SAUGATUCK - The Saugatuck football team looked extremely good in its march toward the playoffs in the early going of Week 8.
The Trailblazers scored twice and had a couple of big defensive stops.
But a Hail Mary at the halftime buzzer and a pivotal turnover proved costly and Saugatuck lost 34-14 to Cassopolis on Friday, Oct. 16, on homecoming.
"We were all in the right headspace in the first quarter. We were physical and were playing well," Saugatuck's Mason Leslie said. "Then it was a different ballgame. It is difficult (to take) but we have to refocus for next week."
Saugatuck dropped to 5-3 with one week to go. There is a chance the Trailblazers could make the playoffs with a loss to Benton Harbor next week, but a win will seal a postseason spot.
More: High school football live scoreboard and roundup for Week 8
Turnover creates pivotal momentum swing
Saugatuck had a huge defensive stop to take over the ball at midfield.
Trailing by seven, the Trailblazers moved the ball, converting two fourth downs and getting the ball down to the 2-yard line on a great rolling pass from Walt Bos to Carlos Perez.
But a false start penalty pushed the ball back and two plays later, Saugatuck fumbled.
Cassopolis drove down and scored on a touchdown run by quarterback Lucas Williams.
Instead of Saugatuck possibly tying the game, the Trailblazers went down by two scores.
"We get down to the 1-inch line, then we get a penalty (then the fumble)," Saugatuck coach Bill Dunn said. "Turnovers and penalties are going to kill you against a good football team, and that's what happened. Hopefully our guys can learn from it."
Turning point at halftime buzzer
As good as the defense was for much of the game, there were some key moments that were costly.
Early in the game, the Trailblazers struggled to wrap up the Cassopolis quarterback, leading a long drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown.
With just a few seconds remaining in the half, Saugatuck punted into the end zone for a touchback.
Cassopolis reached midfield on the ensuing play, but with 1 second remaining Saugatuck was called for a facemask penalty which got the Rangers in range of the end zone.
With one second remaining in the half, Cassopolis' quarterback Lucas Williams dropped back to pass as a Saugatuck defender was charging.
But in what should have been a sack, Williams was able to roll right and through a deep pass into the end zone that made it into the hands of receiver Mason Nelson for a touchdown, tying the game 14-14 at halftime.
"That was big. If we could have held them right there and gone into halftime with a 14-7 lead, getting the ball first in the second half, it might have been a difference maker," Dunn said. "We lost our ability to handle the line up front."
Saugatuck looked sharp early
Early in the game, Saugatuck's Mason Leslie scored a 2-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal to put the Trailblazers up 7-0.
Alek Diaz then scampered around left end for a 21-yard touchdown, putting Saugatuck up 14-0.
"Our ability to run the ball was big. Then we had an injury and had to move pieces around, but that is a good football team," Dunn said. "We have to regroup and get win No. 6 next week against Benton Harbor."
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hail Mary, pivotal turnover doom Saugatuck football against Cassopolis