LocalSportsJournal.com

The Montague football team is headed for the regional round of the Division 6 state football playoffs, following an easy 48-14 district final victory over Newaygo on Saturday on its home field.

Newaygo never really stood a chance, because the Wildcats scored touchdowns on each of their first seven possessions to take control of the contest.

The first score came on a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drew Collins to Nick Stever. The second was a 12-yard run by Sebastian Archer.

The third touchdown was a 23-yard run by Stever, then Bryce Stark scored on a one-yard burst with four seconds left in the first quarter.

Montague’s No. 23 Sebastian Archer rushes past an out stretched arm of a Newaygo defender. Photo/Leo Valdez

Montague led 28-0 heading into the second.

The Wildcats’ first score of the second quarter came after a Kenyan Johnston interception. Collins handed the ball off to Archer, who reversed it to Stever, who then threw a 32-yard TD strike to Johnston.

The next score came after an interception by Stark. Johnston kept the drive going with a 65-yard catch, then Stark ended it with a 10-yard touchdown run.

Montague finished its scoring with a five-yard touchdown run by Archer.

The Wildcats led 48-0 at halftime. Newaygo scored its 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Montague piled up 335 yards passing in the game and 167 yards rushing.

Collins completed 8 of 11 passes for 303 yards and three TDs. Stark rushed for 94 yards on 11 carries while Archer had 52 yards on 11 carries.

Johnston caught three passes for 126 yards. Stever had two catches for 86 yards.

Leading the Montague defense were Brennan Schwarz with 12 tackles; Sam Welch with 10 tackles, including a sack; and Jordan Aguilera, who had six tackles, a sack and an interception.

Montague, now 9-2 on the season, will visit Schoolcraft next Saturday at 1 p.m. in the regional round of the playoffs. The winner will advance to the Division 6 state semifinals.