Yes, the high-flying offenses of both teams were permanently grounded Friday night, with rain and wind turning both spread offenses into mash ‘em up ground pounders, as the Montague Wildcats finish up their first undefeated regular season since 1984 with a hard-fought 13-0 victory over a two-loss Fremont squad.

“It feels great to end the regular season this way,” said a soaked but jubilant Pat Collins, Wildcat head coach. “This doesn’t happen very often that a team gets this far without losing, so it really makes this season something special.”

The Wildcats now await word of their first-round opponent, which most likely will be played at Montague’s home field. The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) will release that information Sunday evening at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Detroit and on its Web site, mhsaa.com. Days and start times are expected Monday. Check the Beacon Web site, www.whitelakebeacon.com, complete info on Montague’s post-season fate.

But first things first.

Both teams had trouble moving the ball right from the start. But after trading punts to open the contest, Montague seemed to get the break it needed on, of all things, a botched punt attempt on the team’s second possession. Punter Matt DeJong, who had previously pinned the Packers on their own one-yard line on Montague’s first punt, fumbled the snap and decided to take off for the first down. Taking the field again on offense, the Wildcats put together a 15-play drive that saw them with a first-and-goal on the Packer 10. But, three running plays later — including two draw plays by Montague QB Cody Kater — the Wildcats faced fourth-and-goal on the three, and then were stopped at the one as they went for the score.

Montague looked to run out the clock to end the half, but a Kater fumble deep in Packer territory gave the home squad new life.

Fremont’s drive stalled at around midfield, and the score stood locked at 0-0.

Things went from bad to worse in for both clubs in the third, with the Packers failing to convert a fourth-and-two on their second possession of the second half, and Kater getting picked off on the Wildcats’ subsequent drive. A Fremont punt and a failed fourth-down conversion for Montague at the Packer 24 made everyone in the stadium start to think the contest could go scoreless into overtime.

Then came the play of the game.

On their own 22-yard line, and facing a fourth-and-12, the Packers’ coaching staff inexplicably called a fake punt, which failed miserably, setting up the Wildcats just over 20 yards away from paydirt. Two plays later, Kater tossed an out to DeJong to give Montague first-and-goal on the Packer nine, and on second-and-goal, Kater connect DeJong again for the game’s first score. DeJong converted the extra-point attempt, and Montague led 7-0.

Near mid field again, a Packer screen play did not get the team the necessary four yards on fourth down, and on the second play of Montague’s successive drive, 5’6” junior Kevin Blackmer raced around the left end 63 yards to ice the game. Though DeJong missed the extra point, the 13-0 preserved the victory and the Wildcats’ undefeated season.

“We’re going to enjoy this one for awhile,” said Collins as his team met a large Montague crowd near the west end of the field. “Then we’ll gather on Sunday to see who we’re going to play next weekend.”

Kater finished with 11-for-20 passing for 106 yards, a TD and a pick, while DeJong was the team’s leading reciever with six catches for 58 yards and a score. Blackmer was the Wildcats’ leading rusher, piling up 81 yards on nine carries and a score.

Leading the Wildcat defense was RC Twining and Jake Snowdin, who had eight stops apiece. Montague’s defense held the Fremont to just 17 yards on the ground, and to 156 yards total, while the Wildcat offense finished with 329 total yards.

Vikes finish 5-4

GRANT - Whitehall senior Codie Pider ended his high school football career on a high note, running for 188 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings’ 39-3 win over Grant Friday night.

He did that despite leaving the game in the second quarter with a knee injury.

“He wouldn’t let us keep him out of his last game,” Whitehall Assistant Coach Dan Meinert said. All of Pider’s TDs came in the second half. In the third quarter he scored on runs of 69 and 3 yards. In the fourth he scored on a 45 yard sprint.

Whitehall opened the scoring in the first quarter on a two-yard run by Tyler VanBergen. Grant came back in the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal make it a 7-3 score.

In the second quarter Whitehall came back with two TDs, one on a 44-yard return by Sam Pladies of a block punt by D’Mario Lewis. The other came on a 22-yard pass from Pladies to Christian Subdon. Josh Horning kicked three PATs on the night.

On defense, Pladies had 13 tackles while Lewis and Scott Nowak had 11 each.

The win gives Whitehall a 5-4 season record.

“It’s a shame we probably won’t make the playoffs,” said Whitehall Coach Dan Holden whose team won both of its non-league games over Lakes 8 opponents, and went 3-4 in the brutal West Michigan Conference schedule.

Holden, a first-year head coach, said the Whitehall defense really came together the final three games of the season, allowing just 17 points. “It took some time for us to really develop.”

Holden said the senior leadership was important for the Vikings, as he pointed out Pider, Tyler VanBergen and Christian Subdon as the leaders.

Reeths-Puffer finishes season with 1st victory

GRAND RAPIDS - Reeths-Puffer closed out a tough season on a positive note Friday night with a 28-14 win over Grand Rapids Union.

It was the first win for the Rockets who lost the first eight games of the season. The win also kept R-P (1-8, 1-4) out of the cellar in the O-K Black Division.

“We’ll take it, that’s for sure,” R-P Coach Tim Odette commented on the win. “I’m so happy for the kids.”

Odette said the R-P offensive line dominated the Red Hawks. The Rockets rolled up 257 yards on the ground, led by Clayton Turner with 108 yards in 25 rushes. Rickey Keller, who played fullback for the second game, ran for 69 yards and one touchdown in 16 tries.

Rocket quarterback John McCleve made the most of his two pass completions out of seven attempts. Both went for TDs to Caden Beals.

The game was scoreless after one quarter, but then the Rocket offense took charge on the wet and windy night.

Keller scored the first TD on a one-yard plunge. Michael Schmitt kicked the PAT.

R-P’s lead went to 14-0 on a two-yard run by Trent Lewis. Schmitt added the PAT.

The Red Hawks (1-8, 0-5) pulled within a touchdown on a three-yard scoring run by Pewee Max. The PAT kick was blocked.

The Rockets ended the half with a seven-yard TD pass from McCleve to Beals. Schmitt’s PAT gave the Rockets a 21-6 halftime lead.

In the third quarter R-P added another TD on a 43-yard pass from McCleve to Beals. This time Cam Rogers kicked the PAT.

Max closed out Union’s scoring with a four-yard pass from Xavier Watson in the fourth. Watson connected with Eric Grundy for a two-point conversion.

R-P finished the night with 307 yards in offense. Union ran for 176 yards and passed for 107.

Both teams turned the ball over five times.

Defensively, Keller led the Rockets with 11 tackles. John Foss and Beals had 5 each. Austin Chester, Trent Lewis and Richard Bosma each had an interception for R-P.