By Tom Kendra
LocalSportsJournal.com
BYRON CENTER – Muskegon coach Shane Fairfield couldn’t have asked for more effort than the Big Reds gave on Friday night.
The Big Reds – playing at senior-laden Byron Center, which is ranked No. 3 in the state in Division 2 – went toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs right until the end, ultimately coming up one play short in a heartbreaking 17-14 loss.
Muskegon (3-4) had one final chance to pull it out with less than 30 seconds to play, but senior quarterback James Young was hit as he threw the ball on a 4th-and-goal play from the 4-yard line, and the ball fell harmlessly to the turf.
“Muskegon was ready to play, just like we knew they would be,” said Byron Center coach Marc Cisco, who is in his 16th year. “They will challenge you in every facet of the game and you cannot make mistakes against them or they will make you pay.”
The loss puts Muskegon in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The Big Reds will need to upset powerhouse Cincinnati Moeller on Friday night, and also get some help, to keep the area’s longest streak of consecutive playoff berths alive.
This game was a battle between two standout senior quarterbacks, as Young and BC’s Landon Tungate both played their hearts out.
Young did most of his damage through the air, throwing accurate passes all night long, including a 13-yard scoring pass to Dee Lawrence in the second quarter and a 43-yard strike to Demetrius Rainey-Brown in the fourth quarter.
That second TD pass gave the visiting Big Reds a 14-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
But that was when Tungate, who was equally impressive passing and running, led the Bulldogs back.
Tungate engineered an 11-play, 65-yard drive, taking it the final 4 yards himself to put his team back in front, 17-14.
“That was one of the most physical games that we’ve had,” said Tungate. “Muskegon really came ready to play and we had to match them.
“We knew it was going to be a close one. They are a great team and well-coached.”
That left Muskegon with one final chance to pull out a key win, after tough earlier losses to three of the best teams in West Michigan – Zeeland West, Rockford and Mona Shores.
Young led his team down the field, mixing up runs and passes to Lyn Wilson and Rainey-Brown, and it appeared the Big Reds were going to pull it out, with a 3rd-and-goal from the 2-yard line.
On third down, Young faked a motion handoff and tried to run up the middle, but was stuffed for a 2-yard loss.
Fairfield then had a decision to make. He could have sent out freshman kicker Aron Briseno to attempt a 21-yard field goal from an awkward angle to try and tie the game and force overtime.
After a timeout, the veteran coach decided to go for the win – through the air.
Young took the snap and rolled left, but his receivers were covered, so he reversed his field as he has done throughout the season and rolled right, but as he prepared to throw, BC defensive tackle Nolan Stubblefield was there to hit him, forcing an incompletion.
“(Young’s) not the same kind of quarterback that they have had, but he’s very good,” said Cisco, whose team is 7-1 with its only loss a 14-12 setback at Mona Shores. “It was tough there at the end, for the offense and the defense.
“We filled the gaps real good there on third down. The key at the goal line is to make sure that everyone does their assignment, and we did that.”
Tungate accounted for 281 of his team’s 321 total yards. The 5-10, 185-pound senior completed 13-of-16 passes for 145 yards and rushed 21 times for 136 yards and both of his team’s touchdowns.
Tungate gave much of the credit to his offensive line – and his defense.
“Our defense came up with the big stop there at the end and won the game for us,” Tungate said.
Young completed 8-of-12 passes for 135 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran the ball six times for 31 yards.
Rainey-Brown was his top target, with three catches for 79 yards. Lawrence had three catches for 32 yards and Keshawn Drummer was the leading rusher with 13 carries for 33 yards.
Lyn Wilson was all over the field for the Big Reds, finishing with a team-high 10 tackles. Darekeo Speech added nine tackles.
Byron Center, which got its first win over Muskegon in four all-time meetings, also hosts a tough out-of-state opponent next week in Morris (Ill.).
Photos by Craig Smith.
