Local Sports Journal

It’s usually safe to assume that a team with a 19-point lead will hang on to win a football game.

But that wasn’t the case Friday in Hesperia.

The host Panthers scored the first 19 points of the game, and led 19-7 at halftime, but Ludington responded with five unanswered touchdowns en route to a 34-25 non-league victory.

“Ludington kept playing and we just hit a low,” said Hesperia coach Aaron Sims. “Every single play counts and we gotta learn how to play from the head.” 

Taylor Follrath played a huge role in the Oriole comeback, amassing 201 yards on 10 carries, including touchdown runs of 39 and 50 yards.

The first half was all Hesperia. Brandon Goins opened with a touchdown run from five yards out, then added a six-yard scoring burst to put the Panthers up 19-0. Goins finished with 98 yards on 15 carries, and also had six tackles on defense. 

Joe Allen added a two-yard touchdown for Hesperia. He ended the game with 43 yards on six carries. 

Jacob Janowiak put Ludington on the board before halftime with an 18-yard touchdown reception from Logan Sorensen. Follrath opened the second half with his 39-yard scoring run. 

Sorensen put the Orioles up 21-19 with a 3-yard touchdown run, then Follrath came through again with a 50 yard scoring scamper.  Sorensen capped the fireworks for Ludington with an 11-yard touchdown run.
Freddy Vanderstelt had 89 yards rushing on 15 carries for Hesperia. Nathan McKeown made a pair of catches for 106 yards and also had seven tackles on defense.

Jonah Wugnema led the Panther defense with eight tackles and Eric Rosema added five.