Zeeland West football escapes Muskegon with last-minute touchdown by Geurink

MUSKEGON - The Zeeland West football team was rolling.

Starting with a 20-point lead and leading in the fourth quarter after a stunning 12-minute scoring drive, it looked like the Dux were poised to cruise to a huge win.

But Muskegon had other ideas.

The Big Reds stunningly took the lead with 1:44 to go in the fourth quarter. But that 1:44 was key as the Dux marched back down the field and scored on a 26-yard run by Skyler Geurink with 49 seconds to go to seal in improbable comeback win Friday night at Hackley Stadium.

"It felt amazing. I put a little move on them at the end and it felt really good. They got us in the end the past two years and it felt good to get that one back," Geurink said. "We knew they were going to keep punching and we kept punching back. They never gave up - we never gave up. This is the best stadium in the world, this feels amazing. It proved we can hang with anybody."

The Dux were able to shake off the stunning turn of events to earn their first regular-season win in series history for the Dux (5-0, 3-0 OK Green). The Big Reds dropped to 3-2 and 2-1 in the OK Green.

"We told the kids we might have them down, but we won't put them out. They play better with desparation. They have done it three years in a row. Two years ago, we were ahead 14-0 with 2:53 to go and they beat us," Zeeland West coach John Shillito said. "

Zeeland West led 26-7 at halftime then used a 12-minute scoring drive to lead 32-21 with 7:37 to go in the game.

The 11-point lead looked safe the way things were going, but it evaporated quickly.

Muskegon quarterback M'Khi Guy marched the Big Reds down the field and scored on a 9-yard run. After an onside kick, Muskegon got the ball abck and scored on an 11-yard run by Jakob Price, dragging three defenders more than five yards into the end zone with 1:44 to go.

But the Dux kept their composure, converted a fourth-down pass from Trevor Wallar to Orion Yant on the ensuing drive, setting up Geurink's run, the 19th consecutive drive that didn't end a half or the game with a knee that the Dux have scored this season.

"We are faster on all ends. Our linemen played amazing up front and the backs made plays when we need to make plays," Geurink said.

It capped a 6-for-6 performance on fourth downs for the Dux, which were enough to make up for going 1-for-6 on two-point conversions.

"Boy did we ever (struggle on conversions), but a big play with Trevor to Orion on fourth down (was huge)," Shillito said. "Obviously, if we make thre of the conversions we aren't in the same situations. Our first drive to start the second half was huge. But credit to Muskegon. They blocked the heck out of us in the second half. They got after us and we didn't get off blocks well. They wore us down in the second half, but if we have to win it on offense, let's win it."

The Dux led 20-0, but when the Big Reds closed within 26-21 in the third quarter, Zeeland West went to work with a slow, impressive, methodical drive to put the game out of reach.

The drive included three fourth-down conversions and lasted a stunning 12 minutes. Seriously … 12:09 … more than a quarter. It was capped by a 4-yard run by Skyler Geurink, stumbling and keeping his balance to cross the goal line with 7:37 to go in the game, pushing the lead to 32-21.

Zeeland West got right to work to start the game, scoring on a 53-yard touchdown run by Rolando Robelin. He also ran in the two-point conversion and the Dux led 8-0 with 9:38 to go in the first quarter.

The Dux forced a three-and-out and then scored again on a 52-yard touchdown run by Parker Holman. The conversion failed and it was 14-0.

The Dux again forced a punt, but the Big Reds went for a fake. Zeeland West's Orion Yant didn't go for it, however, and stuffed the run and the Dux took over on the Muskegon 37-yard line.

On fourth-and-8, Trevor Wallar found Skyler Geurink on the right sideline, a 27-yard gain to the 7-yard line. Geurink scored on a 7-yard run with 1:18 to go in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Big Reds finally got the offense going as a 42-yard run by M'Khy Guy got down to the 5-yard line and Jakob Price scored two plays later on a 2-yard run, pulling Muskegon with in 20-7.

But the Dux answered by marching down the field and scored on a Robelin 2-yard run. The conversion failed and the Dux led 26-7 with 3:40 to go in the half.

Muskegon answered after a fourth-down conversion when Guy found Da'Carion Taylor for a 3-yard TD reception in the corner of the end zone, pulling the Big Red within 26-14 at halftime.

The momentum the Big Reds showed at the end of the first half, carried into the second as Muskegon took the second-half kickoff and marched down the field and scored on a 22-yard run by Price to pull the Big Reds within 26-21 with 7:46 to go in the third.

Guy scored on a 9-yard run with 4:23 to go to pull the Big Red within 32-27. Guy scored on a two-point conversion and the Dux clung to a 32-29 lead.

The Big Reds recoverd an onside kick and then Guy ran for 31 yards to reach the Zeeland West 20-yard line. Price pushed the pack 11 yards for a stunning touchdown to put the Big Reds up 36-32 with 2:37 to go.

Muskegon trailed by 20 and slowly chipped away. The Big Reds scored just before halftime, scored to start the second half and took advantage of Zeeland West missing four two-point conversions.

Geurink had 19 carries for 157 yards. Robelin had 16 rushes for 95 yards. Holman had nine rushes for 70 yards.

Guy had 20 rushes for 202 yards.

"I am so proud of the guys. When Muskegon gets their backs agains the wall, they play harder than anybody I have ever coached against," Shillito said. "We told our kids you have to keep playing, and I am proud of the fact that we did. Trevor did a great job managing things and we made three big plays on that final drive. It was a tremendous effort and it feels a lot better than being on the other end of it, no doubt."

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Zeeland West football escapes Muskegon with last-minute touchdown