Red Hawks Rally, Fall to Lowell 41-30

There was no shortage of fight in our Red Hawks Friday night. After falling behind by two touchdowns, Cedar Springs battled back to take the lead before Lowell pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 41-30 win.

It was very clear early that this would be a physical game after a scuffle in the first quarter was broken up by an official. That early exchange set the tone for the rest of the night, as hard hits and costly penalties followed while the teams traded scores and momentum.

The Hawks’ opening possession went backward, with a sack and a loss on a running play forcing an early punt. But the defense soon gave Cedar Springs a fresh start. Cody Greenland fell on a Lowell fumble, putting the ball back in the Hawks’ hands at their own 37-yard line.

This time, Cedar Springs found its footing. Bravata and Schoenborn helped move the ball into Lowell territory, and quarterback Nick Robinson kept the drive going, refusing to go down after being hit, and driving the ball forward for a first-down run near the goal line. Jakson Bravata finished it off with a short touchdown run.

The two-point attempt came up short, but the Hawks had the first lead of the night, 6-0, with 1:51 left in the opening quarter.

Lowell answered with two second-quarter touchdowns to move ahead 14-6. Unrelenting, Cedar Springs responded with a determined drive from its own 15-yard line.

Deegan Pike got things started with an 18-yard carry, and Bravata pushed the Hawks into Lowell territory. When the ball came loose later in the drive, Dayton Reynolds recovered it to keep Cedar Springs moving.

Robinson’s hard count drew Lowell offside, setting up a shorter third-down try. Schoenborn then zigzagged through the defense, staying on his feet as a defender tried dragging him down, finding the end zone and adding 6 more. Robinson connected with Ryan Larkin for the two-point conversion, pulling the Hawks even at 14 with 1:17 left before halftime.

Lowell quickly answered with a long touchdown pass of their own, sending Cedar Springs into the break down 21-14.

The Red Arrows opened the second half with another touchdown, stretching their lead to 28-14. The Hawks needed a spark and they found several.

The game continued its physicality and eventually Lowell would be called for their unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty helped keep the next Cedar Springs drive alive. Robinson then connected with Ty Lawson for a big gain to the Lowell 10-yard line. Bravata carried the ball into the end zone for his second touchdown, and Pike added the two-point conversion.

With 4:36 left in the third quarter, Cedar Springs was back within six, 28-22.

Pike wasn’t finished. On Lowell’s next possession, he intercepted a pass, giving the Hawks another chance to turn the game around.

Bravata smashed his way through the Lowell defense to carry the ball to the 9-yard line. Robinson and Dickinson moved it even closer before Dickinson punched in the tying touchdown. Robinson then found Pike for another two-point conversion, putting Cedar Springs ahead 30-28 with 1:18 remaining in the third.

After trailing by 14, the Hawks had fought their way back into the lead.

Lowell answered in the fourth quarter with a touchdown, but Cedar Springs stopped the two-point try to keep it a four-point game, 34-30, with 8:15 remaining.

The Hawks’ next possession stalled and a fake punt deep in Hawks territory on fourth down fell short, handing Lowell the ball at the Cedar Springs 25-yard line. The Red Arrows took advantage, adding a rushing touchdown and an extra point to make it 41-30.

Cedar Springs had one more chance. Pike picked up a first down, but an interception with 2:50 remaining ended the Hawks’ final drive. Another Lowell blindside-block penalty, their second of the night, came on the play, during which a Cedar Springs player was injured but later walked off the field.

Lowell ran out the remaining time to secure the win.

Though the finish wasn’t what the hometown crowd hoped for, the Red Hawks gave fans plenty to cheer about, showing grit, determination and composure in a hard-fought, physical game.

Let's go Red Hawks!