October 29, 2010
The hype was all about Desmond Morgan going into West Ottawa’s rematch with one-loss Grand Haven at Gene Rothi Field on Friday night. The quarterback-slash-linebacker had just notched an official scholly offer from the University of Michigan, and was facing a team he had matched up against well in their previous meeting back in week three. Everyone in the stands was looking for him to make some outstanding plays for West Ottawa.
But when West Ottawa found themselves down one with under two minutes left to go, it was sophomore kicker Bryan Holmes who made the plays to lift the Panthers above Grand Haven and into the second round of the playoffs. Holmes’s 29-yard field goal was his third of the night, and put the Panthers up for good, 23-21.
GH's Dalton Stenberg breaks free | Murray Sports Photography
Everything considered, the Panthers probably weren’t supposed to be in that situation to begin with. Facing third-and-10 to begin that drive, Morgan pitched the ball on a reverse to wideout Spencer Olson, who stopped up short before heaving the ball downfield to Morgan streaking down the sideline. In a life-or-death situation, West Ottawa got 27-yards on their “call in case of emergency” play. Even still, the Panthers had to convert on another third down a couple plays later to keep the drive alive, without which the outcome would have been different. But they did it. The Panthers made plays when it mattered.
Grand Haven’s defense was stifling all night long. Lead by an outstanding duo of linebackers in Jerry Westerman and Dalton Stenberg, the Bucs consistently put the clamps on both Morgan and tailback Zac Boersema, and stopped the Panthers from having much success in the air. West Ottawa repeatedly found themselves in unenviable third and long situations. But when it came time for someone to make a play, Morgan and co. always seemed to find a way to pull it out.
And these types of win-or-die, now or never plays. The types of plays that can define a team or a player for years, and the types that build upon each other to win titles. In the end, aren’t those plays what playoff football is all about?
Quick Hitters
- Holmes’s leg is a weapon. Along with the 29-yarder he stroked one from 34-yards out as time expired to give West Ottawa a 17-14 lead going into the break, and then boomed one from 42-yards away to open the second half (a 42-yard bomb that would have cleared from 52). Let’s also not forget Holmes’s complete eradication of Grand Haven’s kick return game, as he consistently sent the ball out of the back of the endzone. An elite kicker is a luxury not typically enjoyed at the high-school level, but since Holmes is a sophomore, West Ottawa will be spoiled for at least a couple more years after this one.
- It’s rough playing every second of a game, particularly when you’re hitting other folks on nearly every play. Add up a bunch of those types of games over a whole season, and you run into a cumulative fatigue problem. In West Ottawa’s loss to Muskegon to end the regular season, that reality was evident as Morgan looked positively gassed late in the game. That being the case, West Ottawa’s coaching staff did a masterful job of keeping Morgan out of the line of fire on the offensive side of the ball through the first three quarters, which was instrumental in his making those plays at the end.
- Grand Haven quarterback Adam Poel reminds you a little of the Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo. He is talented buying time with his feet and throwing the ball downfield to pick up tough yardage. Interesting thing is, like the Sundance Kid, Poel is a more accurate passer when he’s on the run.
Obscure Highlight of the Night
Midway through the second, Grand Haven running back Dalton Stenberg lowered his shoulder going through the line of scrimmage at the same time Morgan lowered his going the other way. You could hear the impact in the pressbox. That’s football, ladies and gents. Two big, solid, way-too-fast-for-their-size type kids smacking full force into one another. Oh, and to answer the unspoken question, it was a tie.
WO's Desmond Morgan goes for the touchdown | Murray Sports Photography
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