Zeeland West senior halfback Brandon Holman (6) stiff-arms a Unity Christian tackler during last Friday’s win over the Crusaders.
Photo courtesy Angela Howe Creations
Photo courtesy Angela Howe Creations
Eleven seconds.
That’s how long it took for the Zeeland West varsity football team to make a statement that it was going to be a long night for Unity Christian last Friday night.
Senior halfback Brandon Holman dashed 65 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, and the Dux never let up as they romped to a 36-0 win over the Crusaders at McKenzie Field in Jenison.
Five different backs scored touchdowns as West, ranked No. 8 in Division 3 by the Associated Press, improved to 3-1 in the O-K Gold Conference and 6-1 overall against a Crusader team that entered the contest ranked ninth in Division 4.
The Dux broke a two-game losing streak against Unity and handed the Crusaders their first shutout loss in 155 games. The last time Unity was shut out was in a 14-0 pre-district playoff loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in 2012.
West extended its lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter on a touchdown run by senior quarterback Drew Albrecht. The Dux then recovered the ensuing kickoff, and capitalized on that recovery as senior halfback Cam Brouwer plunged in from the one. West was in command at the half, leading 20-0.
Junior Kenny Howe III added to the lead on the opening possession of the third quarter with a touchdown run, followed by a two-point conversion run by Holman.
The Dux put the exclamation mark on this victory late in the third quarter on a touchdown run by senior Niko Moungkhoun, followed by a Howe two-point conversion run.
Holman led the Dux with 102 yards rushing on 11 carries, and also had a 63-yard pass catch and run. Howe added 96 yards on 15 carries. West limited Unity to 186 yards of total offense.
The Dux will go for their 200th win as a program this Friday at Zeeland Stadium for homecoming against Forest Hills Central. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
That’s how long it took for the Zeeland West varsity football team to make a statement that it was going to be a long night for Unity Christian last Friday night.
Senior halfback Brandon Holman dashed 65 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, and the Dux never let up as they romped to a 36-0 win over the Crusaders at McKenzie Field in Jenison.
Five different backs scored touchdowns as West, ranked No. 8 in Division 3 by the Associated Press, improved to 3-1 in the O-K Gold Conference and 6-1 overall against a Crusader team that entered the contest ranked ninth in Division 4.
The Dux broke a two-game losing streak against Unity and handed the Crusaders their first shutout loss in 155 games. The last time Unity was shut out was in a 14-0 pre-district playoff loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in 2012.
West extended its lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter on a touchdown run by senior quarterback Drew Albrecht. The Dux then recovered the ensuing kickoff, and capitalized on that recovery as senior halfback Cam Brouwer plunged in from the one. West was in command at the half, leading 20-0.
Junior Kenny Howe III added to the lead on the opening possession of the third quarter with a touchdown run, followed by a two-point conversion run by Holman.
The Dux put the exclamation mark on this victory late in the third quarter on a touchdown run by senior Niko Moungkhoun, followed by a Howe two-point conversion run.
Holman led the Dux with 102 yards rushing on 11 carries, and also had a 63-yard pass catch and run. Howe added 96 yards on 15 carries. West limited Unity to 186 yards of total offense.
The Dux will go for their 200th win as a program this Friday at Zeeland Stadium for homecoming against Forest Hills Central. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
East Rolls Wyoming for Homecoming
Zeeland East running back Payton Sackett (10) is off to the races for a 45-yard touchdown for the first score of last Friday’s homecoming win over Wyoming.
Photo courtesy Andrea Brink Photography
The Zeeland East varsity football team had no problem with Wyoming in its homecoming game last Friday, rolling to a 55-0 win to move back over the .500 mark.
The Chix (4-3) needed just 49 seconds to open the scoring as Payton Sackett dashed 45 yards for a touchdown on their first possession. Carter Dyk kicked the extra point for an early 7-0 lead.
East then went to the air for its next two scores, as Will Drnek tossed touchdown passes of 31 yards to Coby Miller and 26 yards to Isaiah Boonstra. The Chix led 20-0 after one quarter.
Brennan Bazan scored on a 16-yard run early in the second quarter, and Sackett added his second TD on a 3-yard run just before halftime. East went into the halftime break with a 34-0 lead.
Drnek threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Norman early in the third quarter to activate the running clock.
Carter Rosenberg raced 81 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter, and Chase Shults scored on a 45-yard run with just over a minute remaining.
Sackett led the rushing attack with 152 yards on just six carries.
Zeek Ramadhani led the defense with two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and seven overall tackles. Shults also made seven stops.
The Chix face Grand Rapids South Christian this Friday night at East Kentwood High School’s Falcon Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
The Chix (4-3) needed just 49 seconds to open the scoring as Payton Sackett dashed 45 yards for a touchdown on their first possession. Carter Dyk kicked the extra point for an early 7-0 lead.
East then went to the air for its next two scores, as Will Drnek tossed touchdown passes of 31 yards to Coby Miller and 26 yards to Isaiah Boonstra. The Chix led 20-0 after one quarter.
Brennan Bazan scored on a 16-yard run early in the second quarter, and Sackett added his second TD on a 3-yard run just before halftime. East went into the halftime break with a 34-0 lead.
Drnek threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Norman early in the third quarter to activate the running clock.
Carter Rosenberg raced 81 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter, and Chase Shults scored on a 45-yard run with just over a minute remaining.
Sackett led the rushing attack with 152 yards on just six carries.
Zeek Ramadhani led the defense with two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and seven overall tackles. Shults also made seven stops.
The Chix face Grand Rapids South Christian this Friday night at East Kentwood High School’s Falcon Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
East Downs Crusaders in Four Sets
The Zeeland East varsity volleyball team continued to maintain its hold on first place in the O-K Black Conference on Oct. 6, overcoming a first-set loss to defeat Unity Christian, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-11.
The Chix improved to 8-0 in the conference and 24-4 overall with the win. East was to travel to Spring Lake Tuesday night.
East got another balanced effort in the win. Fenna Gruppen led the Chix attack with 10 kills and a hitting percentage of .455. Ava Geerlings added nine kills, a .473 hitting percentage and seven total blocks, while Bri Cole had seven kills, a kill percentage of .467 and 10 total blocks.
Setter Kyla Kuiper dished out 32 assists and added six kills and three aces. Lizzie Risdon had a 2.38 serve receive average, 11 digs and four aces. In her first match as a libero, Jordyn Grassmid had 15 digs and a serve receive average of 2.1.
The Chix improved to 8-0 in the conference and 24-4 overall with the win. East was to travel to Spring Lake Tuesday night.
East got another balanced effort in the win. Fenna Gruppen led the Chix attack with 10 kills and a hitting percentage of .455. Ava Geerlings added nine kills, a .473 hitting percentage and seven total blocks, while Bri Cole had seven kills, a kill percentage of .467 and 10 total blocks.
Setter Kyla Kuiper dished out 32 assists and added six kills and three aces. Lizzie Risdon had a 2.38 serve receive average, 11 digs and four aces. In her first match as a libero, Jordyn Grassmid had 15 digs and a serve receive average of 2.1.
Dux Volleyball Win Streak Reaches 12
The Zeeland West varsity volleyball team has been on a roll of late, winning 12 consecutive matches in less than a week.
The Dux defeated Stevensville Lakeshore 25-19, 25-19 in the first match of a home quad Monday night for their 12th straight win. The streak ended with a loss to Kalamazoo Christian, 25-20, 25-15. But West closed out the night with a 25-12, 25-17 win over Grandville Calvin Chrsitian.
West’s streak began last Thursday at another quad, with wins over Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 25-18, 25-19; Sparta 25-22, 25-21 and Grand Rapids Covenant Christian 25-16, 25-15.
West (21-12) had strong serving efforts throughout last Thursday, with Brielle Carlson serving up seven aces and Breslin Schippers five. Molly Settlemyre led the Dux attack with 20 kills while Hannah VanderZwaag added 15. Halle Reider led the team in digs with 15.
Last Saturday, the Dux took the championship at the 21st annual Switek Memorial Tournament in Hopkins.
West defeated Gobles, West Michigan Aviation Academy, Wellspring Prep, and Bridgman in pool play. The Dux then defeated Holland Black River in the quarterfinals, Bridgman in the semifinals, and then captured the championship in a three-set battle over Fremont, 25-17, 22-25, 15-11.
The Dux defeated Stevensville Lakeshore 25-19, 25-19 in the first match of a home quad Monday night for their 12th straight win. The streak ended with a loss to Kalamazoo Christian, 25-20, 25-15. But West closed out the night with a 25-12, 25-17 win over Grandville Calvin Chrsitian.
West’s streak began last Thursday at another quad, with wins over Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 25-18, 25-19; Sparta 25-22, 25-21 and Grand Rapids Covenant Christian 25-16, 25-15.
West (21-12) had strong serving efforts throughout last Thursday, with Brielle Carlson serving up seven aces and Breslin Schippers five. Molly Settlemyre led the Dux attack with 20 kills while Hannah VanderZwaag added 15. Halle Reider led the team in digs with 15.
Last Saturday, the Dux took the championship at the 21st annual Switek Memorial Tournament in Hopkins.
West defeated Gobles, West Michigan Aviation Academy, Wellspring Prep, and Bridgman in pool play. The Dux then defeated Holland Black River in the quarterfinals, Bridgman in the semifinals, and then captured the championship in a three-set battle over Fremont, 25-17, 22-25, 15-11.
