Football team loses battle of unbeatens
By Dale Martin
On Friday, October 2nd the Decatur Raiders snapped the Galesburg-Augusta Rams’ five game winning streak with a 34-7 win on Maskill Field.
The Rams, now 5-1, will have an off week as the scheduled opponent, White Pigeon, has forfeited the last six games of its season due to a lack of available players.
In the Decatur game the Rams got off to a good start. Starting on their own 12 yard line they drove down to the Raiders 13 yard line on the strength of a 45 yard Patrick Armock to Ronald Kasten pass play and a 19 yard run by Giovanni Evans. Unfortunately, after a 6 yard pass to Alex Krugh, Armock’s apparent touchdown pass was nullified by a penalty and the drive stalled at the 17 yard line.
A 3 yard loss on first down followed by no gain on second down put the Raiders in a third and 13 to go from their 14 yard line. Junior quarterback Cayden Cropsey dropped back and launched a pass to senior Dylan Camarillo. He caught the pass at mid-field and out raced the Ram defenders for an 86 yard touchdown. Evan Saylor ran for the two point conversion giving Decatur an 8-0 lead.
The Rams next possession ended at the Raiders 45 yard line. It took just 6 plays for Decatur to cash in, this time on a 29 yard run by Cropsey. The point after run was stopped by the Rams but the Raiders now held a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter.
On Friday, October 2nd the Decatur Raiders snapped the Galesburg-Augusta Rams’ five game winning streak with a 34-7 win on Maskill Field.
The Rams, now 5-1, will have an off week as the scheduled opponent, White Pigeon, has forfeited the last six games of its season due to a lack of available players.
In the Decatur game the Rams got off to a good start. Starting on their own 12 yard line they drove down to the Raiders 13 yard line on the strength of a 45 yard Patrick Armock to Ronald Kasten pass play and a 19 yard run by Giovanni Evans. Unfortunately, after a 6 yard pass to Alex Krugh, Armock’s apparent touchdown pass was nullified by a penalty and the drive stalled at the 17 yard line.
A 3 yard loss on first down followed by no gain on second down put the Raiders in a third and 13 to go from their 14 yard line. Junior quarterback Cayden Cropsey dropped back and launched a pass to senior Dylan Camarillo. He caught the pass at mid-field and out raced the Ram defenders for an 86 yard touchdown. Evan Saylor ran for the two point conversion giving Decatur an 8-0 lead.
The Rams next possession ended at the Raiders 45 yard line. It took just 6 plays for Decatur to cash in, this time on a 29 yard run by Cropsey. The point after run was stopped by the Rams but the Raiders now held a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter.
G-A’s next drive stalled at the 48 yard line and Decatur wasted little time covering the 52 yards in five plays. Cropsey connected with Aiden Wiggins for the final 28 yards and after another failed two-point attempt the Raiders were in command 20-0 early in the second quarter.
In the final nine minutes of the half neither team was able to sustain a drive and went into halftime with Decatur in the lead.
On the first play of the second half Giovanni Evans tackled the Raider runner forcing a fumble that he recovered at the Raiders 47 yard line. The Rams got deep into Decatur territory but a holding penalty, a sideline interference penalty and a quarterback sack ended the drive.
Three plays later it was Cropsey running for 39 yards for his second touchdown. Linken Mead kicked the extra point extending the Raiders lead to 27-0.
Decatur had a fourth quarter drive that stalled when Alex Krugh intercepted a Cropsey pass at the G-A 17 yard line.
Three plays later a Ram fumble was recovered by the Raiders at the 18 yard line. Cropsey picked up his third rushing touchdown of the game on the next play and Mead added the extra point kick giving the Raiders a 34-0 lead.
The final drive of the game for the Rams covered 48 yards with Armock connecting with J.J. Bailey on a 20 yard score with 14 seconds left to play. Corentim LaHard kicked the point after and G-A averted being shutout, 34-7.
The Rams rushing game was held to just 52 yards. Armock completed 10 passes for 149 yards. Krugh had 5 receptions for 64 yards, Ronald Kasten had 2 catches for 46 yards and J.J. Bailey 2 for 38 yards and a touchdown. Decatur rolled up 213 yards rushing with Cropsey accounting for the majority of them.
Dominic Corsi led the Rams defense with 16 tackles, 5 of them for losses. Colton Robertson had 10 tackles.
G-A is scheduled to play at Gobles October 16.
Lady Rams win two conference games
The Galesburg-Augusta varsity volleyball team had an impressive week by capturing two conference wins.
G-A swept Saugatuck in three games on the road September 29 and took Gobles in three games October 1.
The Lady Rams celebrated senior Lexi Coburn’s 1000th career assist during the pink out game against Gobles at G-A High School.
“We were happy to celebrate this milestone in front of all her fans and family,” said G-A coach Jonica Klimp.
Coburn is in her second year as the varsity setter.
The Rams fell behind Gobles early in the first set but came back to win the opener 25-6, setting the tone for the rest of the night. G-A won the second set 25-10 and completed the sweep with a 25-5 win.
Coburn added to her career high assist total with a team high 26 against Gobles.
Lilly Gilbert had a team high 11 kills and eight assists and Emily Coleman led the team in digs with five.
G-A swept Saugatuck in three games on the road September 29 and took Gobles in three games October 1.
The Lady Rams celebrated senior Lexi Coburn’s 1000th career assist during the pink out game against Gobles at G-A High School.
“We were happy to celebrate this milestone in front of all her fans and family,” said G-A coach Jonica Klimp.
Coburn is in her second year as the varsity setter.
The Rams fell behind Gobles early in the first set but came back to win the opener 25-6, setting the tone for the rest of the night. G-A won the second set 25-10 and completed the sweep with a 25-5 win.
Coburn added to her career high assist total with a team high 26 against Gobles.
Lilly Gilbert had a team high 11 kills and eight assists and Emily Coleman led the team in digs with five.
GA Def. Gobles, 25-6, 25-10, 25-5
G-A Stat Leaders
Digs: Emily Coleman 5, Lily Gilbert 4, Audrey Dennis 4, Ellesa Callender 3, Lexi Coburn 3, Jilaya Henry-Phillips 2, Kayla Bortolussi 1
Kills: Lily Gilbert 11, Ellesa Callender 7, Jeni Klimp 6, Emily Coleman 3, Kayla Bortolussi 3, Audrey Dennis 1
Aces: Lily Gilbert 8, Kayla Bortolussi 4, Lexi Coburn 3, Kirra Puglise 2, Jeni Klimp 1
Blocks: Kayla Bortolussi 1
Assists: Lexi Coburn 26, Kayla Bortolussi 1, Ellesa Callender 1, Jilaya Henry-Phillips 1
G-A Defeats Saugatuck
After winning a tight first game over Saugatuck 25-23, the Lady Rams stepped up their play in the next two games, winning by scores of 25-11, 25-10 September 29.
Gilbert had another strong night at the net, leading the team with 10 kills and two blocks. Coburn distributed 20 assists to go with a team high 10 digs, and Jeni Klimp had an overall strong night with a team high seven aces to go with six kills, seven digs and one block.
GA Def. Saugatuck, 25-23, 25-11, 25-10
G-A Stat Leaders
Aces: Jeni Klimp 7, Lily Gilbert 3, Kayla Bortolussi 3, Ellesa Callender 1, Lexi Coburn 1
Kills: Lily Gilbert 10, Kayla Bortolussi 6, Jeni Klimp 6, Lexi Coburn 4, Emily Coleman 3, Kirra Puglise 2, Ellesa Callender 2
Digs: Lexi Coburn 10, Jeni Klimp 7, Ellesa Callender 5, Lily Gilbert 4, Audrey Dennis 3, Kayla Bortolussi 3, Jilaya Henry-Phillips 2, Kirra Puglise 2, Emily Coleman 2, Claire Callender 1
Blocks: Lily Gilbert 2, Jeni Klimp 1
Assists: Lexi Coburn 20, Emily Coleman 3, Lily Gilbert 3, Ellesa Callender 1, Kayla Bortolussi 1, Jeni Klimp 1
JV football team improves
The Galesburg-Augusta JV football team moved above the .500 mark with a 22-8 win over Decatur on the road October 1 in a tough, physical battle in the rain.
The Ram defense forced three turnovers.
The 3-2 Rams enjoyed a long touchdown reception from Donovan Tiffany and Harper Shoup scored on a two-point conversion.
The JVs host Gobles October 15 at 6 p.m.
The Ram defense forced three turnovers.
The 3-2 Rams enjoyed a long touchdown reception from Donovan Tiffany and Harper Shoup scored on a two-point conversion.
The JVs host Gobles October 15 at 6 p.m.
Lopez posts personal best
Galesburg-Augusta sophomore Segura Lopez continues to reduce his times, posting a personal best time for the fifth straight match at the SAC Jamboree at Bridgman September 30.
Lopez posted a personal best time of 18:44 and was G-A’s first finisher in the mens race, placing 37th out of a field of 139 runners.
The G-A men finished 14th out of 15 teams that had enough runners to score as a team in the mens race with 342 points.
The Rams did not have enough runners to score as a team in the womens race.
Saugatuck won both the mens (59 points) and womens (49) race.
Ram sophomore Sophia Dohm finished with a season best time of 23:17 in 43rd place out of a field of 132 runners to lead the girls team.
SAC Jamboree At Bridgman
Boys
1. Saugatuck, 59, 2. Holland Black River, 71, 3. Delton-Kellogg, 104, 4. Martin 131, 5. Fennville, 154, 6. Kalamazoo Hackett, 164, 7. Gobles, 194, 8. Allegan, 211, 9. Schoolcraft, 233, 10. Bridgman, 254, 11. Kalamazoo Christian, 306, 12. Watervliet, 315, 13. Parchment, 321, 14. Galesburg-Augusta, 342, 15. Constantine, 352
G-A Results
37. Segura Lopez, 18:44.8PB, 67. Nick Stevens, 20:09.0,75. Ashton Dingee, 20:17.8, 102. Cameron Kuhse, 22:13.2, 119. Vincent Finedell, 23:57.6, 128. Everett Finedell, 25:41.8, 136. Aaiden Schroeder, 29:40.0
Girls
1. Saugatuck, 49, 2. Gobles, 102, 3. Martin, 131, 4. Watervliet, 143, 5. Schoolcraft, 157,6. Kalamazoo Hackett, 169, 7. Holland Black River, 171, 8. Bridgman, 175, 9. South Haven, 181, 10. Constantine, 220, 11. Fennville, 239, 12. Kalamazoo Christian, 298, 13. Delton-Kellogg, 326
G-A Results
43. Sophia Dohm, 23:17.2SB, 93. Neva Freed, 25:26.4PB, 117. Grace Allie, 29:33.7, 128. Addison Walden, 34:09.9PB
Lopez posted a personal best time of 18:44 and was G-A’s first finisher in the mens race, placing 37th out of a field of 139 runners.
The G-A men finished 14th out of 15 teams that had enough runners to score as a team in the mens race with 342 points.
The Rams did not have enough runners to score as a team in the womens race.
Saugatuck won both the mens (59 points) and womens (49) race.
Ram sophomore Sophia Dohm finished with a season best time of 23:17 in 43rd place out of a field of 132 runners to lead the girls team.
SAC Jamboree At Bridgman
Boys
1. Saugatuck, 59, 2. Holland Black River, 71, 3. Delton-Kellogg, 104, 4. Martin 131, 5. Fennville, 154, 6. Kalamazoo Hackett, 164, 7. Gobles, 194, 8. Allegan, 211, 9. Schoolcraft, 233, 10. Bridgman, 254, 11. Kalamazoo Christian, 306, 12. Watervliet, 315, 13. Parchment, 321, 14. Galesburg-Augusta, 342, 15. Constantine, 352
G-A Results
37. Segura Lopez, 18:44.8PB, 67. Nick Stevens, 20:09.0,75. Ashton Dingee, 20:17.8, 102. Cameron Kuhse, 22:13.2, 119. Vincent Finedell, 23:57.6, 128. Everett Finedell, 25:41.8, 136. Aaiden Schroeder, 29:40.0
Girls
1. Saugatuck, 49, 2. Gobles, 102, 3. Martin, 131, 4. Watervliet, 143, 5. Schoolcraft, 157,6. Kalamazoo Hackett, 169, 7. Holland Black River, 171, 8. Bridgman, 175, 9. South Haven, 181, 10. Constantine, 220, 11. Fennville, 239, 12. Kalamazoo Christian, 298, 13. Delton-Kellogg, 326
G-A Results
43. Sophia Dohm, 23:17.2SB, 93. Neva Freed, 25:26.4PB, 117. Grace Allie, 29:33.7, 128. Addison Walden, 34:09.9PB
_____________________________________________________________
The Galesburg-Comstock Cup
dates back to 1925
By Dale Martin
The Galesburg-Comstock Cup, the Galesburg-Augusta varsity football team took back September 18 with a 52-12 win over Comstock has a long and storied history.
In 1925 Galesburg High School and Comstock High School entered into an agreement that the two schools would play the final game of the season in November, as close to Armistice Day, November 11th, as they could.
Galesburg won 3 of the first 4 games played. The next two games ended in 0-0 ties. Comstock won the next 5 games, Galesburg 6 of the next 8 games. Comstock dominated the games played from 1944 to 1947. In 1948 Galesburg won 20-7 to complete an undefeated season. In 1949 the Rams entered the game undefeated only to lose 12-7 to the Colts. After the first 25 years the Colts had 15 wins, the Rams 10 and there were 2 ties.
In1950 the Cup was renamed the Galesburg-Augusta/Comstock Cup as Galesburg and Augusta had consolidated. The game remained the final game of the season until 1958. In 1966 the teams didn’t play each other as Comstock had left the K.V.A. to play in the Wolverine Conference. The following season, 1967 the teams resumed playing each other until the end of the 1975 season. They didn’t play each other again until a six game stretch from 1985 to 1990. They didn’t play each other for the next 17 seasons. They resumed the rivalry for the 2018 and 2019 seasons and again in 2023 and 2026. Since 1950 G-A has recorded 18 wins and Comstock 17.
The Galesburg-Comstock Cup, the Galesburg-Augusta varsity football team took back September 18 with a 52-12 win over Comstock has a long and storied history.
In 1925 Galesburg High School and Comstock High School entered into an agreement that the two schools would play the final game of the season in November, as close to Armistice Day, November 11th, as they could.
Galesburg won 3 of the first 4 games played. The next two games ended in 0-0 ties. Comstock won the next 5 games, Galesburg 6 of the next 8 games. Comstock dominated the games played from 1944 to 1947. In 1948 Galesburg won 20-7 to complete an undefeated season. In 1949 the Rams entered the game undefeated only to lose 12-7 to the Colts. After the first 25 years the Colts had 15 wins, the Rams 10 and there were 2 ties.
In1950 the Cup was renamed the Galesburg-Augusta/Comstock Cup as Galesburg and Augusta had consolidated. The game remained the final game of the season until 1958. In 1966 the teams didn’t play each other as Comstock had left the K.V.A. to play in the Wolverine Conference. The following season, 1967 the teams resumed playing each other until the end of the 1975 season. They didn’t play each other again until a six game stretch from 1985 to 1990. They didn’t play each other for the next 17 seasons. They resumed the rivalry for the 2018 and 2019 seasons and again in 2023 and 2026. Since 1950 G-A has recorded 18 wins and Comstock 17.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
