Class 2A Semifinals Recap
Spirit Lake 56, PCM 28
After a crazy high scoring first half, the Indians held off the Mustangs to advance to the 2A state championship game. Spirit Lake scored three straight TD’s to start the game — Caden Lundt a 38 yard TD pass to Dylan Stecker, Lundt ran it in from 24 yards out, and William Ditsworth returned an interception 31 yards to the house and it was 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
PCM’s Gavin Van Gorp threw two interceptions in the opening quarter but got the Mustangs going behind the running of Adrien Robbins who had 7 carries for 41 yards on one march down the field and Van Gorp would find Alex Wendt for a 23 yard TD pass to get PCM on the board. It took the Indians 35 seconds to get the score back — Lundt found Stecker for a 62 yard TD pass to retake a 3 score lead, 28-7.
After back to back punts, PCM changed the field position thanks to a 20 yard punt and started at the SL37 and went back to the ground game with Robbins — four straight runs, the last being 17 yards to the house and it was 28-14 Spirit Lake. Again another quick hitter, Lundt went deep again to Stecker for a 69 yard TD pass and a 35-14 lead.
The teams would trade scores again before halftime — Robbins broke a 60 yard run for PCM on the first play of their next drive and on 4th and Goal from the SL6, Van Gorp found Harlan Simmons for a TD. Back came Spirit Lake — Lundt completed six straight passes before finding Stecker for his third TD of the half, a 5 yarder and the Indians led 42-21 after an exhausting first half.
The Mustangs were in a big hole and they took the opening drive of the 2nd half down the field mostly on Robbins runs and he end the 10 play drive with a 4 yard TD run and it was 42-28.
Lundt would throw an interception on Spirit Lake’s first drive but Robbins was on the bench and PCM went nowhere fast plus there were two penalties for false start. Van Gorp’s punt was only 19 yards to the PCM48. With a short field, the Indians moved quickly, converted a 3rd and 18 with a 21 yard pass to Joey Andres and William Ditsworth ended the drive with a 13 yard TD run to make it 49-28.
PCM’s next drive ended in a Robbins fumble at the SL41 and Spirit Lake tacked on another score — a 4 yard TD run by Bode Higgins and the Indians cruised into the championship game.
For PCM, Adrien Robbins had 44 carries for 290 yards and 2 TD. The Mustangs finish their season with a record of 11-1.
Spirit Lake had 534 yards of total offense to 324 for PCM. Caden Lundt was 24-28 passing for 374 yards, 4 TD and 1 INT plus added 93 yards rushing on 7 carries and 1 TD. Dylan Stecker had 7 catches for 178 yards and 3 TD. Spirit Lake is now 11-1.
Complete Box Score, Click HERE
West Lyon 49, Van Meter 24
The Bulldogs and been in 5 straight championship games and had won three titles in a row but that streak will come to an end in 2024. The Wildcats dominated the game from the 2nd quarter on and it will be West Lyon that will try for its 6th career state title.
It was Van Meter who started strong — a 21 yard field goal from Adlai Lounsbury and Jay Haley fired a 50 yard TD pass to Caleb Moore and the Bulldogs led 10-0 and the Wildcats did not have a first down yet.
That would change on a 10 play, 77 yard drive that included a key 3rd and 10 conversion on a 20 yard pass from Brysen Childress to Jorden Meyer down to the VM9. Childress would find Tate Hawf on a 9 yard TD pass to get West Lyon on the board.
Van Meter came back quickly — Haley went deep and found Cole Moore for a 77 yard TD pass and it looked like the Bulldogs were in control leading 17-7.
Both teams went 3 and out on their next possession so West Lyon took over on the VM41 and went on a 10 play drive. The Wildcats converted on 4th and 4 and Jaxon Huyser got into the end zone from 4 yards out. After another punt from Van Meter, Childress found Carson Hoogeveen on a 39 yard pass to the VM18 and Huyser would score the go ahead TD from 3 yards to make it 21-14 Wildcats at the half.
This was part of four straight TDs by West Lyon — the Wildcats went from trailing 17-7 to leading 35-17. In the 3rd quarter, Haley for Van Meter was intercepted at midfield by Evan Hildring and Childress ran it 26 yards for a TD. After a Bulldog punt, the Wildcats mounted a 9 play drive and Childress sneaked it in for a 1 yard run to make it 35-17.
Haley was intercepted again on the next Bulldog drive but finally West Lyon had to kick it back and Childress booted an incredible 52 yard punt that was downed at the VM1. Van Meter was unimpressed — Haley would hit Caleb Moore on a pass and he raced away from the entire defense for an incredible 99 yard TD. It stopped the bleeding and Van Meter trailed by 11 with 10:53 left in the game.
West Lyon went back to work and moved down the field on an 11 play drive — they converted a 4th and 4 at the VM36 and Tate Hawf ended it with a 1 yard TD run — the Wildcats used just over 5 minutes of clock and got the insurance they needed to lead 42-24.
Haley would throw his third interception of the game and West Lyon added another score for good measure — Childress hit Hoogeven on a 22 yard TD pass to finish the scoring.
For Van Meter, Jay Haley was 12-25 passing for 374 yards 3 TD and 3 INT. Caleb Moore had 5 receptions for 224 yards and 2 TD. The Bulldogs were held to 50 yards rushing and end their season at 10-2.
For West Lyon, Bryson Childress was 19-23 passing for 240 yards and 2 TD. Carson Hoogeven had 6 catches for 89 yards and 1 TD. Tate Hawf had 22 carries for 56 yards and 1 TD plus had 6 catches for 58 yards and another score. West Lyon is now 12-0 and will face Spirit Lake for the 2A State Championship on Friday, November 22 at 10am.
Complete Box Score, Click HERE
