Bark River Harris Broncos (10-1) advanced to the MHSAA Div. 8 state semifinals after winning a regional championship 22-21 over Glen Lake thanks to a remarkable game-winning 90-yard lateral kickoff return for a touchdown, and two-point conversion from Bronco junior Gionni McDonough.
"Our coach told us that if we got the ball early, get down, but if he went deep, then we had to lateral pass the ball. There was a wide open lane. There was one block that had to be made. I made a move, and then it was just green grass ahead of me. I dove in. It was just the greatest feeling I've ever had." McDonough said.
After marching down the field with Glen Lake junior Max Lammerson finding junior Kingston Palmer for a diving touchdown catch (21-14) with 14 seconds remaining, the Broncos were down to a kickoff hope.
Glen Lake squib kicked it to Bark River Harris, and Bronco junior Ben Knauf grabbed the ball around the 10-yard line in a rush. He threw it laterally to McDonough, who bobbled the ball and escaped multiple defenders to find space on the other side of the field. McDonough sprinted, weaving through traffic and finding the endzone with zero seconds on the clock, stunning the home crowd, and setting up a two-point conversion for the win.
McDonough scored the two-point conversion with a dive up the middle to seal the win for the Broncos, shocking the Laker crowd.
"Somebody had to win, somebody had to lose," Glen Lake coach Jesse Smith said. "Hats off to Bark River, they are a good team. It was a good game … I love these guys here, and we will find a way to bounce back and get ready for the next one."
Bark River Harris on Highway 41 in the southwestern upper peninsula travelled five and a half hours to get to Glen Lake. They are taking with them the second regional championship in school history and a date in the semifinal against either Beal City or Harbor Beach.
"We stayed true to who we are and ran our offense to what we knew. We stuck to the game plan. We had a long bus ride down here, and we knew there was a chance that something like that could happen," Bark River Harris coach Caleb Adams said.
Glen Lake senior Fletcher Middleton punched it in from 19 yards out to score first with a gushing run up the middle with 8:30 remaining in the opening frame. The Lakers scored after converting a third-and-14 to start the game.
The Broncos got the horses driving all the way down the field behind the play of junior quarterback Dane Schmitt. Glen Lake would eventually stuff the run-heavy Broncos, taking over the ball and building momentum.
Glen Lake converted two fourth downs down the field with multiple big pass plays. On a third and nine from the 9-yard line, Glen Lake junior quarterback Max Lammerson booted left and found a dashing junior Toby Bradford in the middle of the endzone with sure hands, securing the touchdown while being hit to take a commanding 14-0 lead.
Bark River would find more rhythm off a pop pass into Laker territory.
The Broncos would score off a sensational touchdown pass from Dane Schmidt to Kaleb Desilets (14-8). Bark River junior Andrew Johnson knocked in the two-point conversion up the middle.
Brak River would force a punt on the next possession after a Glen Lake drive stalled in Bronco territory. Bark River would threaten, but a big sack from Glen Lake cornerback Caden Sheehan stopped anything. Bronco quarterback Dane Smchmitt was also injured and did not return for the rest of the game.
Glen Lake led 14-8 over Bark River Harris at halftime.
The Broncos came out hot with junior Ben Knauf taking over at quarterback and immediately dialing up a flea flick for 30 yards to McDonough, along with a roughing the passer penalty, bringing the ball to the Lake 15-yard line.
Bronco junior Gabe Spear scored from 5-yards out to tie the ball game as the two-point conversion failed (14-14) with 10:32 in the third quarter.
On the next possession, the Broncos stuffed Glen Lake on the 2-yard line after a consistent Laker attack. Lammerson had a big pass to Breckin Nerg and a long Lammerson quarterback run, but couldn't finish it off to go into the fourth quarter tied 14-14.
A circus pass from Bronco junior Gabe Spears to Johnson garnished 20 yards and sparked life into another Bronco drive. But Sheehan would force another turnover on downs with eight minutes left in the fourth.
The Lakers didn't get anything going off the turnover, but a defensive holding on a 4th & 12 gave Glen Lake another chance (4th & 2).
Bark River would sniff out a screen pass to take over again with 4:40 left.
Tick, tick, tick, went the clock as the Broncos slowly moved it up the field.
Then, a poorly executed trick play on a 4th & 7 was blown up by the Lakers, who forced a fumble and recovered at midfield.
Glen Lake had a 4th & 5 from the Bronco 41, which had Lammerson finding Sam Dykstra, who ran it into the endzone, but it was called back for offensive holding with under 30 seconds remaining. Still, a first down was earned that set up a touchdown pass from Lammerson rolling right, throwing on the run to Kingston Palmer for a diving catch with eight seconds remaining (21-14).
That set up the craziest play of the year. The Bark River Miracle.
"Everyone underestimated us … We are small but mighty. That's all that matters. We got our team, we got our support," Spear said.
Glen Lake was led by Lammerson with 105 pass yards (7/14), two touchdowns, and 44 rushing yards. Robinson also had 51 passing yards (4/7) with 19 rushing yards.
Middleton had 30 rush yards, and senior Sam Dykstra added another 26.
Kingston Palmer led the Lakers in receiving with 57 yards, while Liam Palmer had 38, Dykstra had 23, and Nerg had seven receiving yards.
Nerg and Sheehan led defensively with five tackles apiece, while Sheehan had two sacks. Kylan Gallagher had four tackles, and Middleton added another 3.
Bark River had 117 passing yards and a touchdown, while piling up 167 yards on the ground. Bark River went 3-7 on fourth down, while the Lakers went 2-4.
"(These seniors) have been here for three years, and each senior class has left the standards high. You know, Fletcher and Sam, Kyle, and all those guys have just been great, keeping that to," Glen Lake coach Jesse Smith said.
