Lakers start hot, cooled down by Falcons second half surge

Oct. 16—GRAND RAPIDS — Preparing for the OK Blue conference's best player is a chore.

But for the first half on Friday night, Spring Lake's tallest task, West Catholic running back Tim Kloska, was on the sideline with an apparent high ankle sprain. The Lakers took advantage —racking up 21 points and forcing three turnovers — to build a 21-14 lead entering halftime. But eventually, West Catholic coach Justin Michalowski had seen enough and unveiled the standout running back in the second half, as he tallied three touchdowns and thrusted the Falcons to a come-from-behind victory, 41-28.

"They're clearly a different team with him and he's an all-state running back," head coach Dan Start said. "Once he gets some room to work, he's a problem. I think our kids played pretty well against it, but you almost have to perfect because if he finds some running room, he's gonna make a big play."

Kloska finished with 208 yards rushing on 22 carries and three TDs — the junior adding to his already video game like season with well over 1,600 yards rushing and 24 total TDs. He's broken his own school rushing record twice, eclipsing over 300 yards rushing and six touchdowns against Allendale in Week 2.

"He's definitely a game changer in my opinion," Spring Lake lineman Travis Throop said. "Probably one of the best backs in Michigan. It's definitely challenging."

Without Kloska, the Lakers never trailed and built a two-possession lead midway through the third quarter. But with him, the Falcons scored on their first three possessions of the second half to take their first lead, 33-28, early in the fourth quarter.

The pivotal moment proved to be Spring Lake's attempted response, smacked with adversity and trailing for the first time. Lakers quarterback Jackson Core floated a pass down the sideline that was intercepted by Falcons cornerback Danny Groszkiewicz — that eventually flipped field position — and after a change in possession by both teams, Kloska's 6-yard touchdown run put the Falcons up 41-28 with just over five minutes remaining.

"The dynamic of the game changed when our kids became pretty gassed and he (Kloska) comes in fresh," Start said. "That's a tough deal."

Despite this being the only time the two teams will clash this season, the Lakers were grateful for the opportunity in a true playoff-like atmosphere.

"It's definitely a playoff caliber kind of game," Throop said. "This is a really good team and it's good for us to face adversity like this. When we try to make that push for a deep playoff run, this will help us get ready for it."

"This is the playoff picture right here," Spring Lake wide receiver Andrew Von wahlde added. "Every game is going to be like that. Every time we play a big opponent like this, this is just preparing us for the playoffs. We'll be used to this adversity and will be able to fight through it easily."

The Lakers stormed out to a 14-0 lead behind timely turnovers and passing from quarterback Jackson Core. Von wahlde's strip on Falcon quarterback Noah Arsulowicz late in the first quarter ignited the Lakers and two plays later he was on the receiving end of Core's pass, a 39-yard touchdown to give Spring Lake a 6-0 advantage.

Spring Lake added to their lead after their third turnover of the half — Travis Throop stripped West Catholic's Elliot Zainea and returned it 37 yards — setting up an 8-play drive, including six carries by Alex Lee, capped off by Core's quarterback sneak, giving the Lakers a 14-0 lead.

Spring Lake would add another score before halftime behind two of Core's best throws of the contest: a 27-yard fade to Derrick Paggeot and a 46-yard touchdown over the middle to Joe Westhoff.

Core would finish 7-for-18 passing for 167 yards with four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and two interceptions, along with 30 yards rushing on seven carries. Junior running back Alex Lee had a team-high 86 yards rushing and Von wahlde caught two passes for 65 yards and a touchdown, along with five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.

The Falcons would score a crucial touchdown just before halftime setup by an attempted screen pass by Core that was intercepted by Max Sutter deep in Laker territory. Falcons' quarterback Noah Arsulowicz would score on the next play, as they trailed 21-14 heading into halftime.

Core led a 7-play drive out of the break, capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Carter Sabo to put the Lakers ahead 28-14 with 8:26 remaining in the third quarter. That'd be the last time the Lakers would find the endzone.

Arsulowicz's 1-yard rushing touchdown setup by Kloska's 39-yard dart would put the Falcons ahead for good. Kloska's 6-yard rushing touchdown with 5:25 remaining put West Catholic ahead, 41-28, and the Lakers were unable to mount a comeback on their ensuing drive, as Core's fourth down pass attempt came up short to Sabo.

"I was proud of the way they responded to everything that was happening and continued to play the next play," Start said. "You saw them come together as a team and that's what it's going to take to be successful."

The Lakers running back room will strive to get healthy this week in preparation for the regular season home finale against Allendale as Lee was banged up, adding insult to injury as Christian Folkert and Brodie Lightfoot are already sidelined.

"Big thing for us is getting healthy," Start said. "We have to focus and lock in on Allendale, get the kids motivated and get them ready to play."

Contact Matthew at mehler@grandhaventribune.com.