Cedar Springs, MI – October 25, 2024 — For the first time in the history of the River Cities Alliance, Coopersville High School secured the conference championship with a decisive 35–21 victory over rival Cedar Springs in their regular-season finale. The win capped a steady climb to the top of a newly formed conference and solidified Coopersville’s place in the postseason.

First Half: Broncos Take Early Command

Coopersville wasted no time building momentum. On their opening drive, senior quarterback Beau Harris capped a methodical march with a four-yard rushing touchdown, opening the scoring in commanding fashion. Shortly thereafter, Harris connected with Jayden Timmons on a 39-yard touchdown pass to double the margin.

Cedar Springs responded just before the end of the first quarter, when Noah Mallory powered in from three yards out, cutting the deficit to 14–7. But Coopersville pulled away in the second quarter, with Harris breaking free for two more rushing touchdowns (44 and 11 yards), sending his team into halftime with a 28–7 lead.

Second Half: Broncos Maintain Control

Coopersville extended its advantage early in the third quarter when Isaac Lemieux dashed 18 yards for a touchdown, pushing the scoreboard to 35–7. Cedar Springs mounted a late push in the fourth quarter, with Spencer Schoeborn scoring on a 4-yard run and Kaiden Dreyer adding another touchdown to cut the margin to fourteen points. However, the clock and Coopersville’s control prevented a rally.

Standout Performances

• Beau Harris finished with a standout performance: completing 10 of 14 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown, while rushing 24 times for 118 yards and three scores.
• Isaac Lemieux joined the century-club on the ground, amassing 110 rushing yards on 18 carries.
• Cedar Springs managed 247 rushing yards, with Mallory leading the way at exactly 100 yards on 14 carries.

Significance for Both Teams

With the win, Coopersville concluded the regular season at 6–3 overall, earning its first conference title since 2004 and extending its postseason streak to five consecutive appearances. Cedar Springs finished at 7–2, returning to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

The Bigger Picture

This game stood as the inaugural championship for the newly formed River Cities Alliance, launched in 2023 from former Ottawa–Kent Conference schools. The title showdown captured the excitement and competitive intensity of a fresh league, complete with heated rivalries and postseason stakes.

This highlight reel offers game-changing plays and key scoring drives that defined the championship matchup.

In a game that lived up to its billing, Coopersville asserted dominance early and maintained composure throughout. With a balanced offense and a defense that held firm late, the Broncos ensured their place in history as the first-ever River Cities Alliance champions.