HARBOR SPRINGS — Closing out games is a skill.
The East Jordan football team is still in the process of developing in that department, with a few close nights dropped this season and a couple others they were able to pull away from.
When they entered Harbor Springs’ Ottawa Stadium on Homecoming night against the Rams Friday, Oct. 10, the Red Devils had a feeling they would get the chance to sharpen that skill.
After a tight game in the third quarter, East Jordan eventually ironed out their finish with a 30-14 victory over Harbor Springs.
“We’ve had a lot of close ones that have ended a lot of different ways,” EJ coach Adam Grybauskas said. “It was good to see us at the end and run out a couple drives. That was good to see because we’ve struggled running the ball at times this year.”
East Jordan rebounded from a loss to improve to 4-3 overall on the season, while Harbor Spring fell to 3-4 with the loss.
It was a fifth consecutive victory for the Red Devils over Harbor Springs, which comes after the Rams won seven straight in the series back to 2014.
There was a feeling this one could play out a bit closer than recent matchups, and it delivered despite the final score.
Competitive again
You have to go back to 2021 to find the last true competitive game between these two, a then 22-14 game won by East Jordan.
The past few have been 30-point blowouts by EJ, though Grybauskas didn’t expect this one to play like that.
“Harbor has really improved and we knew that,” Grybauskas said. “They’re playing with some confidence and they’ve got a system they’re running now and running it pretty good. So we knew it was going to be a much tougher game this year.”
East Jordan led in an 8-0 game at the end of one, then went up 22-8 on a Max Beal touchdown run from 14 yards out, which is where the two headed to half.
Right out of half, Thaddeus Cosens added his second touchdown for the Rams, this time from 25 yards out, making it 22-14.
From there, EJ quarterback William Webb scored his third touchdown on the ground, then the Rams couldn’t find much traction from there, taking two steps forward and one back the remainder of the half.
“We had some great things going on. I was really proud of the kids, their effort,” Harbor Springs coach Erik Slifka said. “It’s just a few things kill our drives. We had the momentum, down 22-14 in the third there, we were moving the ball, just those penalties. But, they’re a young group and this is a learning experience.”
QBs lead the way
Both quarterbacks stepped up on the night, with Cosens scoring both times for the Rams and Webb notching three for the Red Devils.
They also each made plays in the passing game, with Webb connecting with Brady Wilson on a deep shot in the first half that set up the final touchdown before half to make it a two-score game.
It’s Webb’s first season of playing quarterback after an all-state season as a wideout. While he’s still growing in the position, Grybauskas like’s what Webb has done.
“He’s just done a good job of running the offense,” Grybauskas said. “He’s a pretty cerebral kid who understands the game. He’s asking questions about things, like reads and where he should be and what he should have done. He runs our offense we ll and obviously he’s a great athlete. So anytime you can put an athlete there and he’s touching the ball every time, that’s a good thing to have.”
Finish strong
Both the Rams and Red Devils have an opportunity to finish the season with a winning record and enter the postseason, making the final couple weeks critical for both teams.
Harbor Springs will finish against Oscoda (2-5) and Farwell (3-4), two games the Rams can add as wins if they can clean up the little things.
“If we can correct those little things, which I know we can, I think we can finish with a winning season this year,” Slifka added. “That’s all we can ask for after three years of zero wins. We need to get back after it this week and get ready for Oscoda next week for the pink game and just regroup.”
East Jordan finishes against Frankfort (5-2) and Elk Rapids (3-4), two challenges, though both will come at home.
“Both teams are really good. It doesn’t show in Elk Rapids’ record but they’ve played in a lot of close games and Frankfort is always a good team,” Grybauskas said. “They’re really well coached and they’re winning games again this year.
“We’re in control at this point. That’s where you want to be at this point in the season.”
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: East Jordan closes door to Harbor Springs in second half, spoil Rams’ Homecoming
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
