By David Tomczak
Local Sports Journal
SPRING LAKE – Led by a junior and a sophomore, Mona Shores showcased a big strike offense that had host Spring Lake on its heels most of the night Friday.
The Sailors’ Tyree Jackson passed for four touchdowns as the visitors rolled to a 40-12 nonconference win, improving to 2-0 on the season.
The junior quarterback’s first scoring play came via a handoff to receiver Hunter Broersma on an end-around play. The sophomore took the ball and sprinted down the sideline 62-yards to the endzone and the Sailors were up 7-0 five minutes into the game.
“We have good skill kids, and we’re fast on the edge,” Shores coach Todd Conrad said. “Most teams focus on (our other receivers) and for good reason, but until they recognize Hunter he’s going to keep doing that (scoring).”
On their next possession, the Sailors drove deep into Laker territory before facing a fourth-and-goal from the five. They went for it and Jackson found Marquon Sargent in the endzone for a 14-0 lead to end the first quarter.
Spring Lake (1-1), which struggled offensively in the first quarter, picked up its first first down in the second quarter, and after a 27-yard run by Jakob Frederick, were deep in Sailors territory.
But the scoring threat vanished when Shores’ Michael Smith picked off a pass at the 2-yard line. Setting up the Sailors deep in Spring Lake’s end of the field.
Jackson didn’t waste much time putting up more points, and after a short run, he hit Broersma in stride down the sideline for a 96-yard score and a 20-0 lead.
“Our wide receivers did a great job on their routes,” the Sailors QB said. “We always feel we have better skill position guys and our offensive line did a great job.”
Jackson and Sargent would connect two times to begin the second half, with the QB finding his senior wideout for 45 and 20-yard scoring strikes, building a 33-0 lead heading into the fourth.
“We played well, they’re just a better team than us,” Lakers coach Jerry Rabideau said. “They were physically bigger than us, which I didn’t expect, and we couldn’t get pressure on Tyree. He’s a great quarterback and he made all the right decisions.”
Spring Lake finally got on the board as quarterback Mark Williamson scored from 4-yards out early in the final quarter.
Jackson finished off the night by hitting Smith on a short pass that the receiver brought 25-yards to paydirt.
“Before the game we talked about getting the emotion out and focus,” Conrad said. “We wanted to play on an even keel emotionally and just do our job (and) we did some really, really good things tonight.”
Hunter Moe, taking over of Williamson late in the game, scrambled in from 5-yards out late in the game for the final score.
Mona Shores finished the game with a 456-186 advantage in total offense, with Jackson finishing the game 13-of-24 passing for 246 yards. He also carried the ball 12 times for 26 yards while Broersma had three carries for 85 yards and four receptions for 114 yards.
Sargent added three catches for 56 yards for the Sailors and Logan Smith had 64 yards on four catches.
The Shores defense held the Lakers to just 15 passing yards and was led by Malik Taylor with 10 tackles, Jacob Workman had nine and Michael Smith finished with four.
Frederick led Spring Lake with 10 carries for 99 yards, Marlin Ingalls added 32 yards on eight carries and Williamson had 32 yards on 16 carries. Sawyer Smith led the defense with five tackles and a sack.
MONA SHORES 40, SPRING LAKE 12
Mona Shores 14 – 6 – 13 – 7 – 40
Spring Lake 0 – 0 – 0 – 12 – 12
MS – Hunter Broersma 62 run (kick good)
MS – Marquon Sargent 4 pass from Tyree Jackson (kick good)
MS – Broersma 96 pass from Jackson (kick failed)
MS – Sargent 45 pass from Jackson (pass failed)
MS – Sargent 20 pass from Jackson (kick good)
SL – Mark Williamson 4 run (pass failed)
MS – Michael Smith 25 pass from Jackson (kick good)
SL – Hunter Moe 5 run (run failed)
Spring Lake leaders
Rushing – Jakob Frederick 10 carries, 99 yards; Marlin Ingalls 8 carries, 32 yards; Mark Williamson 16 carries, 32 yards.
Mona Shores leaders
Rushing – Hunter Broersma 3 carries, 85 yards; Tyree Jackson 12 carries, 26 yards.
Passing – Jackson 13-for-24, 246 yards.
Receiving – Broersma 4 catches, 114 yards; Logan Smith 4 catches, 64 yards; Marquon Sargent 3 catches, 56 yards.
