By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Big Reds have made it abundantly clear that they are the team to beat in the O-K Black Conference this season.LSJ Logo incert

They did that with an exclamation point on Friday, thumping rival Reeths-Puffer,Sport Clips 2016 football ad which came into the game unbeaten in the conference, 66-0 at Hackley Stadium.

The Big Reds are now 4-0 in the O-K Black and in first place by themselves.

Muskegon did a lot of its damage on defense and special teams. The hosts had five interceptions, with two ran back for touchdowns. and returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns.

Athletic quarterback Kalil Pimpleton had a monster game, scoring three rushing touchdowns on five carries (74 yards overall) and adding a 52-yard punt return for a score.

Muskegon’s coach Shane Fairfield was pleased with his team’s overall effort.

“I am very happy and very humble and very excited that our kids accepted this challenge,” said Fairfield, whose team is now 4-1 overall on the season. “For us to come out and play this fast and physical and minimize penalties and mistakes, I cannot be more proud.

Muskegon QB No. 3 Kalil Pimpleton rushes the ball with No. 5 Anthony Melton Jr. leading the way. Photo/Joe Lane

Muskegon QB No. 3 Kalil Pimpleton rushes the ball with No. 5 Anthony Melton Jr. leading the way. Photo/Joe Lane

“We are going to take one game at a time. It’s going to get harder each week and the expectations get greater. The thing I am most proud of is we have more kids making plays without the ball than with the ball, and as a coach you cannot ask for anything better than that.”

Muskegon jumped out to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter, scoring on a 17-yard run and a 52-yard punt return by Pimpleton, and a 75-yard pick-six by Jacorey Sullivan.

The Big Reds took a 42-0 lead by halftime with an eight-yard touchdown run by La’darius Jefferson in the second quarter, as well as 37- and 14-yard scoring scampers by Pimpleton.

Sullivan returned the opening kickoff of the second half 80 yards for a touchdown, putting Muskegon up 49-0.

The Big Reds added a 32-yard field goal from Demetrio Lopez and a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ali’Vonta Wallace.

Wallace paced the Big Red defense with three interceptions and nine tackles.

Muskegon closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter with a one-yard run by Clinton Jefferson Jr. with under three minutes remaining.

La’darius Jefferson, the Big Reds’ valuable backup quarterback, threw for 100 yards on 5-for-9 passing while Sullivan caught four passes for 87 yards.

The Rockets were led by quarterback Blake Ross with 104 yards passing on six completions. Wide receiver Armund Gordon caught three passes for 61 yards.

Reeths-Puffer is now 3-2 overall and 2-1 in league play.