LocalSportsJournal.com
KINGSLEY – The first half of Friday’s game proved to be a nightmare for Mason County Central.
The Spartans trailed 33-0 after the opening quarter and ended up losing 61-12 to Kingsley in the Division 6 district opener.
Kingsley (8-2) will take on Manistee in the next round.
The Spartans were never really in the contest, as Stags quarterback Gavyn Merchant accounted for three scores in the first period and signaled the end to the competitive phase of the game.
Kingsley presented the Spartans with a golden opportunity at the start of the second quarter when the Stags fumbled the ball and Central recovered.
But that chance flamed out for the Spartans against a rugged Kingsley defense.
The Stags would extend their lead to 26-0 before the Spartans finally got on the board when Peyton Merz hit the edge on the left side and rambled 59 yards to the end zone to make it 26-6.
Merz would also score the other Central touchdown in the second half.
Any chance at seizing the momentum ended for the Spartans on the Stags’ next time with the ball, however, as the Stags hit paydirt again.
Merchant set up the Stags’ next score with a 54-yard pass to Max Goethals, which was followed by Kolsen Orton’s one-yard burst to make it a 33-6 game.
Nothing went right for the Spartans.
On their next possession, quarterback Pierce Bladzik gave them hope when he found Quinton Lange for a 30-yard pass. But later in the drive, Central fumbled and Kingsley recovered.
End of the possible threat.
Kingsley kept its foot on the gas, putting up two more touchdowns before the second quarter’s end to enjoy a whopping 54-6 lead at the break, and the second half was played with a running clock.
