No drama for EGR in rout of OLSM
EAST GRAND RAPIDS -- Now what?
The East Grand Rapids football team turned last season's state championship game that would not end into a season-opening game that could not get done fast enough.
The Pioneers did the astonishing, upending highly touted Orchard Lake St. Mary's 49-14 at Memorial Field on Thursday night. They scored on their first
seven possessions, scoring so often the clock was sent running in the second half.
Last fall, East needed a state-finals record five overtimes to beat the OLSM Eaglets 46-39 to claim the Division 3 title. The game left players exhausted, fans breathless.
Nine months later, the much-talked-about rematch was almost ho-hum. The Pioneers needed only two quarters to lead 42-7 and demolish any expectation of another marathon finish.
While East coach Peter Stuursma cautioned against thinking too much of one game, the rest of us are saying, "Bring on Lowell in Week 9." We are talking about the Pioneers winning a third consecutive state title.
"It was a great win, but it is a long, long season," Stuursma said. "We need to do what we always do. We need to watch the film, correct our mistakes. We don't think much beyond the next game, and that will not change. The season will be a challenge."
The Pioneers clearly stepped up to the challenge Thursday. There were no first-game jitters, no first-game penalties, mistakes and miscues.
The returning players did well. Senior all-state tailback Joe Glendening scored two touchdowns and scampered for 133 yards on 22 carries. All-state defensive end Robert "Scooby" Bell totaled 49 yards rushing and four tackles.
And the new guys? Check out senior quarterback Andrew Thompson, who started only one game a year ago and watched from the sidelines at Ford Field. He
completed 5-of-7 passes for 123 yards and three impressive touchdowns passes caught by a pair of blistering tight ends in Chris Blair and Colin Voss.
Newcomer Kirk Spenser scored two touchdowns on 58 yards rushing.
Defensively, guys like Scott Bourne, Alex Luke, Josh Laarman, Brennan Martin and Josh Drummond played well.
"There were just a lot of guys making a lot of big plays," Glendening said. "We knew this game was coming, and we prepared really hard for
it. We knew they would be tough.
"It felt a little better this time to have a bigger lead. It was not as nerve-racking, but this is just a Week 1 win."
Thompson said the win felt even better than last year's victory.
"I did not know what to expect coming into the game, but not this," he said. "We worked hard and it paid off. It feels amazing. I cannot describe how good it feels."
OLSM coach George Porritt said he was disappointed.
"We were not prepared, and they were," he said. "We played a great football team. I am sort of embarrassed by how we performed. They took it to us in every aspect of the game. They deserve the credit."
Now, can the Pioneers keep it up for 13 more weeks?
