GRC went to Hamilton’s homecoming night looking to spoil their celebration and came up just
short despite battling, scrapping, and playing team football the entire night. The Eagles ended
Hamilton’s first drive, which lasted nearly the entire first quarter, with an interception and 25
yard return by Nasir Zimmerman. The Eagles took advantage and drove the ball 61 yards in just
6 plays when Tony Phillips smashed it in from the 6-inch line behind O-line: Fitzgibbon, Morgan,
Hutt, Pugh, and Moore. Hamilton responded when their back burst through for a TD run and
the race was on!
After a grinding first quarter, the second was an offensive show by both teams. Hamilton
players broke off chunk plays, and the Eagles answered. Strong running, passing, defensive
stops, turnovers, everything that can happen in a high school game was happening! When the
crowd looked up, Hamilton was up 21-16 with 37 seconds remaining in the half and the Eagles
were backed up at their own 16 yard line. A laser over the middle from Charlie King high-
pointed by Tyler Davis gained 21. A perfectly executed screen pass to Tony Phillips looked like it
was going to gain 10 down the left sideline until Phillips ran over and around the Hawkeye
defenders, reversed field and sprinted to the right sideline eventually going out of bounds 48-
yards later at the 15! King found Aaron Gholston down to the 5 and Phillips snuck out of the
backfield and caught the TD with 4-seconds left. Brandt Alles caught the 2-point conversion and
the Eagles were up 22-21 at the half.
The third quarter began with Eagle domination – a short TD run by Phillips (after another 49-
yard chunk run just before), forcing a Hawkeye three-and-out with a lightning fast tackle in the
backfield by TD Davis, and another Eagle touchdown by Phillips, this time from 17 yards out in
one of the most gritty, tough runs you’ll see in a high school game! Hamilton regrouped
however, got a long touchdown of their own, forced an Eagle turnover, and scored again. 42-36
Hamilton at the end of three quarters. The fourth quarter was when both defenses dug deep
and gained the advantage. GRC stopped Hamilton from going up two scores with strong plays
from Dane Fitzgibbon, Caleb Pugh, Cameron Morgan, Brycen Clark, and TD Davis. Hamilton
thwarted the Eagles with some key stops of their own. Hamilton finished with the ball after
converting a 4th and 3 chance and the clock went to zeroes.
It was a great high school football game with each team answering when the other team made
a big play. The Eagles just ran out of possessions but each GRC player never stopped hustling,
grinding, and fighting for the guy next to him. Tony Phillips had a huge day with 13 rushes for
150 yards and 4 TDs on the ground and 3 catches for 54 yards and a TD through the air. Charlie
King completed 15 passes for 195 yards with TD Davis catching 6 of them for 70 yards. Aaron
Gholston and Brandt Alles had 3 catches each. Defensively, TD Davis had 9 solo tackles
including four TFLs! Tony Phillips had 7 solo and 2 assists and a TFL, Brycen Clark had 6 solo and
3 assists. From the trenches, Dane Fitzgibbon and Davis Hutt had 4 solo and 4 assists each!
Next week is Grand Rapids Christian’s Homecoming Game and the Wildcats of Wayland come
to Eagle Stadium at 7pm. Roll Eagles!