Whitehall sputtered early in Friday's West Michigan Conference
Lakes game at Oakridge, but as they have so often this season, the
Vikings rounded into form after that, downing the Eagles 38-7 to remain
unbeaten in league play.
The Vikings (4-2, 4-0 WMC Lakes)
battled themselves at times with penalties, committing 13 of them for
over 100 yards. Coach Tony Sigmon said close to half of them came on the
first offensive possession of the game, which kept Whitehall off the
scoreboard. In fact, the first quarter ended without a point on either
side.
However, some big plays by the Vikings sparked things in the second quarter, and by halftime Whitehall led 25-0.
"Gavin Craner had a really big night," Sigmon said. "He had a big play
right before halftime when we started on our own 10 and he busted one
for 50 or 60 yards that set up a touchdown before halftime."
Craner
delivered another flourish late with a 92-yard touchdown run in the
fourth quarter. In all, he had 227 yards on only 10 carries, and Camden
Thompson added 143, also on only 10 carries. Thompson also threw for 93
yards and accounted for four touchdowns.
It was another
defensive masterpiece for the Vikings, with Ryan Goodrich racking up 4.5
tackles for loss and Corde Anderson earning a sack and an interception.
Oakridge had only 91 yards of offense, none of them in the air, and
converted just 2-of-17 third downs.
Sigmon, who has long
professed his respect for the Oakridge program, noted the Eagles were
having a rough time with injuries, recalling the 2019 Whitehall season
that was similarly waylaid by physical maladies, but was impressed with
the team's defensive effort nonetheless.
"I think you're
seeing us play physical football and kids are finding their niche on
defense and finding their role," Sigmon said. "We're playing strong and
fundamental defense, and we're playing unselfish defense. Corde has
shown how dominant he can be in the pass rush."
Whitehall is
closing in on a fourth straight conference championship, but the Vikings
will look to retain their focus for next week's game against Ludington.
"We've
talked to our kids about climbing the mountain," Sigmon said. "If
you're climbing Mount Everest, or K2, the air gets thinner and thinner
at the top. We're getting into the middle of October, and the next 10
days kind of defines our season within the area. Ludington has had a
phenomenal year this year, and we know we'll get their best game."
