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Mistakes costly for Big Rapids, Reed City claims 22-7 victory in the Central State
By Cullen Maksimowski
Big Rapids – The stage was set for Big Rapids. It was senior night, homecoming and a Cardinals roster eager to avenge last seasons, 56-20 blowout loss to conference rival Reed City.
Coach Monty Price and the Coyotes had other plans as they defeated the Cardinals, 22-7, in a key matchup in the Central State Gold Conference.
Reed City (6-0, 4-0) clinched a spot in the postseason with the victory.
Big Rapids falls to 4-2, 3-1 in the Central State Gold Conference.
“I really just want to congratulate coach (Mike) Selzer the Big Rapids program,” Price said. “He has done an amazing turn around job with this group of kids, they are a different ball club and I think that’s a reflection of his leadership.
“They’re a solid football team and they gave us everything we wanted.”
The Cardinals came out of the gate strong, playing inspired as they held the high-powered Reed City offense to just 88 yards in the first half.
Reed City (4-2, 3-1) fumbled late in the first quarter allowing quarterback Braeden Childress to throw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Mekhi Urban.
Reed City responded by taking an 8-7 lead on Logan Straub’s 15-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion.
Straub had 55 yards rushing and two interceptions on defense.
Reed City clung to that lead until midway through the third quarter when senior tailback Andre Jones broke free on several big runs capped off by his touchdown reception from quarterback Leland Yonkin and Reed City led 16-7.
Jones totaled 121 yards rushing (6.7-yard average) to lead the team.
Aided by costly Big Rapids turnovers, the Coyotes were able to hold Big Rapids scoreless in the second half.
“Our defense was resilient tonight and kept fighting,” said Price. “It was very hard for them to get yards after that first score.
“Turnovers are everything, we feel pretty solid and statistics show that if you win the turnover battle, you have a good shot to win the game.”
Linebacker Seth Root paced the Reed City defense notching eight tackles and Taylor Pelton had six.
