Local Sports Journal
For a while it looked like Whitehall might be able to hang in there with league power Shelby.
But the Tigers running game wore down the Vikings over the last three quarters, and Shelby (2-0) walked away with a 35-7 victory in the West Michigan Conference opener for both schools.
The teams were tied 7-7 after one quarter.
Forrest Courtright opened the scoring for Shelby with a three-yard touchdown run. Andy Fortier’s kick gave the hosts a 7-0 lead.
But the upstart Vikings answered with a score of their own on their first possession. Keenan Aylor hit paydirt from three yards out, leaving Whitehall with visions of an early-season league upset.
But Shelby lowered the boom with two touchdowns in the second quarter and two more in the third to put the game away.
Courtright scored both second quarter touchdowns for the Tigers. He led his team’s balanced offensive attack with 86 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns.
Tony Guerra and Devon Mussell each scored in the third quarter with short runs to put the game on ice for the hosts.
Shelby amassed 351 total offensive yards, including 251 on the ground. Mussell had 84 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown while Guerra added 43 yards on eight carries and one touchdown.
Quarterback Andy Fortier completed three passes for 75 yards, Dylan Unger had two catches for 44 yards and Brody Lee added a 49-yard reception for the winners.
Courtright also led Shelby’s defense with 17 tackles , Saul Salgado chipped in 14 and Kasey DeWitt had 12 tackles. Jake Baffie added an interception and 12-yard return.
Trip Thommen had 22 carries for 122 yards for Whitehall (o-2) while Alyor was 7-of-13 passing for 90 yards.
