Video: Panthers on the Loose

Punt. Fumble. Punt. Fumble. Punt…. Touchdown.

Hopefully you were sitting near the North end zone in last night’s inaugural game between West Ottawa and Holland Christian. If you weren’t, I hope you brought binoculars.

West Ottawa RB Zac Boersema scores 2 TDs in win over Holland Christian from Varsity News Network on Vimeo.

Desmond Morgan, Garrett Daniel, and Nate Rodino never let their pray past the 35-yard line. The senior linebackers pounced on the Maroons who were without quarterback Luke Brower. Brower went down with a knee injury last week. His absence put a severe damper on the Maroons offense that recorded just 47 total yards.

West Ottawa kicked off to Holland Christian to start the game, but a punishing sack by Rodino put the Maroons back on their 9-yard line on the first play of the game. The Maroons were forced to punt, and West Ottawa’s Spencer Olson returned it 24 yards. A fumble put the Maroons back on offense, but cornerback Josh Wisbang deflected a pass to force them to punt again. And again, a fumble by West Ottawa put the Maroons back on offense. This time, it was defensive end Curtis Smith‘s turn to force Holland Christian to punt.

Just seven minutes into the game, we’d seen three punts, two fumbles, and it was time for a score.

Thomas Rich scooted up the left sidelines and just barely keeping his footing long enough to stretch out his 5’9″ frame across the goal line.

West Ottawa’s Thomas Rich returns a punt for a TD from Varsity News Network on Vimeo.

Kicker Bryan Holmes tacked on the extra point then booted the ensuing kickoff through the goal posts keeping Holland Christian on the 20-yard line. But three punts didn’t satisfy the Panther defense. They wanted more. To put it lightly, linebacker Desmond Morgan wasn’t trying to hit running back Jeff Vroon. He was trying to hit the guy behind him. That’s just how hard the Rival.com 3-star linebacker hit last night.

Not to be outdone, Garrett Daniel one-upped his buddy. On the next play, Daniel threw an unfortunate Maroon receiver then followed up with his own reception, returning an interception for 18 yards for a touchdown.

Holland Christian continued to struggle on offense, punting deep in their own territory. The Maroons never converted on third down going an imperfect 0-for-14. Zac Boersema‘s two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter and quarterback Desmond Morgan’s two rushing scores in the second quarter put the game well out of reach.

Spencer Olson picked off another Holland Christian pass and returned it 39-yards for yet another touchdown putting the Panthers up 47-0.

A running clock in the second half was the only thing that could tame the Panthers on their 54-0 route of the visiting Maroons.

The Panthers enter conference play 2-0 against at home against a Grand Haven teams that’s scored 40 or more points in both games this season. Holland Christian travels to Hudsonville Unity Christian where the Crusaders haven’t allowed more than a touchdown in a game this season.