The GRC Eagle football team took to the field on Friday night in front of a raucous home crowd to test their mettle against the defending state champion South Christian Sailors. In a pair of games last year, the Eagles' familiar foe proved overwhelming in two resounding wins of the same score: 42-7. As the boys in Blue & Black took to the field on this day, they hoped to be able to show the progress that an off-season of hard work can often provide. And though the Sailors again came out on top, there was a different feel in the air as the faithful at Eagle stadium begin to wonder if the tide may be turning for GRC...

The Eagle offense, led by senior QB-convert Zay Caviness, lit up the night sky with 42 points and over 400 yards of offense. The scoring was "kicked off" by junior Ben Toly's blistering 2nd quarter kick return for a touchdown, which was followed later in the first half by a well-executed 2-minute drive capped off by a Caviness TD pass to Jude Klunder. Though the visiting team also rolled up the points, the GRC boys showed their inner "dawg" by not backing down. Second half touchdown passes to senior Malachi Hooser and another to Klunder, along with a pair of Caviness Rushing touchdowns, kept the Eagles in the fight well into the 4th quarter. With the Sailors keeping pace on the scoreboard, the Eagles never caught up - but they also never gave up!

The defense was paced by senior linebacker DeWayne Goree's 11 tackles, sacks by Ben Geers and Davis Hutt, and an acrobatic interception by junior Aaron Gholston.

With reasons for hope, and a lot of work to do, the Eagles turn around with a short week as they head to the Muskegon area to play Fruitport High School on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. Go Eagles!