The Red Hawks scored their 8th straight win of the season Friday against Forest Hills Northern. Courtesy photo.

Red Hawks win OK White championship

By Judy Reed

The Cedar Springs Red Hawks Varsity football team accomplished three feats on Friday night—and two of them hadn’t been done in Cedar Springs for 60-plus years.

The biggest and most important feat was that they won their first ever OK White Conference championship, and they won it outright—they were undefeated in conference play, and finished 6-0 in conference, and 8-1 overall in the regular season. It was their first conference championship since they shared the OK Bronze conference championship with Forest Hills Eastern in 2015.

“It is a great accomplishment for our team,” said Coach Gus Kapolka. “Winning the OK White was one of our goals from the very beginning of the season. I’m proud of how dedicated all of our kids were in winning Cedar Springs’ first ever OK White Championship. We need to continue with our dedication and preparation moving forward throughout the playoffs.”

The second feat they accomplished was three straight shut outs in a row, which they hadn’t done since 1956, when they were part of the Newaygo-Cnty league and had five in a row. 

The third accomplishment was that they won eight straight games—something that had not occurred since 1954, as part of the Newaygo-Cnty league. That year they went 9-0, winning every game on their schedule. This year’s only loss was the first game of the season to Saginaw Swan Valley, the 2017 Division 5 state runner up. 

The game last Friday against Forest Hills Northern was cold and wet, but the Red Hawks pulled off another great performance. They scored once in the first quarter on a 33-yard touchdown run by Lucas Pienton, and quarterback Kolby Swank passed to Ethan West for the extra two points. 

They scored three times in the second quarter. With 9:48 on the clock, Kolby Swank ran in a 7-yard touchdown, and Ryan Ringler ran in the extra points. With 1:32 left, Sage Serbenta ran right for a 5-yard touchdown, and Ringler ran in the extra points. Then with 39 seconds left til half, Serbenta returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown, and Swank’s pass to Ringler was good for the extra points.

In the third quarter, Ringler scored on an 8-yard touchdown run, and Serbenta ran in the extra points.

The Huskies got close to scoring in the fourth quarter after a fumbled punt put them within five yards of the goal line. But the Red Hawks gave no quarter, and and the Huskies were stopped on the one-yard line, by Red Hawks Xavier Anderson and Zak Schmid, and Cedar Springs took over the ball.

The Red Hawks rushed for 333 yards, with Serbenta getting 109; Ringler 78; Pienton 44; Ethan West 41; Landon Totten 33; and Swank 24.

Ringler led in tackles with 12; the rest of the team had four or less.

This Friday Cedar Springs will host Gaylord (6-3) in the Division 3 (region 1, district 1) pre-district playoffs. Ticket prices are $6. Come on out and cheer on your Red Hawks!

The Red Hawks scored early in the first quarter against the DeWitt Panthers, but lost the game 36-12. Photo by K&R LaLone.

By Kayleigh Boomgaard 

On Friday, November 3, in the city of DeWitt, Michigan, the Cedar Springs varsity Red Hawks faced off against the Panthers of DeWiitt, in their second round playoff game for the district chamionship. With a final game score of Cedar Springs 12, DeWitt 36, the Red Hawk boys of fall brought their season to a close. They finished with a record of 5-1 in conference play (2nd place in the OK-White) and 7-4 overall.

With touchdowns scored in the first and third quarter, the Red Hawks left the stage to their opponents, but put up a tough fight throughout the game’s entirety. The first Red Hawk touchdown, and the first touchdown of the night was scored by Cedar Springs running-back John Jacob Todd. Todd ran left for 32 yards. After his touchdown, he attempted a pass to teammate Jordan Lyon for a PAT (point after touchdown) that was incomplete. 

The Hawks’ second and last touchdown of the night was run in by Ryan Ringler in the third quarter with 4:29 seconds left to play in the quarter. This touchdown also followed an incomplete two-point conversion, which Todd attempted to run in. 

Panther players Noah Koenigsknecht, Jack Horn, Alan Smith, and Darron Weber scored for DeWitt throughout the night, with passes assisting these touchdowns thrown by Blake Gatfield and Anthony Joseph. 

In spite of their defeat, the varsity Red Hawks were greatly supported by the Cedar Springs community, who took great pride in how far their team had come in the 2017 season. The Cedar Springs High school filled three spirit buses, bringing students to fill the stands at DeWitt high school, nearly two hours away from our hometown. 

Although this game was a last for many seniors, it was only the beginning of the varsity journey for others. The future team of 2018 looks forward to what next season has in store. 

Congratulations on a great season!

The Red Hawks celebrate their win over EGR. Photo by K&R LaLone.

The Red Hawks scored more points on the Pioneers in the first quarter (27) than the Pioneers allowed in each game all year. Photo by K&R LaLone.

By Kayleigh Boomgaard

Under the Friday night lights on October 27, the varsity Red Hawks of Cedar Springs faced off against the Pioneers of East Grand Rapids in the first round of playoffs. The Red Hawks defeated the previously undefeated Pioneers with a final score of Cedar Springs 41, East Grand Rapids 40.

Throughout the entirety of this intense match up, the two teams were neck in neck on the scoreboard. The Red Hawks finished with a one point lead due to a kick in the first quarter by Moritz Lerch.

The Red Hawks were the first to make it on the scoreboard, with a touchdown run in by Ryan Ringler at 10:07 left to play in the first quarter. This touchdown was followed by a PAT (point after touchdown) also scored by Ringler. Additional Cedar Springs touchdowns in the first quarter were run in by Darius Barnett and Ringler, followed by incomplete attempts at PATs.

In the second quarter, running back John Jacob Todd scored an additional touchdown shortly after a Pioneer run made by Max Lundeen, who received a key pass from teammate Michael Malewitz. Malewitz also made passes to Connor Davis for a run into the end zone, and to Pioneers Ben Forestner and Nick Milanowski for two completed two-point conversions.

Coming back from halftime with a standing score of Cedar Springs 33, East Grand Rapids 28, the close game continued. Pioneer player Connor Davis ran up the middle for a total of 8 yards, scoring a touchdown with 7:39 left to play in the third quarter. Cedar Springs senior Nicholas Campione finished off the third quarter with a Red Hawk touchdown, then passed to teammate Ryan Ringler for a PAT.

The Hawk’s defeat of the Pioneers was a triumphant win, and the Cedar Springs varsity football team greatly looks forward to next week’s game against DeWitt at DeWitt high school. The Cedar Springs High School will be hosting a spirit bus for students to travel to the home of the Panthers and show their Red Hawk pride. The game will take place on Friday, November 3rd at 7pm.

The Red Hawks were in the lead 50-0 at the beginning of the fourth quarter against Ottawa Hills. They won 56-12, and are now headed to the playoffs.

By Judy Reed

The Cedar Springs Varsity Red Hawk football team won their last conference game of the season last Friday against Ottawa Hills, securing them second place in the OK-White conference (5-1) and a spot in the playoffs with an overall record of 6-3. Forest Hills Central took first in the conference with a record of 6-0,  (9-0 overall) and Lowell took third, with a record of 4-2 and 6-3 over all.

The Red Hawks will take on the winners of the OK-Gold conference, the East Grand Rapids Pioneers (6-0, 9-0) at East Grand Rapids this Friday, October 27 at 7 p.m. in their third playoff appearance in the last four years. It will be a white out, so be sure to wear white! Click here for more details on last week’s game.

Red Hawk junior Ethan West runs with the ball. Photo by Rob LaLone/Brittany Todd.

By Kayleigh Boomgaard

On Friday, October 20, the varsity Red Hawks of Cedar Springs squared off against the Tigers of Ottawa Hills, hoping to earn their spot in the playoffs. With a final game score of Cedar Springs 56, Ottawa Hills 12, the Hawks will move forward into the postseason, facing off against the Pioneers of East Grand Rapids at the Pioneers’ home stadium on Friday, October 27. 

In the first quarter against Ottawa Hills, the Red Hawks began on a high note, with 10 points on the scoreboard in their favor within the first 28 seconds of game time. The Hawks acquired their first points from a safety after a run by Tiger Jaier Harden. The Hawks then went on to score their first touchdown, ran in by junior Ryan Ringler, and followed by Nicholas Campione’s completed two-point conversion. Additional points in the first quarter were scored by Red Hawks Darius Barnett, Lucas Pienton, Gage Gardner, and Ethan West. 

The second quarter began with a score of Cedar Springs 26, Ottawa Hills 0. The Tigers were unable to take their place on the scoreboard until the second half of the game, leaving the stage to the Red Hawks. When the second quarter ended, the score stood at Cedar Springs 36, Ottawa Hills 0. 

In the second half of the game, the Tigers were able to score a total of 12 points, with their first touchdown ran in by Jaier Harden, and the second by Dajalon Copeland after a completed pass from Jaquise Jackson. 

The Hawk’s final touchdowns were scored by junior Ethan West and senior Hunter Daniels. These touchdowns were both followed by PATs (points after touchdowns) kicked by Moritz Lerch. 

Get ready for a white out! Dress in white to show your support for the Red Hawks when they play the EGR Pioneers this Friday, October 27. Photo by Justin Harnden.

The Red Hawks hope to bring in a win in the pre-regional round of the playoffs this Friday, October 27, at 7 p.m. at East Grand Rapids, and they need your help to do it. They are asking all Red Hawk fans (kids and adults) to come dressed in white for a white out! Be ready to cheer on your Red Hawks and help usher them into the regional finals next week with a win against the Pioneers. Go Red Hawks!

The Red Hawks celebrate their win over Northview, and entry into the playoffs for the second year in a row.

By Judy Reed

The Cedar Springs Red Hawks marched on to the field last Friday, October 23, at Northview, with the goal of not just winning the game, but clinching a share of the OK Bronze championship, and getting a spot in the 2015 playoffs. They scored on all counts, taking down Northview 52-29.

The Cedar Springs Red Hawks are OK Bronze champions for the second year in a row. Last year they had sole title, and this year they share the title with Forest Hills Eastern, who lost last week to Forest Hills Northern. Both CS and FHE finished the season 4-1 in conference. Cedar’s only conference loss was to FHE.

The win over Northview was also the Red Hawks’ 6^th win, assuring them a berth in the playoffs, which begin this weekend. They take on Zeeland West at Zeeland, on Saturday, October 31, at 1 p.m. For more on last Friday’s game, turn to page 7.

Red Hawk senior Cameron Umphrey scored both touchdowns for Cedar Springs in their loss to Forest Hills Eastern last Friday.

By Lauren VanDenHout

The Cedar Springs Red Hawks lost to the Forest Hills Eastern Hawks 49-12 last week Friday, October 16. Cedar Springs fought hard, but ultimately, they were no match for Forest Hills Eastern’s offensive and defensive line.

The Red Hawks’ first touchdown of the game was scored by senior Cameron Umphrey in the second quarter. It was an aggressive one-yard run in the middle that broke Forest Hills Eastern’s defensive line. The two-point conversion was no good. This made the score 7-6 in the middle of the second quarter. At halftime, the Red Hawks walked off the field trailing by a score of 21-6.

The Red Hawks came out aggressive in the third quarter. Umphrey scored another touchdown, and the two point conversion was incomplete. This touchdown made the score 28-12, and the Red Hawks held them at that score until the end of the quarter. However, FHE came back in the fourth quarter and scored three more touchdowns.

Cedar Springs is now in second place in the OK-Bronze, with a record of 3-1 in conference, and 5-3 overall.

Their next game is away at Grand Rapids Northview on Friday, October 23. Kickoff starts at 7:00 p.m. This game is sure to be intense, as it is the final chance for the Cedar Springs Red Hawks to make it into the playoffs.

Regional final this Saturday at Muskegon at 1 p.m.

Kaden Myers in the endzone, untouched.

On Friday, October 31, the Cedar Springs Red Hawks took on conference foe Forest Hills Northern in the first round of the division three state championship playoffs. This was the first time a playoff game was ever hosted at Red Hawk stadium, and what a game it turned out to be, on a windy, cold Halloween night.

The Red Hawks jumped out to a one-touchdown lead in the first quarter and then added two more scores in the second. The Red Hawk defense became a very nasty Halloween monster and manhandled the Huskies, by keeping them scoreless throughout the first half. It ended with the Red Hawks leading 30 to 0.

The Red Hawk defense shut out the Forest Hills Northern Huskies 36-0. That’s the first time the Huskies have been shut out since 2010.

The second half started with the Red Hawks once again scoring in the third quarter to make it 36 to 0.

To the dismay of the normally fast paced Forest Hills Northern Husky offense, the Red Hawk defense became even uglier as Halloween night went on, and the bitter cold wind continued to blow. The Red Hawks conjured up a spell binding effort each time the Huskies attempted to navigate the Cedar Springs defensive house of pain.

At the end of this chilly night, with many Red Hawk fans watching, it was the Cedar Springs Red Hawks who received the best treat of all, with a playoff win over the Forest Hills Northern Huskies of 36-0. That’s the first time the Huskies have been shut out since 2010.

The Red Hawk offense was once again led by the offensive line that allowed MavRick Cotton to rush for 90 yards and two touchdowns, Kaden Myers added another 55 yards rushing and one score, and Collin Alvesteffer ran for another 54 yards and a touchdown, with Zach Wamser adding the final touchdown with his rushing effort for 45 yards. Anthony Topolski, Lane Gott and Jacob Hooker all added to the total rushing effort of 300 yards compared to the Huskies 70 yards on the ground.

The Red Hawk defense front line.

The Red Hawk defense was led by Demarcus Barnett, with 10 tackles, while the defensive front line maintained pressure on the Huskies quarterback and the defensive secondary held up with a strong effort against the passing attack. The Husky offense was held to zero third down conversions out of nine attempts during the contest.

The Red Hawks football players would like to invite everyone to travel to Muskegon with them, as they advance to play The Muskegon Big Red on Saturday, November 8, at 1 p.m. Please come out and support the Red Hawks as their playoff run continues.