For Fruitport fans who may be fretting about the football team’s loss to Kenowa Hills last Thursday, there’s no need to worry too much.

The fact is that the Trojans struggled with the Knights in the season opener last year, too.

They came away with a 32-20 victory, but the score was 26-20 late in the game and some fans wondered just how good the Trojans were after that cliff-hanger.

Those worries were brushed aside when the team went on to post an 8-3 record, win a share of the O-K Blue conference title and qualify for the state playoffs.

First game issues don’t necessarily spell doom, and Fruitport will be all the more determined when it hosts Grand Rapids Christian on Thursday night in another non-conference matchup.

“There were a lot of similar things,” said Fruitport head coach Nate Smith about last year’s opener and this year’s game. “The difference is that last year the team was much stronger with non-football things going into that game. Their focus was better.

“Last week we did not have great focus in practice. We talk to the players about the little things and how in really close games those little things – discipline and attention to detail – really become important.

“Good things will come from this experience, for sure. We always hope to learn those lessons without losing, but it’s better to learn them now than down the road.”

What really cost the Trojans in the 18-10 loss was a series of missed opportunities.

The Trojans led 7-6 in the third quarter and drove to the Kenowa Hills three-yard line, but were denied on a fourth-down run.

Senior Bobby Canfield intercepted a Kenowa Hills pass in the Fruitport end zone but was called for pass interference. The Knights got the ball back and scored a touchdown on the drive to take a 12-10 lead.

Kenowa Hills broke loose for a 64-yard run, which led to the final touchdown, and it could have been prevented, according to Smith.

“We hit their runner three times behind the line the line of scrimmage but didn’t bring him down,” Smith said.

Fruitport had a final chance to tie the game when it drove to the Kenowa Hills 25-yard line with under a minute left, but two sacks ended the effort and the Trojans’ hopes.

“On that last drive we had a few players go the wrong way and do the wrong things,” the coach said.

“These are things you have to go through. We’re talking about a lot of players who don’t have much varsity game experience. As they gain more confidence they will make the adjustments.”  

There were some bright spots in the loss, according to Smith.

The coach was very happy with the special team performance, particularly the kicking game. Senior kicker Brady Brown had a big moment when he nailed a 37-yard field goal.

He was happy with the play of the offensive line in the second half, particularly when the Trojans came out and scored on their first drive of the third quarter,

Smith was also pleased with the play of junior quarterback Bradon Dornbos, who was making his first varsity start at that position.

“I thought Dornbos played a really good game, all things considered,” Smith said. “We ask a lot of our quarterbacks. It was his first varsity start in a home game against a very good opponent. I thought his composure was pretty good most of the night.”

The Trojans have been much more focused in practice this week as they prepare to host Grand Rapids Christian on Thursday night, Smith said.

The game is a big one for Fruitport, and not just because the Trojans want to avoid two losses to start the season.

Last year Fruitport built a huge 27-point lead against GR Christian in Week 2, then totally collapsed and ended up losing 41-34.

That game has not been forgotten, according to Smith.

“That was a game we’ve talked about all year,” the coach said. “It stung for a long time. We did not represent ourselves well that night, and now we have an opportunity to do far better this year.”

GR Christian is also coming off an opening game loss, 66-42 to Grand Rapids South Christian, a defending state champion.

That outcome means nothing when it comes to this week’s matchup, Smith said.

“They have athletes across the board,” the coach said. “The have big lineman who can move, and their corners are the most athletic I have seen in a long time. They are good. They lost to South Christian, but that was a rivalry game against a team coming off a state championship.”