Cardinals Spoil Homecoming In Thriller

(17) Hadyn Hinkle rolls out for a pass on offense. Hinkle led MC on Friday night with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception on defense. Photo by Sara Scaife, JTV Sports.

By David Rice | JTV Sports

(9-29-2023, 11:30PM):

After a back and forth second half, it was the cardinal defense that stepped up and made the last move to spoil Grass Lake’s homecoming on Friday night.

Michigan Center defense also made the first big play of the game. Hunter Clemons intercepted a pass from Brayden Lape with 8:39 in the opening quarter, after GL made two huge first down conversions. Grass Lake defense responded, forcing MC to a 3-and-out on their first drive.

Grass Lake started to roll on offense on the next drive, gaining over 40 yards on two receptions by Jacob Collins and Robert Anderson. But, the drive resulted in a turnover on downs with 4:16 left in Q1.

Bodee Adkins made a 34-yard catch which led to a short touchdown run by senior Kyran Lane, that gave Michigan Center a 6-0 lead with 11 minutes left in the 2nd. The warriors responded with an 18-yard touchdown run by Liam Metheringham to make it 7-6 GL with 8:37 to play.

After two punts in the next drives, Kyran Lane stepped up again for the Cardinals with a 30-yard touchdown reception to make it 12-7 cardinals lead at halftime.

Two different Cardinals contributed to open the third quarter. Sophomore Braylen Brown and Junior Bodee Adkins made huge catches, leading to a quarterback keeper. Hadyn Hinkle scores himself to make it 20-7 in favor of MC.

Michigan Center continued to roll as Blake Short sacked Lape, but GL responded. Jacob Collins made a 33-yard catch followed by a Bryant Cook catch, to set-up a redzone rushing TD by Liam Metheringham, MC now leads just 20-13 with two minutes in Q3. Warriors special teams blocked a 34-yard field goal to keep it at a seven point lead after the 3rd.

Robert Anderson opens the final quarter for Grass Lake, making a 26-yard catch and run to tie it at 20 with 10 minutes left. The offense for both teams continued to roll, MC responded with another QB keeper as Hinkle scored to give the Cardinals a 26-20 lead with 6:30 left.

With just under six minutes left to play, Bryant Cook stepped up with 63 receiving yards on the next drive for the Warriors, followed by another Metheringham touchdown to lead 27-26 with 1:48 left.

In just 40 seconds, the Cardinals made the biggest play of the game. Freshman #88 Tre’Var Collins comes into the game and throws a 77-yard touchdown to Brennan Forward to give Michigan Center the 32-27 lead with 1:09 left. But, that wasn’t all from Collins.

The freshman sealed the game on defense, picking off Lape (his 3rd INT) with 53 seconds left, as Michigan Center spoils the warrior homecoming in a thriller 32-27.

Brayden Lape for the Warriors finished with 385 yards, 1 TD, and 3 INT’s.

Watch the broadcast this weekend on JTV and JTV.TV at 4/10pm Saturday and Sunday at 1/7pm.