Spring Lake wins ‘Battle of the Bayou’ with strong finish against rival Fruitport

By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com

FRUITPORT – The Spring Lake football team seems to play its best ball during the final two quarters of play.

The Lakers entered Week 8 of the season with five wins and each of them were very close at halftime before Spring Lake finished strong for victories.

Spring Lake’s Reid Grimmer. Photo/Brett Farmer

Spring Lake won three games after being tied or down at the half and it won twice this season as well being tied or down heading into the final quarter.

The Lakers had another tight one heading into the second half during Friday’s “Battle of the Bayou” against Fruitport and yet again they came away victorious. Spring Lake scored on the final play of the first half to take a seven-point lead at halftime, then allowed the Trojans to cut their deficit to one point midway through the third quarter.

The Lakers once again finished strong by scoring 14 unanswered points to end the game with a 34-19 victory over Fruitport to take the paddle back to Spring Lake.

Spring Lake improves to 6-2 on the season and will close the regular season next Friday on the road against Hamilton.

The Trojans will have one more chance to earn their first win of the season next week against a tough Grand Rapids West Catholic squad.

“We didn’t do ourselves any favors early in the game with turnovers and everything,” said Spring Lake coach Cody Mallory. “We settled in and got stuff figured out and I am happy with how our guys responded.”

The Lakers forced Fruitport to punt on its first drive, but then fumbled the ball on their first offensive snap. The Trojans responded four plays later with a 34-yard touchdown run by quarterback Bradon Dornbos with 8:18 left in the opening quarter to give Fruitport a 7-0 lead.

Spring Lake scored a late first quarter touchdown on a 3-yard run by Sam Schafer to cut the Lakers deficit to a 7-6 margin.

The Lakers took advantage of a Fruitport fumble a couple of possessions later and scored on a 41-yard touchdown run by Bryce Collins with 3:44 left in the second quarter to take a 13-7 lead.

Fruitport’s No. 11 Bradon Dornbos approaches Spring Lake’s Owen Smies. Photo/Brett Farmer

The Trojans quickly struck back four plays later by scoring on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Dornbos to DayDay Williams to tie the game 13-13 with 2:04 remaining in the first half.

Spring Lake regained its advantage on the final play of the first half with a 17-yard completion from quarterback Reid Grimmer to Jackson Lemmen.

The Lakers led 20-13 at halftime.

The second half started sloppily for both teams as Spring Lake punted on its first drive before both teams fumbled the ball on each of their next possessions.

The Trojans took advantage of Spring Lake’s costly turnover with a 5-yard touchdown run by Kayden Beardsley with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter.

Spring Lake’s No. 8 Bryce Collins makes a cut between the Fruitport defense. Photo/Brett Farmer

Fruitport failed on its 2-point attempt, keeping the Lakers in front by a slim 20-19 margin.

The Lakers drove the ball to the 10-yard line on their last drive of the third quarter, but the possession ended with a blocked field goal attempt.

The Trojans failed to take advantage as they were forced to punt on their next drive with 11:24 remaining in the game.

Spring Lake increased its lead five plays later with a 3-yard touchdown run by Grimmer.

The Lakers took a 27-19 lead with 8:38 left in the final frame.

Fruitport failed to get closer, and they were once again forced to punt before the Lakers closed out the scoring.

Schafer found the end zone for the second time in the game from 6 yards out with 1:21 left in the contest to seal the win.

The Lakers were paced offensively by Grimmer, who was 4-for-9 passing for 76 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 109 yards on 13 carries and one score.

“We just had to get adjusted to the game,” Grimmer said after the victory. “We made sure all little issues were good and that just brought us over the top. I am glad we dialed in.”

Schafer added two rushing touchdowns on 53 yards and 17 attempts, while Collins had nine carries for 85 yards and a score.

Lemmen caught two passes for 24 yards and a touchdown and Colin Burt had two receptions for 52 yards.

Oliver Smies led the Laker defense with 8.5 tackles with Alex Hoisington had six, including a sack.

The Trojans were led by Beardsley with 88 rushing yards on 15 carries and a touchdown, while Dornbos was 3-for-8 passing for 56 yards and a touchdown along with rushing for 46 yards on 11 attempts and one score.

Spring Lake celebrates with the paddle Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Spring Lake’s Cam Gates(78) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Fruitport’s Bradon Dornbos(11) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Spring Lake’s Wren Dephouse(1) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Spring Lake’s Jackson Lemmen(2) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Spring Lake’s Jackson Lemmen(2) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Fruitport Cheer team Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Spring Lake’s George Duggins(13) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Spring Lake’s Reid Grimmer(9) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Spring Lake’s Wren Dephouse(1) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Spring Lake’s Wren Dephouse(1) Spring Lake’s Sam Schafer(15) Spring Lake’s Cam Gates(78) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Fruitport’s Dalton Campbell(24) Spring Lake’s Bryce Collins(8) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Fruitport’s Bradon Dornbos(11) Spring Lake’s Owen Smies(27) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Fruitport’s Gianni Rowan(50) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Fruitport’s Da’syne Williams(2) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Spring Lake’s Reid Grimmer(9) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Fruitport’s Bradon Dornbos(11) Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19

Mike Taylor and Matt Tjkapkis announce during the Fruitport vs Spring Lake at Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Michigan on October 13, 2023. Spring Lake 34 Fruitport 19