Birmingham Groves rode its run game to a 28-13 victory over the West Bloomfield Lakers on Friday night, during Week 2 of the 2024 Michigan high school football season.
Coming into the game, both teams ranked among the Free Press' top 10 teams in the state . The Falcons relied heavily on seniors Mario Campoy-Lovasco and Noah Sanders. After a shaky start to open the game, the Falcons kept the ball on the ground. The Lakers showed signs of hope at the end, but came up short in the final moments.
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A fast-paced first quarter, a slower second
A fumble on the Falcons’ second play allowed the Lakers to get their first touchdown, after a 30-yard drive from junior receiver Jaiden Allos, making it 7-0.
The Falcons then got two TDs from Campoy-Lovasco to grab the lead. Campoy-Lovasco carried the ball for a 20-yard touchdown on the Falcons’ next drive. After an unsuccessful drive from the Lakers, Campoy-Lovasco then ran for a 52-yard touchdown, ending the quarter with Groves leading, 14-7.
The Lakers were blanked in the second quarter. Junior Noah Sanders lead the Falcons to their next touchdown with a 7-yard run, making it 21-7.
A bit of momentum would appear to spark in favor of the Lakers after sophomore defensive back Will Espy would force an interception with 16 seconds left in the half. West Bloomfield’s junior quarterback Beau Jackson would try to lead one more drive, but would drop the ball before being tackled to end the half.
A change at quarterback sparks hope
The Lakers made a change at quarterback in the second half, swapping out Jackson with junior Jamal Shakespear to start the fourth quarter. It started out rocky, as Shakespear dropped the first snap of the drive for a 4-yard loss. On second-and-14, Shakespear threw a 26-yard pass to Allos, followed by a 19-yard pass to senior Elisha Durham to put the Lakers at the Falcons' 14.
Shakespear then ran in a TD to make it a one-score game, at 21-13. The Lakers attempted the 2-point conversion, but a pass was incomplete, caught out of bounds.
The Falcons began their next drive at their 41. Campoy-Lovasco again took the ball down the field, capping a 59-yard drive with a run on second-and-goal to make it 28-13.
With less than two minutes left, Shakespear attempted one more drive for the Lakers. He scrambled to try and make a play, but was brought down by Groves senior Avery Gach. He then attempted a long throw to junior receiver Will Thomas, but it fell incomplete.
On fourth-and-6, Shakespear tried to run for it but was tackled by junior Joshua Hammonds to end the game.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan high school football: Birmingham Groves' run game rolls over West Bloomfield
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