By JEFF FISHER
Vigilant/Argus

When in doubt, give the ball to No. 27. Devin Bywaters that is.

Edwardsburg’s running back rushed for 145 yards on 15 carries, scored three touchdowns, recovered a fumble as the Eddies held on for a tough 29-26 Homecoming victory over Lakeland Conference co-champion Coloma Friday night.

“They (Coloma) obviously came in with the idea that they needed to stop him (Bywaters). Every once in a while they would stuff him back there, but then he would shake himself loose other times and make the big run. He has been running hard for us the past three games and we have been very impressed,” Eddies coach Kevin Bartz said after his team improved to 3-1 in the conference and 3-3 overall.

Edwardsburg jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a short 5-yard run by Adam Kendall and a 35-yard run Bywaters.  Bywaters’ score was set up on defensive fourth-and-one stand that gave the ball to the Eddies and Bywaters went up the middle untouched on the very next play.

But just when it looked like a runaway, the Comets fought back.

After recovering an Edwardsburg fumble at the 40-yard line, the Comets drove 35 yards and one a third-and-goal Sam Swihart ran in from five yards out, Eddies led 14-6.

Another Bywaters’ touchdown that went for 36-yards, the Eddies were up 21-12 with 4:25 remaining in the second quarter.

But back-to-back touchdowns from Colin Saltzman and Derrick Allred of Coloma, and the visitors trail only by 1-point going into the break, 21-20.

“We crawled our way back and made it real close at halftime. We then controlled the third quarter. Not too many times do you win the third quarter and lose the football game. We lost field position and couldn’t drive the ball anymore,” Coloma coach Mark Eddy said.

On its first possession of the second half, Coloma took their first lead of the game, 26-21 on a 23-yard Saltzman run.

After a Coloma punt, the Eddies took the lead for good on a Bywaters 36-yard touchdown run to go up by the final score, 29-26.

A fumble recovery by Bywaters at the Coloma 18-yard line, set up a fourth down for the Eddies. Frank Majors connected with Kyle Dale for an huge 13-yard pass pickup play which gave the Eddies the ability to take a knee to end the game.

“We made the big plays offensively and defensively when we had to,” Bartz said. “Kyle Dale is as probably as good as any receiver in this league, at not only catching the ball but running after, as long as we get it up there, he will pull it down, and he made a great catch,” Bartz said.

Frank Majors was 1-for-3 for 13 yards for the game.

“It was a huge win for us, it has been a long time that we have had a big exciting win here at Edwardsburg and this is one, to come in with Coloma not having a conference loss, it knocked everything up in the conference it makes it all of a sudden very interesting,” Bartz added.

Dominic Razzano recorded 15 tackles for the Eddies.

The win kept several “streaks” going for the Eddies. It is the third victory in a row, it also marks the fourth straight game where the Eddies have scored at least three touchdowns in a game and the fourth straight game where Bywaters has gone over the century mark in rushing for a game.

The Eddies travel to Wyoming Lee on Friday.

Coloma 0 20 6 0 – 26
Edwardsburg 1 7 0 8 – 29
E – Adam Kendall 6 run (Roberson kick)
E – Devin Bywaters 35 run (Roberson kick)
C – Swihart 5 run (conversion failed)
C – Swihart 60 run (conversion failed)
E – Bywaters 60 run (conversion failed)
C – Alred 63 run (Salzman conversion)
C – Satlzman 23 run (conversation failed)
E – Bywaters 36 run (majors run)