Whitehall is searching for answers after falling to Orchard View
Friday night, 22-8, in a turnover-plagued game to drop to 0-3 (0-2 in
the West Michigan Conference Lakes).
The Vikings turned the
ball over four times in the game to the Cardinals' none, including on
three straight possessions spanning the second and third quarters. A
fumble in the fourth quarter, while down 16-8, proved to be the fatal
blow to the Vikings' hopes of victory.
"We had a lot of frustrated kids and a lot of frustrated people," Whitehall coach Tony Sigmon said. "It's just
the reality here. We turned the ball over too much. We had chances and
couldn't capitalize. We had a series of situations where we'd have a big
play and then have something bad happen that would kill a drive, whether a
penalty or a turnover."
It's the second time in two weeks
Whitehall has dropped a game to a rapidly improving West Michigan
Conference Lakes opponent. The WMC Lakes was thought to be wide open
entering the season, and it is; Fremont, 1-8 a year ago, is the only
league team to win two conference games so far (though defending
champion Ludington is also 1-0 in the conference).
"They've
got some really dynamic players and they've got a quarterback who's been
thru trial by fire," Sigmon said, referring to Ca'Mari Reese, who
started last year's game against Whitehall at quarterback due to injury.
"They've done a good job buying into what Coach (Aaron) James is doing,
and Coach James is doing a really good job."
Later in the
game, seeking a spark, Whitehall put Brayden Brown in at quarterback,
though the Vikings were unable to get any points out of the move. Their
only score came in the second quarter, when they took advantage of a
short field to get one in the end zone on a 10-yard scoring pass from
Isaiah Lewis to KeAndre Maybanks.
Sigmon said the Vikings have
no choice but to regroup and to see if they can put things back
together for a challenging matchup with Saginaw Swan Valley next week.
Swan Valley knocked the Vikes out of last year's playoffs.
"I know
a lot of people are looking for answers and
to see what the next thing for us is," Sigmon said. "Quite frankly,
what the next
thing is for us is to have a coaches' meeting and to practice. We have
kids who have been practicing and playing their tails off...We want to
remind our kids that we think the world of them and we'll be ready to go
next Friday."
Maybanks led Whitehall with 61 yards receiving
and the one touchdown. On defense, Wyatt McFarren posted five solo
tackles, including three for a loss, and eight assists. Liam Leeke added
four solo tackles.
