By Nate Thompson
Local Sports Journal.com

GRAND RAPIDS – The move up from Division 6 to Division 5 hasn’t seemed to have had much of a hindrance on undefeated Grand Rapids West Catholic.

The reigning Division 6 state champions are still proving they’re the king of the mountain, as they’ve easily shoved away a pair of opponents through the first two weeks of the state playoffs. A week after destroying Comstock Park, 70-0, the Falcons turned in another lopsided shutout victory, defeating visiting Muskegon Oakridge (7-4 overall) on Friday, 45-0, to capture the Division 5 district championship.

Oakridge’s Bryson Stephenson(22) on the rush. Photo/Brett Farmer

“It’s never easy,” said Oakridge coach Cary Harger said of the loss, moments after hugging a number of his players for the final time this season. “I think a little bit was coming into their stadium, with the success they’ve had, and having a mentality of being just a little overwhelmed by that. That first half, we were just shaking our heads. We had kids doing wrong assignments, guys going the wrong direction. It’s like, ‘What’s going on?’ We had plays that we’ve run hundreds and hundreds of times and we’re making mental errors. So it wasn’t characteristic of us, but I think it was evident of the task they saw coming at them.”

For Oakridge to compete with the Falcons, the Eagles needed to establish the run and keep West Catholic’s offensive playmakers off the field. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, as Oakridge went three-and-out on its opening three offensive possessions and didn’t get a first down until 1 minutes, 26 seconds on the clock in the first quarter. By that point, West Catholic was already rolling, taking a 17-0 lead after one quarter.

Falcons’ senior running back Charlie DeBruyn was a menace throughout and a blur with the football in his hands in space. His first big play came with 8:40 in the first, as he turned a fourth-and-2 in the Falcons’ own territory into a 72-yard touchdown run on a direct snap.

DeBruyn finished with 172 yards on just nine carries and two touchdowns, and also caught two passes for 39 yards and another score.

Overall, West Catholic outgained Oakridge, 462-130.

Oakridge’s Evan Miller(7) hands the ball to Trever Jones. Photo/Brett Farmer

Oakridge’s best offensive possession came early in the second quarter, spurred by senior standout Trever Jones. On a sweep right, Jones made a nice cutback and ran 39 yards for the Eagles’ best offensive output. Unfortunately, their drive stalled after that, with a pass incompletion, a run for no gain, and a loss of two by quarterback Evan Miller.

Jones finished with 90 yards on 16 carries, but Harger said the Eagles could never get the ground game rolling between the tackles.  

West Catholic essentially put the game away on their next drive, going 75 yards in 10 plays, and DeBruyn scoring on a 14-yard run to make it 24-0 with 3:52 left in the half.

An interception and 37-yard return for a touchdown by West Catholic’s Nolan Rinehart on Oakridge’s next possession gave the Falcons a 31-0 advantage at the break.

West Catholic enforced a mercy rule-enforced running block with 10:19 to play in the third, as quarterback Alek Wickstrom connected on a 33-yard touchdown to senior Mike Murphy. Wickstrom later hit DeBruyn on a 10-yard wheel route with 31 seconds left in the third for the game’s final score.

Harger could only tip his hat to the impressive collection of talent on West Catholic’s roster.

“They’ve got a little bigger area than us,” he said. “We have a 6-by-6 (mile) district and it’s homegrown kids,” he said. “Our numbers were down a little this year, but we had a large number of 5th Quarter kids form JV, who I felt contributed and were able to give us some looks at practices. Even the freshmen I thought greatly improved throughout the season.

“I told them that they need to keep promoting, keep working and stay together. We talked about the unity of this group from the beginning and I hope those underclassmen keep that together.”

Oakridge’s Evan Miller. Photo/Brett Farmer

Oakridge’s Evan Miller(7)drops back to pass for Oakridge. Photo/Brett Farmer

Oakridge’s Evan Miller(7) Oakridge @ West Catholic at West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 3, 2023. West Catholic won the game over Oakridge, 45-0.

Oakridge’s Isaiah Eller(12) Oakridge’s Noah MacFadyen(54) Oakridge @ West Catholic at West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 3, 2023. West Catholic won the game over Oakridge, 45-0.

Oakridge’s Aiden Johnston(66), Brayden Cunningham(1), Noah MacFadyen(54) and Trever Jones. Photo/Brett Farmer