By Nate Thompson
LocalSportsJournal.com
FRUITPORT — If Mona Shores’ fans check their cell phone or blink a couple times, they might miss a Sailor scoring drive.
The Mona Shores offense was in hypermode at Fruitport High School on Thursday, scoring 42 points in the first half and rolling to a 55-14 victory over the Trojans.
Mona Shores improved to 2-0 this season.
Orchestrating the attack was senior quarterback Tyler Trovinger, who completed 9-of-16 passes for 235 yards and six touchdowns.
Fruitport (0-2) had no answer at slowing down the Sailors’ impressive collection of speedy receivers, who thrived at turning bubble screens into big-play scores.
“That’s something we work on in practice every day,” said Mona Shores senior receiver Deandre Oakes-Owens, a Reeths-Puffer transfer who had touchdown catches of 14 and 11 yards. “We go through our passing sessions and that’s something we focus on. We just try to be efficient every day.”
Mona Shores scored on its first offensive play from scrimmage, a 56-yard bubble screen to 5-foot-9 senior receiver Darece Roberson. It was a sign of things to come.
Elijah Wilson (13) grabs the second Mona Shores interception of the game. Photo/Eric Sturr
Fruitport hurt its own cause with three turnovers – two interceptions and a fumble – in the opening quarter. Mona Shores took advantage, scoring two touchdowns off the Trojans’ miscues — Oakes-Owens’ 14-yard grab and a 10-yard bubble screen to senior Kobe Burse.
When Fruitport did manage to take away the screen, the Sailors burned the Trojans deep. With 39 seconds left in the first quarter, Trovinger found senior Hunter Broersma open on a fly route, resulting in an 80-yard touchdown reception.
Mona Shores’ coach Matt Koziak said he’s been extremely pleased with the play of Trovinger through the opening two weeks of action. Thus far, the Sailors have put 110 points on the board, which included a 55-0 win over West Ottawa in Game 1.
“He’s been awesome,” Koziak said. “More than anything, I’m really proud with the execution of the offense. We’re an option team and we’re almost reading on every play. And he’s been able to read gives, and pulls and pitches. He’s just been lights out. And that’s difficult to do because it happens so fast.”
Koziak also praised his defense, which hasn’t allowed an offensive touchdown through two weeks. Fruitport was able to score on a 99-yard kickoff return by junior Connor Schuitema and a second-half fumble return by senior Seth Glover.
Kobe Burse (6) fends off Matt Sander (11) to get into the end-zone for the third Mona Shores TD. Photo/Eric Sturr.
Burse, who led the Sailors with five catches for 90 yards, scored on another screen after he broke a Trojans’ tackle and sprinted 24 yards to the end zone, making it a 35-7 game.
Oakes-Owens pushed it to 42-7 with his second touchdown reception with 2:20 left in the first half.
Mona Shores added a 9-yard touchdown run by Marcus Collins and a 64-yard scamper from backup quarterback Elijah Wilson in the second half — which featured a running clock due to the mercy rule.
Fruitport senior quarterback Jarod Wierengo led the Trojans with 51 yards rushing and also completed 6-of-16 passes for 32 yards.
Koziak could harp on the mistakes his team made against the Trojans — including three turnovers and the breakdown on special teams.
“We can’t make the same mistakes next week against Rockford,” Koziak said.
Koziak said he’s 0-2 during his coaching career against the Rams, including last season’s turnover-plagued 10-7 setback.
“Coach has let us know all about Rockford,” Oakes-Owens said. “This week at practice, we’ll definitely be minding our Ps and Qs.”
