MVP Bethany Gable /// Photo: Bobby Gable •
Grandville completed its undefeated season with a 37-10 win over Berkley for the Michigan high school state championship. It’s the third-straight 15s trophy for the Bulldogs, who are led by head coach Magdalene Law and assistants Dan Masterton and Marisa Snieder, and the title came against a gutsy Bears team that put up the most points against Grandville all fall.
Championship MVP Bethany Gable set up the opening score with a 60-meter breakaway before finding Angelina Pollice, who finished the effort in the try zone. A stalemate ensued for the following 20 minutes, as the cold weather affected the Grandville backs’ handling and Berkley’s goal-line defense remained stout. No. 8 Gable and sophomore Corryn Bush led the pack as it stepped up its presence around the pitch, and by game’s end, the forwards accounted for six of seven tries. Berkley held up another three would-be scores.
At halftime, Grandville led 10-0, as Bush dotted down just before the break.
Gable and Bush both scored to open up the second half, and Cici Loew added a conversion in windy conditions for the 22-0 lead. Berkley then responded with its first try of the final (22-5) but the momentum was short-lived, as the restart was mishandled and Mataja Saarenheimo-VanderHorst stiff-armed her way downfield. She linked up with senior Lizzy DeYoung for the try.
Berkley prevented Gable from grounding her second try, but the subsequent five-meter scrum saw Bush complete her hat trick. Despite the 27-point deficit, the Bears remained dangerous. Berkley freshman standout Emma Hamilton booted a 30-meter kick into Grandville’s end and took advantage of the Bulldogs’ inability to secure possession. The Bears’ second try resulted for the 32-10 scoreline. Berkeley became the only team to score more than one try against Grandville this season.
Grandville reinvigorated its defense, and looked to the try-saving Claire Chance, Gable and sophomore Addy Ochoa to set the tone in physicality.
“The play of the game was a brutal tackle by Ochoa in the second half to stifle a surging Berkley team that was generating momentum,” reflected Bobby Gable, who provided the on-field reportage. “Grandville won the lineout and [Ochoa] punched in their [seventh] try, ending any chance of a comeback.”
The win marked Grandville’s 29th-straight win since its first state championship. The title match also marked a changing of the guard.
“The game was a perfect passing of the torch from senior captain Bethany Gable to sophomores Corryn Bush and Addy Ochoa,” Gable explained. “This is their team now, and with the likes of freshmen Angelina Pollice, Cici Loew, Hanna Sarber and Hailie Davidoski, I think they are set up very nicely for an extended winning streak.”
