CHELSEA, MI (WTVB) – For the second straight week, the Chelsea Bulldogs came from behind with three fourth-quarter scores to defeat their opponent 28-21 in the MHSAA Football Playoffs. Last Friday, it was Parma Western that fell victim to the Bulldogs. Last night, the season ended for the Coldwater Cardinals in the Division 3 District Final at Chelsea’s Jerry Niehaus Field.
Coldwater struck in the first quarter with a 2-yard Damon Beckhusen touchdown run. Chelsea tied the game at 7-7 with a 41-yard pass from Griffen Murphy to Ross Stofflet. Matt Gipple scored a pair of second-half TDs – a 1-yard run in the third quarter and a 61-yard scamper to start the fourth.
Just like last week, Bulldog quarterback Griffen Murphy would lead his team to three scores in the fourth quarter – TD passes of 14 and 34 yards to Kyle Knight and Mitchell Reynolds, respectively, and a 2-yard QB keeper with 1:28 left. A fumble on 4th and 8 on the ensuing drive with under 20 seconds left ended Coldwater’s attempt to force overtime.
The Cardinals end their season at 9-2. Chelsea improves to 11-0 and will host Allen Park next weekend in a Division 3 Regional Final, after the Jaguars beat Riverview 42-26.
Other scores from Friday night:
- Division 2: (at) Portage Northern 31, GR Forest Hills Central 6
- Division 3: Edwardsburg 16, (at) Zeeland West 2
- Division 4: (at) Paw Paw 14, Marshall 6
- Division 6: (at) Hillsdale 20, Constantine 14
- Division 7: (at) Schoolcraft 47, Lawton 10
- Division 7: (at) Lumen Christi 42, Riverview Gabriel Richard 14
- Division 8: (at) Reading 28, Cassopolis 6
- 8-Player Division 2: (at) Climax-Scotts 34, Onekama 22
Games taking place today:
- Division 2: Livonia Churchill at BC Lakeview, 1pm
- 8-Player Division 1: Martin at Colon, 1pm
Also on today’s high school schedule: Coldwater’s girls swim team wraps up competition at the SMAC league meet at Lakeview.
