TAAC FOOTBALL … Montpelier receiver Braylon Hopper streaks down the sideline after making a catch.
ESCAPING THE TACKLE … Griffin Cooley of Montpelier tries to avoid a shoestring tackle by the Bobcat defender.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
MONTPELIER – (September 26, 2025) – Whiteford, picked as the team to beat in the Toledo Area Athletic Conference this fall, didn’t take very long to steamroll past Montpelier, 60-7, at Hobie Krouse Field.
The Bobcat team, which had recently won the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 8 state title in 2022 and was runner-up in 2023, didn’t let the foot off the gas pedal against the Locos.
Both teams had entered the matchup tied with Edon in the TAAC standings at 2-0, but the Locos quickly found out how powerful the Bobcats were right from the opening quarter.
Montpelier drove inside Whiteford territory on its first offensive drive, but the Bobcats came up with an early defensive stop on fourth down when Locos’ quarterback Hayden Sharps was sacked for an 11-yard loss at the Bobcats’ 36-yard line.
From there, the Bobcats went seven plays and 53 yards on their first offensive possession with quarterback Tre Eitniear connecting with Brody Hillard on a 13-yard TD pass at the 6:40 mark of the first quarter.
Following a 15-yard penalty on Montpelier for an illegal block, the Locos would begin at their own 15-yard line.
Sharps connected with Wesley Hartsock on a 31-yard pass play to the Bobcats’ 35-yard line. The Locos eventually reached the 16-yard line before Whiteford came up with another key defensive stop, sacking Sharps again for a ten-yard loss on fourth down.
Eitniear, who was a perfect 4 for 4 through the air for 195 yards, hit wide receiver Mason DeBarr for 56 yards to the Locos’ 18.
After a 16-yard quarterback keeper by Eitniear, Brek Ruddy scored from two yards out for a 16-0 lead following the two-point conversion pass from Eitniear to Gabe Speweik.
In the second quarter, Whiteford scored on all three of its possessions. Speweik scored from 18 yards out. Brek Ruddy followed with an 8-yard run, and just before halftime, Eitniear found Hillard covering 65 yards while building up a commanding 38-0 lead at intermission.
Brek Ruddy, who finished with 152 yards rushing on 14 carries with four touchdowns, added two more scores in the third quarter on runs of 20 and 61 yards for the Bobcats.
After trailing 46-0 with eight minutes left in the third quarter, Montpelier then put together a four-play, 69-yard drive.
On fourth and two at the Locos’ 39-yard line, Sharps connected with Braylon Hopper, who outran several Whiteford defenders down the Locos’ sideline and raced 61 yards for the lone touchdown.
George Thompson scored the Bobcats’ final touchdown in the final quarter on a 21-yard run.
Sharps completed 10 of 14 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown to lead the Locos. Hartsock hauled in six passes for 62 yards to lead the Montpelier receiving corps.
The Bobcats outgained the Locos 479-220 in total offense, 284 of those yards coming on the ground. Montpelier was held to only 31 yards rushing on 26 carries.
Montpelier (3-3, 2-1 TAAC) hosts Ottawa Hills on Homecoming Night on Friday. Whiteford improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the TAAC as they host Edon on Friday.
WHS 16 22 14 8-60
MHS 0 0 7 0 –7
W – Hillard 13-yd pass from Eitniear (B. Ruddy run)
W – B. Ruddy 2-yd run (Eitniear pass to Speweik)
W – Speweik 18-yd run (B. Ruddy run)
W – B. Ruddy 8-yd run (pass failed)
W – Hillard 65-yd pass from Eitniear (Trejo run)
W – B. Ruddy 20-yd run (Eitniear run)
M – Hopper 61-yd pass from Sharps (Guilford kick)
W – B. Ruddy 61-yd run (pass failed)
W – Thompson 21-yd run (Babcock run)