Homecoming Friday brought a challenging matchup for the Big Lake Hornet football team, as they hosted a talented Zimmerman Thunder squad last Friday night. 

Going into the game, the Hornet coaching staff knew that they needed to execute at a high-level and avoid self-inflicted mistakes if they wanted to walk away with the victory. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, and the boys dug themselves a hole that they simply couldn’t climb out of. 

The Thunder took the victory, 56-16. 

Offensively, Jack Midas had a strong outing with four receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown, and also scored on a successful two-point conversion. Carter Stromberg powered the running game with 101 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Montell Hester contributed 53 rushing yards, helping move the chains and sustain drives. Big Lake’s offense finished the night with a total of 250 yards. 

Defensively, the Hornets were led by Alex John, who recorded seven total tackles, and David Sorenson and Jackson LaRoche, each with six tackles each. Liam Mettler and Trevor Couch each made key tackles for loss. 

Special teams also saw effort and energy, with Jackson LaRoche averaging 37.7 yards per punt and Montell Hester and Jack Midas providing solid contributions on kick returns.

However, the Thunder  struck early and often builing up a three-touchdown lead in the first 12 minutes. They compounded Big Lake’s misery by tallying two more TDs in the second while the Hornets were able to notch a TD and a successful two-point conversion. Dillon Spaeth found Jack Midas for a 45-yard TD to make the score 35-8.

In the third, Zimmerman poured it on and swatted the Hornets with three more TD scores to put the game way out of reach. By the fourth quarter, the Thunder had their subs in and Big Lake was able to get to double digits with another score and another successful two-pointer. This time, Carter Stromberg rambled in from six yards out and Midas provided the extra two points on a converted pass.

Zimmerman improved to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in their district while Big Lake fell to 2-4 overall and 0-4 in the Skyway Green standings.