By Kendra Coons
Taylor VanDyke catches a 19-yard touchdown pass with only four seconds left in the game. Photo by Kelly Alvesteffer.
On Friday September 13, the Cedar Springs Red Hawks Varsity football team traveled to Wayland High School and suffered a tough defeat against the Wildcats. The final score of the game was 28-26 in favor of Wayland. Cedar Springs is now 2-1 after Friday’s loss.
After the first quarter, the game was still 0-0. In the second quarter the Wildcats’ came out strong with a 25-yard touchdown completed by Mike Miklusicak. The Red Hawks fought back with a 9-yard touchdown by senior Jared Vodry. At halftime the score was tied 6-6.
In the third quarter, Wayland’s Miklusicak scored again, making it 12-6 in favor of Wayland. Cedar Springs then tied it up with another 9-yard touchdown, this time by senior Cameron Link. At the end of the third quarter it was 12-12.
In the fourth quarter, the Red Hawks came out with Cameron Link running for another 9 yard touchdown. The game really started to heat up and the Wildcats fought back. With 5:49 left in the game, Wayland’s Jack Phillips ran left for a 6-yard touchdown tying the game up once again. Cedar received the ball back, but unfortunately could not do anything with it. With 1:22 remaining in the game, the Wildcats ran for a one-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion to take the lead, but the Red Hawks were not ready to give up yet. Cedar Springs quarterback, Senior Austin Hilyer, threw to Sophomore Taylor Vandyke for a 19-yard touchdown! Down by 2, the Red Hawks decided to go for the two-point conversion. Unfortunately, Cameron Link came up a couple yards short and the Wayland Wildcats took the victory.
“It was a hard fought game, and we came up just a little bit short,” stated Coach Gus Kapolka. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way our kids played.”
On Friday, September 20, the Red Hawks take on the Dux of Zeeland West at Red Hawk stadium. The team is ready to fight back after such a devastating loss.
“We are going to do what we always do—work hard every day, trying to improve at doing the little things better,” commented Kapolka.
Kickoff is at 7 pm and the theme for the student section is Neon, with a student tailgate starting at 5:45 The girls’ soccer program will be selling neon bracelets and necklaces for $1 for the neon out. So come out decked in neon and support your varsity football team, as they are looking for their third win of the season! Go Hawks!
