By Melvin Lane
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – Muskegon football coach Shane Fairfield delivered a stern message prior to Friday night’s home game against Zeeland East.
“Let’s go out there and be fast and physical as we can.”
The message came through loud and clear as the host Big Reds scored early and often in a 49-14 victory over Zeeland East.
The Big Reds’ first scoring drive took only three plays as quarterback M’Khi Guy found the endzone on a 13-yard touchdown run.
Defensively, the Big Reds have prided themselves on flying around and hitting people. Adrain Rankin Jr. had a third down sack and forced a Zeeland East punt and let the Chix know they were in for a long night. Guy’s second touchdown run occurred with 4:13 left in the first quarter.
“I think our kids put on a great show for our fans on Homecoming night,” said Fairfield. “We never had an effort issue. We had some coachable and correctable moments, but I think our kids played hard.”
Zeeland East quickly responded after Guy’s second score thanks in large part to an Ethan Rosenberg kickoff return that set the Chix up inside the 10-yard line. East quarterback Austin Keur connected with Rosenberg on a touchdown strike. That cut the Big Reds’ lead to 14-7 after one quarter. That would be the closest the Chix would get.
The Big Reds reeled off 21 points in the second quarter behind the arm of Guy as he connected with Brant Brooks II for a 31- and 13-yard touchdown passes. Jakob Price punched in a 12-yard touchdown run. Behind the offensive line of Jim Harris, Miguel Botello, Isaiah Williams, Karl Brooks and N’Kye Wynn, the Big Reds were able to keep the Chix off balance.
Taking a 35-7 lead into half, the Big Reds were on the cusp of a running clock, but Keur found the endzone with 7:03 left in the third. The duo of Guy and Brooks II connected for their third touchdown hookup on the night from 38 yards.
Zeeland East couldn’t find much success but had one final drive in the third that went into the fourth quarter, but the Big Red defense stood tall and caused a turnover on downs. That led to a 56-yard touchdown run by Guy and started the running clock.
Guy, who also was crowned Homecoming king, accounted for six touchdowns, rushed for 153 yards on five attempts and threw for 86 yards. Destin Piggee rushed for 91 yards and Price for 70 in an offense that churned out 426 yards.
Defensively, the Big Reds were led by junior Darekeo Speech with 11 tackles, Rankin Jr. with nine and Chris Jones with eight. The Chix came into the game averaging 43 points per game.
“The progression of our football team from Week 1 is like night and day,” said Fairfield. “We were hitting people out there and that’s Big Reds football. We didn’t do that the first two games of the season. Each team that we have up next, we are going to bring it.”
Muskegon will travel to Zeeland next Friday to face unbeaten Zeeland West. The winner of that will take over first place in the OK-Green.
Photos by Craig Smith
