Holland High School defense becomes fourth-down wall, beats Comstock Park

HOLLAND - Fourth downs can not only be game-changers, but season-changers.

The high-risk, high-reward nature hedges a lot on a single play.

The Holland football team stopped Comstock Park on two fourth downs in the first quarter, forced two turnovers and won 48-22 on Friday at Hope College's Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.

The Dutch improved to 3-4 and 2-2 in the OK Silver, winning all three games at home so far. The last time Holland won three games was 2017 when the team went 6-4 and last made the playoffs.

"They were big stops. If you get off to a good start, you will most likely win the game, and we had a great gameplan going in and the defensive linemen did their jobs and we were able to do what we do," Holland linebacker Cody Rozema said. "Winning in front of the home crowd is huge and so fun."

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The Dutch stopped Comstock Park (0-7) on fourth-and-inches on their own 30-yard line on the first drive of the game.

Four plays later, Jacob Torres scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.

Comstock Park got into the red zone on the next possession, but again faced a fourth-and-short - and again was stopped by the Dutch defense.

Holland marched down the field and scored on a 5-yard run by JoJo Morin and never relinquished the lead, fittingly converting a fourth down in the final seconds to run out the clock.

"The defense was gigantic. We have had some trouble with the run and guys just stepped up and it meant a lot," Holland coach Will Siffin said. "It is a mindset that the team has embodied."

Defense forces turnovers, leads to TDs

If it wasn't a fourth down, it was a turnover.

Rozema snagged an interception on the next Comstock Park drive.

"I just saw the ball and made a jump," he said.

But Holland faced a fourth down, went for it, missed and Comstock Park raced down the field for a touchdown to make it 14-7.

Joseph Navarro grabbed another interception for the Dutch after Holland fumbled. The Dutch again took advantage as Amari Powell threw a touchdown pass to Tailen Luna in the corner of the end zone.

Luna added another touchdown on a screen pass late in the half to put the Dutch up 27-7.

Jacob Torres scored on a 20-yard run early in the third, while Dre Valkema added a rushing touchdown and Arthur Powell caught a TD pass.

Hispanic Heritage Month celebration

Holland hosted its annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on Friday night. The team jerseys said "Los Dutch" on the front and the back of the jerseys had a logo with the flags of all the Hispanic countries on it.

The marching band played songs written by Hispanic artists, there was a professional band that played at halftime and there was a flag parade of all the Hispanic countries throughout the stadium.

Food trucks were on hand to celebrate Hispanic cuisines.

It was another great celebration of diversity by Holland High School.

"We have always had a strong community and they always come out and support us," Siffin said. "It is important to give them something special and more meaningful - and something the kids can always remember. I am glad we delivered and gave them something to remember."

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland High School defense becomes fourth-down wall, beats Comstock Park