MAPLE CITY — Bark River-Harris Broncos advanced to the Division 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 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,” McDonough said. “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.”

After marching down the field with Glen Lake junior Max Lamerson finding

junior Kingston Palmer for a diving touchdown catch to lead 21-14 with

14 seconds remaining, the Broncos (10-1) were down to a kick return

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 wove

through traffic to find the end zone with no time 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 22-21 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.

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 with big pass plays. On a

third-and-goal 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 end zone with sure hands, securing the touchdown while

being hit to take a 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. Schmitt

was also injured and did not return for the rest of the game.

Glen Lake led 14-8 at halftime.

The Broncos came out hot with junior Ben Knauf taking over at

quarterback and immediately dialing up a flea flicker for 30 yards to

McDonough, along with a roughing the passer penalty, bringing the ball

to the Laker 15-yard line.

Bronco junior Gabe Spear scored from 5 yards out to tie the ball game at

14 as the two-point conversion failed with 10:32 remaining in the third

quarter.

On the next possession, the Broncos stuffed Glen Lake on the 2-yard line

after a consistent Laker attack. Lamerson had a big pass to Breckin Nerg

and a long 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 fourth-and-12 gave Glen Lake another chance. 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 fourth-and-7 was blown up by the

Lakers, who forced a fumble and recovered at midfield.

Glen Lake had a fourth-and-5 from the Bronco 41, which had Lamerson

finding Sam Dykstra, who ran it into the end zone, 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 Lamerson rolling

right and throwing on the run to Kingston Palmer for a diving catch with

eight seconds remaining for a 21-14 lead.