Despite a phenomenal run in the regular season, Howell couldn't carry that success into this playoff game. They fell 49-41 to the East Kentwood Falcons on Saturday. While losing is never fun, the Highlanders can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Michigan football rankings (they are ranked 34th, while the Falcons are ranked fifth).
Despite the loss, Howell still got an impressive performance from Preston Barb, who rushed for 80 yards and three TDs on only nine carries, and also threw for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only nine passes. Bryce Kish was another key player, gaining 125 total yards.
East Kentwood had a senior duo take command as Kayd Coffman threw for 360 yards and five TDs while completing 71.4% of his passes and Ahman Edmonds picked up 259 receiving yards and three scores. Those 259 receiving yards set a new season-high mark for Edmonds. Another player making a difference was Jesse M. Phillips Jr, who rushed for 109 yards and one touchdown on only 12 carries.
Howell's defeat ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 9-2. As for East Kentwood, the win (which was their fourth in a row) raised their record to 9-2.
Howell does not have any more games scheduled as of now. As for East Kentwood, they will square off against Hudsonville at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. That contest will pit two of the most dominant signal callers against one another: Coffman and Brady L Van Laecke.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
