Whitehall's chances at a late run at the postseason took a heartbreaking hit Friday night, as the Vikings gave up a touchdown in the final minute against West Michigan Conference Lakes foe Oakridge and lost the game, 22-16.
Eagles' tailback Taiden Patton ran in a short scoring run with 32 seconds to play, one play after Oakridge hit a 55-yard pass from Alijah LaNore to Patton that got the Eagles to the two-yard line.
The difference in the game, said coach Tony Sigmon, was clearly the Vikings' three turnovers to the Eagles' one. Oakridge's one giveaway, a fumble, was immediately followed by Whitehall (2-5, 2-3 WMC Lakes) fumbling the ball back.
"Turnovers killed us offensively," Sigmon said. "Defensively we thought we played really well at times, but we had some miscues that cost us the game.
"It really boils down to that. It's not something we have to think hard on in terms of why the game went the way it did. It's just circling back to turnovers and miscues at the wrong time. Any time is the wrong time, but it felt like it was the absolute worst times here tonight."
The most damaging giveaway was probably the last one, which took place inside the Oakridge 15-yard line at the end of a 14-play drive - all runs by either Liam Leeke or Wyatt McFarren - to start the third quarter. The Vikings, who led 8-7 at the time, fumbled the ball away on the 14th play.
Oakridge later scored, but Whitehall did take the lead again in the fourth quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by Leeke. A 21-yard completion from Brayden Brown to KeAndre Maybanks was a key play on that drive.
Whitehall had a chance to run out the clock when it forced a three-and-out on the Eagles' ensuing possession, but couldn't get a first down and had to kick it back to Oakridge.
Sigmon said the Viking defense played well much of the game, but Oakridge did a good job keeping them off balance in the passing game down the stretch.
"They hit some plays in the secondary when we were playing aggressively against the run," Sigmon said. "They hit a couple really crucial passes on drag routes and on the seams. It was a lot about timing tonight."
The hope is that the Vikings can turn things around in two home games, against Ludington and Reeths-Puffer.
"We've been pretty good at home this year," Sigmon said. "We finish the season with two home games, and hopefully our kids can finish the season strong."
Leeke had 159 yards rushing for Whitehall, and Brown threw for 76 yards. Maybanks led the defense with six solo tackles, and Leeke recovered a fumble on defense.
