Hudsonville holds off Byron Center with potential play of the year candidate: Live updates recap

Byron Center tallied two scores and a safety in the 4th, but Hudsonville put an exclamation point on the game with a huge TD late

Hudsonville’s Connor Brintnall tackles Detroit Cass Tech RB Jaylen Spates during the 2024 MHSAA Division 1 football finals. Hudsonville hosts Byron Center Thursday night to kick off the 2025 Michigan high school football season. / Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It was a slugfest in Week 1, but Hudsonville held on for the 27-21 win over visiting Byron Center.

Pregame

It is officially time for football as the 2025 Michigan high school football season gets underway with a top-15 showdown on Thursday night when Hudsonville hosts Byron Center.

Hudsonville begins the season ranked No. 4 in the Michigan High School Football Top 25 Preseason Rankings after coming up just short in the MHSAA Division 1 championship a year ago.

On the other side, Byron Center enters the year ranked No. 11 following a season where the Bulldogs lost just two games, one of which was a 35-19 defeat to St. Mary's Prep in the MHSAA Division 2 title game.

With both teams hoping to get back to their respective state championship games, this is an early-season matchup well worth keeping an eye on.

Players to Watch

Hudsonville Eagles

IOL - Brayden Hansen - A 6'4", 245-pound offensive lineman in the Class of 2026 with an offer from Grand Valley State

Byron Center Bulldogs

RB - Cameron Payne - A Class of 2027 running back with an offer from Toledo. He is 5'11" and weighs in at 200 pounds

Pick the Winner

Please let us know who you think will win by trying your hand at our Pick 'Em challenge.

How to Watch

You can watch Byron Center vs. Hudsonville live on the NFHS Network.

Byron Center vs. Hudsonville Live Score Updates

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Byron Center	0	6	0	15	21
Hudsonville	0	7	14	6	27

1st Quarter

We are underway! Hudsonville kicked off and Byron Center will start with the ball on the 20-yard line following a touchback.

The Bulldogs were able to generate a little forward momentum but their second drive ends in a punt. Hudsonville ball on their own 40-yard line.

The Eagles got the ball down near the red zone but they were stopped short of the first down on a fourth and short.

A quick three and out leads to another punt for Byron Center.

The Eagles just broke off a 23-year run and now they're back in the red zone with the first quarter nearing its end.

END OF THE 1ST: Hudsonville 0, Byron Center 0

2nd Quarter

TOUCHDOWN HUDSONVILLE! Brady Van Laecke and Lawsyn Weber connect on a 16-yard touchdown pass on the opening play of the second quarter, and Hudsonville has a 7-0 lead after a successful extra point.

A bad snap leads to a botched Hudsonville punt attempt and Byron Center has the ball with their best field position of the night.

BLOCKED PUNT! A nice drive by Byron Center lost its momentum, leading to a punt, but the kick was blocked to give Hudsonville the ball right around midfield.

FUMBLE! Byron Center wasted no time getting the ball back, as the Bulldogs forced a strip sack just a few plays later, and now they have the ball around the 50-yard line.

Byron Center just busted out the Wildcat formation on a 4th and 2 and junior running back Cameron Payne was able to pick up seven yards to get the Bulldogs a fresh set of downs.

BC has a 1st and goal with a little over a minute left in the half.

TOUCHDOWN BYRON CENTER! Easton Wychers and Chase Swartz connect on a fade route from seven yards out and the Bulldogs are on the board right before halftime. Extra point was no good. Hudsonville leads 7-6.

HALFTIME: Hudsonville 7, Byron Center 6

3rd Quarter

Hudsonville is looking reinvigorated on this first drive of the second half as the Eagles have quickly gotten the ball down to the 25-yard line.

A quick pass play gives Hudsonville a first down on the 11-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN HUDSONVILLE! Brady Van Laecke walks it in on 4th and goal from two yards out and Hudsonville leads 14-6 with 5:37 left in the third.

Byron Center is marching after Chase Swartz just reeled in a pass and broke free for a 27-yard gain.

INTERCEPTION! And just like that a great drive is for naught as Hudsonville picks off an errant pass and now it's the Eagles in good field position.

TOUCHDOWN HUDSONVILLE! Owen Haarsma took a handoff and looked to be trapped behind the line of scrimmage, but the senior running back made a great spin move and then took the ball 26 yards to the house with an incredible individual effort. Hudsonville leads 21-7.

END OF THE 3RD: Hudsonville 21, Byron Center 6

4th Quarter

TOUCHDOWN BYRON CENTER! Cam Payne takes a swing pass 27 yards to the house and it's a one-score game with 10:26 remaining. Hudsonville leads 21-13.

SAFTEY! Hudsonville snaps a punt through the back of their end zone and now Byron Center trails 21-15.

The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds and Byron Center will have the ball in great field position on the Eagles' 45-yard line.

Hudsonville will take over on the 26-yard line after a Byron Center 4th down attempt fell one yard short of moving the chains. Just under seven minutes to go.

TOUCHDOWN HUDSONVILLE! Brady Van Laecke just made an incredible play on 3rd and 9, scrambling out to his right and then throwing a pass 35 yards through the air that went just over the fingertips of the defender and into the hands of Lawsyn Weber, who took it the remaining 15 yards into the end zone. A 50-yard touchdown pass likely puts an end to any hope Byron Center had of pulling off the comeback. It might be Week 1, but that pass might be a play of the year candidate. After a failed two-point conversion, Hudsonville leads 27-15 with 2:35 to go.

TOUCHDOWN BYRON CENTER! The Bulldogs aren't done yet as Easton Wychers hits a wide-open Cam Payne for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The extra point is no good and Hudsonville still leads 27-21 with 32 seconds on the clock.

FINAL: Hudsonville 27, Byron Center 21

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