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With steady rain falling all night long
and temperatures creeping around 50 degrees, we jumped quickly into a
fall frenzy atmosphere. South Christian and Unity Christian gave fans
an absolute treat for 4 quarters and then some!
The Sailors and coach Tamminga were
able to edge the Crusaders of Unity Christian in an edge-of-your-seat
thriller by a score of 33-30.
On the opening drive Jon Wassink and
the Sailors put together a steady ground attack leading into Crusader
territory. The Sailors found themselves facing a long 3rd and 33
where Wassink was able to connect with Evan Beukema for a 36-yard
touchdown heave setting the tone early for what was to come.
The Crusaders were able to respond
immediately on their first play from scrimmage with a 64-yard scamper
by quarterback David Bos in the blink of an eye!
Geff Plasman got in on the action for
South, as he was effective on the ground as well as through the air to
drive South into Unity territory. Wassink was then able to hook up with
Jake Wierenga on a 12-yard touchdown pass for his second TD pass on the
night. South led 14-7 after 1 quarter.
Unity Christian was very effective on
the ground all night running the Wing T exceptionally well. David Bos,
Christian Bos, Jeff Snikkers, and Casey Byker exhibited balance for the
Crusaders early and often, as it was Snikkers who found pay dirt from 8
yards out. Unity took advantage of a false start on the PAT and went
for two to take a 15-14 lead.
Trailing by 1 Wassink and company drove
down the field as he completed an 18-yard pass to Ryan Veenstra to
continue the drive. Plasman added a 33-yard run to get inside the
Crusader 10 yard line. Wassink converts on a 4 yard TD run to give
South the lead. Trickery lead to a South Christian fake extra point as
Wassink scrambled and found a diving Wierenga in the end zone as the
ball was tipped and caught.
A heavy dose of Jeff Snikkers and a
7-yard TD run by David Bos as well as an interception by Byker for the
Crusaders tied things at 22 going into halftime.
Early in the third quarter, David Bos
was sidelined and as a result Unity found themselves with the first
punt of the game. Just a few plays later Unity recovered a Wassink
fumble to regain possession.
A strong defensive surge from South
Christian locked down the Crusader attack inside the red zone as South
Christian got the ball back.
The third quarter gave us a bit of a
defensive battle as both teams were held in check until Wassink tacked
on his second rushing touchdown of the night (3-yards) after a smoothly
operated offensive possession on the ground and through the air.
Wassink found Zach Sinnema in the end zone on their second fake extra
point of the night to take a 30-22 lead.
The Crusaders battled and answered the
call of South time after time as a 28-yard rush by Byker gave Unity a
first down inside the red zone. Wierenga forced Byker to put the ball
on the ground inside the 10 yard line as South Recovered.
Blake Hoogterp used a 35-yard rush to
get into Sailor territory. Enter Tony VanderPloeg. VanderPloeg put the
ball in the air for just the second time for Unity, as he was able to
lead a comeback with 28 seconds left in the game. VanderPloeg tossed a
strike to Christian Bos for a touchdown. It was a successful two-point
conversion run by Christian Bos, as he was able to shake 2 would-be
tacklers to find the end zone and knot the game up at 30.
Wassink strung together 3 completions
and tossed a last second heave that was incomplete as the Sailors and
Crusaders headed to overtime.
Casey Elzinga and the South Christian
defense was able to stand up workhorse Jeff Snikkers on 4th and
goal from the 2 giving South the opportunity to close the game.
Kicker John Masselink made good from
23-yards to send South Christian home with an electrifying 33-30
victory!
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