HART – If teams around the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division didn’t know the name Eman Hertzler, they should. Hesperia heard that name early and often Friday, Oct. 18 as Hertzler made big play after big play in a 48-6 win for the Pirates.
Those big plays started from the first snap. Oftentimes, coaches try not to put too many of their trick plays on tape in an effort to retain the element of surprise for future opponents. Apparently the game film from Hart’s win over Orchard View the previous week didn’t make it to Hesperia, because the Pirates ran the exact same opening play to the same devastating effect.
Hertzler, a running back and wide receiver by trade, lined up out wide before moving in motion. Senior quarterback Halen Boos handed him the ball, but instead of running away with it, Hertzler stopped and launched a ball down the field. That pass landed in the hands of Brody Clark, who ran into the endzone to complete a 45-yard connection.
To add insult to injury, Hart dialed up another trick play on the ensuing two-point conversion. Senior fullback Alex Hicks ended up with the ball in his hands, but instead of running it in, Hicks sent a two-handed backward toss into the arms of Eric Hannan.
That sequence ran just 22 seconds off the clock and left Hart with an 8-0 lead almost immediately.
Hesperia couldn’t find the same success on their first chance to possess the ball. In fact, they possessed the ball for just a few seconds before Hart had the ball again.
On the kickoff that followed Hart’s opening touchdown, usually sure-handed Hesperia return man Zach Loughridge muffed the return and watched a host of Pirates – including Aiden Coker – fall on the ball at the Panthers’ own 21-yard line.
It didn’t take long for Hart to add to their lead. Just under a minute after they put the first points on the board, the Pirates found their way in again, this time on a short run from Kyle Greiner. Connor Riker ran in the two-point conversion to make it 16-0 in favor of Hart.
Loughridge mishandled the next kickoff as well, but was able to keep control. Hesperia’s offense was unable to get things going however, going the entirety of the first quarter without points.
Hart’s offense didn’t fare much better after their first two touchdowns, even turning the ball over on downs late in the first quarter. Boos did snag an interception off Hesperia quarterback Blake Sayer with just four seconds left in that frame, giving the Pirates possession to start the second quarter.
Hertzler caught fire in the second quarter, adding back-to-back touchdowns runs to extend the Pirates’ lead. The first of those scores came from 59-yards out and the second from 20. Hicks and Boos added two-point conversion runs and Hart had a 32-0 lead with nine minutes left in the first half.
Hesperia got their offense going late in that second quarter. With just 1:15 remaining before halftime, senior running back Skyler Stalbaum punched in a six-yard touchdown run to put the Panthers on the board. The extra point attempt was no good from Lacey Mey, leaving the score at 32-6.
Dwindling time on the board didn’t stave off Hart’s offensive attack. The Pirates added one more touchdown with just 34 seconds left on a 28-yard run from Greiner. Greiner also added the two-point conversion on the ground to bring the first half to a close at 40-6 in favor of Hart.
The Pirates put the brakes on in the second half, only scoring one touchdown over 24 minutes of play. Hertzler added his fourth touchdown of the night with two minutes left in the third quarter on a 48-yard run. Hicks’ two-point conversion attempt on the ground was once again good, leaving Hart on top for good at 48-6.
Hertzler led Hart’s offense, putting up 217 yards of total offense by himself. Hertzler took seven carries for 174 yards and three touchdowns and added one catch for eight yards as well as 45 yards through the air for a touchdown. Greiner was the next most effective, taking five carries for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, Greiner led the way in tackles with seven while Clark and Keaghan Monroe each had six. Boos and Logan Jorissen had the game’s only takeaways with an interception for each.
Hesperia was led by Sayer who went 12-for-23 passing for 122 yards as well as 26 yards on the ground. Stalbaum carried the ball 11 times for 43 yards and a touchdown. Ian Fox led in receiving with five catches for 56 yards.
Sayer also was the leader on defense with eight tackles while Stalbaum and Thor Klaus each tallied five. Fox and Noah Walker added four tackles of their own.
Hesperia (2-6, 1-4 WMC Rivers) added onto a string of losses, pushing their streak to six-straight after starting the year 2-0. The Panthers will host St. Louis at home Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.
The victory pushed Hart to 4-4 overall and a final mark of 2-3 in the WMC Rivers. The Pirates have a slim chance of making the playoffs for the second straight year, but will need to take down Central Montcalm (7-1) to make a case. That game kicks off Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.
