LocalSportsJournal.com
Although the season is only five weeks old, the Muskegon Big Reds are performing like a fine-tuned machine.
The undefeated Big Reds, who are ranked No. 1 in Division 3 in the latest Associated Press state rankings, turned in another dominating display on Friday at Reeths-Puffer, crushing the Rockets by a 61-0 final.
The Big Reds improve to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the O-K Black Conference, while Puffer falls to 3-2, 1-2.
Big Reds’ senior quarterback La’darius Jefferson sparked the offensive outburst with four touchdowns. He passed for 137 yards and two touchdowns and also added 190 yards rushing with two more scores.
Muskegon scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the first quarter to take a 21-0 lead, and increased its advantage to 34-0 at the half. The Big Reds scored three more touchdowns in the third to enforce the mercy-rule running clock.
What may have been more impressive was Muskegon’s defensive showing, which held the Rockets to negative rushing yards and a total of 13 yards overall.
Muskegon piled up 550 yards of total offense — 414 coming on the ground. Clinton Jefferson Jr. scored two rushing touchdowns and chalked up 57 yards on just five carries.
Hyrosha Wilson, Taylor Smith and Lonnie Clark Jr. also had rushing scores, with Clark Jr. totaling 97 yards on only three carries.
Lamarion Sherrill and Davion McCall each had receiving touchdowns.
Defensively, linebacker Ali’Vonta Wallace had a team-high eight tackles, while Wilie Shanks Jr. and Taylor Smith each recorded interceptions.
Reeths-Puffer quarterback Logan Hekkema completed 3-of-14 passes for 44 yards. Hekkema and fellow quarterback Evan Moskwa were sacked four times.
