O-K Silver conference game. The Black Knights are 3-1 on the season after a 50-21 win over Holland on Friday.