Red Hawks take down the Zeeland West ball carrier. Photo by K. Alvesteffer/R. LaLone.
By Maddie Nichols
This past Thursday, August 25 , the Cedar Springs Red Hawks varsity football team traveled from Cedar Springs to Zeeland West to compete with the Dux for their first game of the season. The intensity, offensively and defensively, from both sides stayed consistent throughout the whole game. However, in the end, the Red Hawks fell short with a final score of 14-9.
The first quarter may have finished without scoring from either side, but senior Collin Alvesteffer had some major tackles that led to shutting down the Dux’s offense. Going into the second quarter, the combination of tackling from Alvesteffer and Junior John Todd took Zeeland down. With two minutes left of the first half, senior Dustin Shaw had a successful 22-yard field goal attempt, concluding the second quarter with the Red Hawks up 3-0.
After a long 10 minute drive from Zeeland West in the third quarter, the Red Hawks were left to hold the Dux at the 1-yard line. The Hawks give up the touchdown after a second attempt making them fall behind 8-3.
Right away in the fourth quarter, Collin Alvesteffer made a 34-yard touchdown to up the score 9-8. Both teams fought hard during the rest of the game. Great tackles from senior Austin Basso held back the Dux until the Red Hawks lost them defensively and the Dux got a touchdown after their fourth attempt, with 1 minute and 43 seconds left of the game. After a failed two-point conversion, the score was 14-9, Dux up by 5.
The Red Hawks came back with a strong offensive drive. With great efforts from John Todd, Collin Alvesteffer, and sophomore Ryan Ringler, the Hawks kept possession of the ball and got to the Dux 18-yard line. A 5-yard penalty against the Dux gave Cedar Springs more hope towards getting into the end zone. With only 2.8 seconds left on the clock, the Red Hawks fell short with an incomplete pass, concluding the game with a Hawk loss, 14-9.
Tonight, Thursday, September 1, the Red Hawks travel to Sparta to take on the Spartans at 7 p.m. Next week Friday, September 9, they travel to Greenville.
