LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON — Oakridge held the lead twice, including late in the fourth quarter. But the Eagles were dealt a stunning blow when the Manistee Mariners rallied for a 20-15 victory Friday night at Oakridge.

Beginning their final possession of the game 80 yards away from paydirt, and the clock showing less than four minutes left to play, the Mariners dug down and went on a winning drive.
 
At the end, freshman quarterback Dayvion Neal-Berry rolled out and found wide out Kayden Kott slipping under the Eagle secondary and hit him with a short 2-yard scoring strike in the back of the end zone.
 
Oakridge battled back from a 6-0 deficit to take a narrow 7-6 lead at the half, and clung to a 15-13 lead when the Mariners got the ball for the last time.

Trever Jones runs over Manistee’s Trevor Haag (4) for extra yards on the rush. Photo/Jason Goorman

 
“I’ll be honest with you, this might be the best one (win) yet in my time in Manistee,” Manistee head coach Troy Bytwork said. “Oakridge is obviously very good, and on their turf and we had to fight back.
 
“We got up, 6-0 and then went down, 7-6 (at halftime),” he said. “We got down two more times and fought back. These kids do not give up. They have full confidence they’re going to pull it out.”
 
Hornkohl rolled up 118 yards, scored a touchdown plus a 2-point conversion on 14 carries. Neal-Berry contributed 39 yards on seven tries, Isaiah Davis picked up another 39 yards on 10 attempts and Kott had 36 yards on eight cracks.
 
Neal-Berry completed 3-of-6 passes for 73 yards and one TD, a game-winning 25-yarder to Kott to win the game. Matthew Thies caught one pass for 28 yards and Landin Sowa one for 20.
 
Nathan Doremus and Braydon Sorenson were the big hitters on defense with 12 tackles apiece, while Trevor Haag collected 10, Sowa nine and Brian McNeil three tackles and one sack.

Oakridge’s Evan Miller runs out of the backfield next to Aiden Johnston (66). Photo/Jason Goorman

 
Trever Jones led all rushers with 161 yards on 24 carries, while Bryson Stephenson added 50 yards on 11 attempts and scored two touchdowns.
 
Evan Miller was 8-of-13 passing for 83 yards.
 
Jullian Primmer led the defense with 11 tackles, Jones and Brody Jennings made eight stops apiece and Aiden Johnston had six tackles.
 
Manistee (3-0, 1-0 in the WMC Lakes) is at Orchard View next Friday.
 
The Eagles (1-2, 0-1 in the WMC Lakes) travels to Ludington for a conference game next Friday.

Nick Hornkohl and Kanon Petzak (20) celebrate after the Manistee score. Photo/Jason Goorman

Oakridge’s Bryson Stephenson looks for a hole as Bryce Bisson (40) blocks. Photo/Jason Goorman

Oakridge’s Brayden Cunningham on the kick return. Photo/Jason Goorman

Aiden Johnston (66) celebrates after the tackle for Oakridge. Photo/Jason Goorman

Bryson Stephenson (22) is congratulated by Bryce Bisson (40) after an Oakridge touchdown. Photo/Jason Goorman