Glen Lake (9-2) football fell to Beal City (9-2) 21-14 Friday in a MHSAA Div. 4 regional playoff game.
“(The performance) shows the determination of the kids we have at Glen Lake. They really put in the work and they have bought into what we’re trying to do for Glen Lake football as a whole. When we lost to Iron Mountain (last year), I told those seniors that they’ll start the foundation and I think these seniors would be the pillars that start to build this program back up,” Glen Lake football coach Jesse Smith said.
The Lakers started fast and scored first off of a 24-yard pass from Keaton LaCross to Benji Allen on a 99-yard, nine play drive.
Beal City would respond on a 55-yard pass from quarterback Cuyler Smith to Aaron Locke to tie the game 7-7.
Beal City broke through in the third quarter with a blocked punt in Laker territory that set up a short Beal City touchdown to give a 14-7 lead.
Beal City stretched its advantage with a 43-yard rush from running back Drew Black to take a 21-7 lead with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Allen scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 1:16 left to close out the game.
Glen Lake quarterback LaCross went 3-of-5 for 47 yards and Allen went 3-of-13 for 40 yards. Allen also had 43 yard rushing.
Glen Lake junior Sam Dykstra led the team with 18 rushing attempts for 104 yards with a 56-yard long run. Breckin Nerg had 22 rushing yards, and Allen led with 35 receiving yards, while Isaac Hlavka had 29 rushing yards and Boden Fisher had 27 receiving yards.
Glen Lake junior Dominic Stein led the defense with four tackles; Jacob Peplinski 2 tackles; Ben Diotte 2 tackles.
Glen Lake committed two turnovers during the loss.
Glen Lake outgained Beal City 261 to 247 and ran over 15 more plays.
This is the longest playoff trip for the Lakers since 2019.
