By BUTCH HARMON
Trailing by a touchdown on the road against a traditional OK Red powerhouse, it could’ve been easy for the Holt Rams to pack it in during the first game of the 2012 football season. Instead, the Rams battled back and opened the season with a 24-21 win against one of the top football programs in West Michigan.
The Rams tied the game in the fourth quarter with 5:50 remaining in the game when junior quarterback Eric Potter connected with Trevor Stone on a 46-yard touchdown pass. The Rams then scored the game-winning points with 1:11 remaining in the game when junior Collin Klisch kicked a 35-yard field goal.
“I was very proud,” Holt coach Al Slamer said. “First of all Hudsonville is a heck of a team. This was like Alabama and Michigan, two great teams opening the season. I think I was most proud of our how our kids never gave up in the face of adversity. They were on the road playing a great team and we gave up a kickoff return and a touchdown on a fourth-and-11 but no matter what happened they kept battling.”
Hudsonville took the game’s first lead when Cody Brower scored on a one-yard touchdown run. The Rams then came right back and tied the game on a touchdown pass from Potter to Colin Jones.
Hudsonville quickly regained the lead when Louie Diaz returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to put the Eagles up 13-7.
Holt regained the lead early in the third quarter on a 12-yard touchdown run by Potter. Hudsonville again surged ahead when Brower connected with Curt Dornbos on a 40-yard touchdown pass. The Eagles tacked on the two-point conversion to go up 21-14.
Junior Ty Glover led the Holt offense with 131 yards rushing.
Holt returns to action on Thursday when it hosts another OK Red power, Rockford, in its season opener.