LocalSportsJournal.com

The Whitehall football team didn’t let an early deficit and needed defense stops in the final minutes, hold it back from a 27-24 Week-1 win over visiting Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic.

Whitehall trailed 10-0 in the second quarter before rallying to a 13-10 lead by halftime.

In the final minutes, the Vikings’ defense stalled an impressive Kalamazoo offense that made it all the way into Whitehall territory.

Red Watson gets up to deflect a pass for Whitehall. Photo/Leo Valdez

“We won it on defense,” said Whitehall Coach Tony Sigmon who is in his ninth season leading the Vikings. “They moved the ball and got all the way down to the 35-yard line, but we did a great job on coverage.”

Whitehall seniors Red Watson came up big on coverage in the endzone and Brody Fogus broke up a fourth down pass to seal the victory.

Viking QB Kyle Stratton and running back Alec Pruett carried the load offensively for Whitehall.

Stratton went 8 of 13 passing for 81 yards, including a pair of scoring strikes to Nate Bolley. Pruett finished with 136 yards rushing and two touchdown runs for Whitehall.
 
Bolley had a productive day on both sides of the ball, rushing five times for 46 yards and had seven tackles.

“Kalamazoo is an excellent team,” said Sigmon. “That makes this win a lot better. We had to battle through adversity of head advisors all week and then you tack that on top of an excellent program.”

Leading the Whitehall defense was Max Brown with eight tackles. Jackson Cook made six and Abram Morse got to the quarterback one time for a sack.

Whitehall plays its first West Michigan Conference game of the season against Oakridge at home for a highly anticipated Week 2 matchup.

“If it’s anythign like the past, it’ll be physical,” said Simon about his team’s Week 2 matchup with Oakridge. “The team that wins that (game), really sets yourself in a position to win the WMC.” 

Check out photos shot by LSJ photographer Leo Valdez.