Sturgis is always a match the Bulldog coaches mark on their calendar, especially when it is played down South at the Trojans' home field. A rowdy and energetic atmosphere has led to some amazing finishes in the past half-decade, and this match cemented its place among the best of them. The series had been more a story of home field advantage than any other in recent years. Matches at Sturgis always seem to provide tight scorelines, while matches played at Otsego had been a bit more lopsided. The Wolverine Conference hopes of the top 4 teams would be on the line in the final week of the season, making for some great drama. 

The match was very open in the early going, with both teams looking to put their mark on the game. Otsego's defense had been their hallmark all year, and Sturgis had scored the second highest number of goals in conference play. Sturgis got in behind early and tested the organization of the Dawgs' back line and the hands of Senior keeper Jayden Dentler. Fifteen minutes in, Sturgis found a way to take the lead through some physical and quick play up their attacking right flank. Shortly after, Otsego would find themselves a man down when Senior Ian McClellan was shown red for what the referee deemed to be a stomp on a Sturgis player after the ball was gone. No matter how controversial the call, the team knew something would have to change. Playing a man light, Otsego soaked up pressure and counterattacked well, creating a few chances right away. The Bulldogs continued to drive balls in to Captain Josh Loll and Senior forwards Addi Atwater and Jace Engels until they caught a break. A Sturgis player handled the ball and Otsego was rightly awarded the penalty kick. Loll buried the try, and knotted up the score in the 35th minute. Otsego would go into the half level on the board, but a man down on the field.

The second half began in much the same way as the first, but with both teams probing more in an effort to feel out each others' tactics coming out of the break. Otsego looked to remain solid in the center of the pitch, while counterattacking through their target player. Allowing Sturgis to have theball a bit more was a dangerous plan, but necessary in order to create space for the counter. Sturgis would find a way to tap home a second chance opportunity in the 56th minute that put them up 2-1. Otsego's players had fought back from a goal deficit once in the match, and would need to do it again with just 24 minutes left to play. Players organized and wasted no time. Knowing that Sturgis could smell blood in the water, and that they would continue to attack in an effort to extend their lead, Otsego took advantage of the space between their lines and built a couple good attacking sequences straight away. Just 4 minutes after conceding, Otsego got a stroke of luck for the first time all evening. Engels found some space on the left side near the half line and drove forward with the ball. Aiming for a streaking runner in the box he lofted a diagonal ball into the area. With both the Sturgis goalkeeper and center back closing on it, and the Dawgs' back post runner arriving a bit late, it looked as if the Trojans would kill another good opportunity for Otsego to get back into the match. Coming off his line, the keeper failed to call for the ball. His center back, running toward his own goal, stuck out a leg in an effort to clear the danger. The two teammates nearly collided, the ball deflected off the outstretched leg of the defender, and found the back of the net to level the score. After feeling like the world was against them a bit through the first hour of play, Otsego finally caught a break at just the right moment.

The final 20 minutes would be a frenzied and frantic affair. Sturgis needed to push for a win to keep their title hopes alive. Otsego would be happy with a draw playing a man light and having been down twice already in the match. The Dawgs defended in numbers and managed the game the best they could down the stretch. Sturgis' best attacking player, Jairo Arias, gave the midfield and back line a true test as he rained down shots from anywhere he could. Dentler made possibly his biggest save all season when he parried wide a shot from Arias that was surely destined for the top corner. Each team had a bit of help from the woodwork in the final 6 minutes as Jace hit the crossbar on a shot from outside the 18 yard box, and Jairo hit the base of the left post moments later. Every player on the field for both teams put in an impressive and admirable amount of effort the final 20 minutes of the match. Every member of the Bulldog back line had at least one important block or clearance to help the cause, and the physicality added to the midfield by Addison Atwater helped Loll and Hutchinson tighten things up.

Otsego will play for the Wolverine Conference title Wednesday at home against rival Plainwell.