Whitehall's magic carpet ride of a season will come to a screeching halt if the Vikings can't stop Jon Wassink this week.
Wassink is the quarterback for Grand Rapids South Christian, Whitehall's opponent in Friday's regional championship game after the Vikings pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in the state's history last week to beat Comstock Park 41-36. Whitehall trailed 30-7 in the second quarter of that game before improbably rallying.
Last week, the Vikings were tasked with stopping Monterio Smith, CP's top-notch running back. That specific part didn't go so well, as Smith had 182 yards of offense in the game, with a pair of touchdowns. Then again, Smith also had a game-changing fumble prior to the Vikings' winning score.
Wassink, though, is a whole new challenge. The two-star Rivals.com recruit has committed to Western Michigan and is making noise to be considered in state player of the year races. He had seven (SEVEN) touchdowns and over 400 yards of offense in the Sailors' 58-34 win over Unity Christian last Friday.
This won't be Whitehall's first experience with a signal-caller that can do the job through the air and on the ground. Comstock Park QB Pat Naughton had both skills and showed them last week. But Wassink is even better. He was 7 of 7 for 105 yards passing last week, and ran for 300 yards. For a district championship game, those are mind-boggling numbers.
And no, that wasn't a fluke. Wassink shredded Unity Christian for 310 yards of offense and four scores earlier in the season, went for nearly 300 and a pair of scores against Grand Rapids Christian, threw for 303 and three scores against Grand Rapids Catholic Central, and threw for 293 and four scores against Hastings. Just to give you an idea.
Wassink isn't alone. Geff Plasman is the Sailors' running back, and in the team's last three regular-season games, he ran for at least 125 yards and for three scores in all of them. He's also got three scores on receptions this year. Jake Wierenga is probably the Sailors' top receiver, and he went over 100 yards against GRCC.
If Whitehall's going to win, the Vikings will probably have to outscore the Sailors. The good news there is South Christian has proven susceptible to giving up points, surrendering 23 or more in three of its last four games. Whitehall's Zarren Aylor has 'come into his own' in the last month, said coach Tony Sigmon, and he played probably his best game of his career in leading the Vikings' comeback.
This week, he'll probably have to play even better. Aylor, Trip Thommen, Keenan Aylor and Cheston Manns will be the keys on offense. Whitehall's task is clear: Outscore the Sailors. That South Christian will put up points is inevitable. The Vikings will have to keep up.
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