Byron Center earns first trip to Ford Field (Full Story)

This season’s Bulldogs team has already set a school record by making it to the D2 football semifinals.

Byron Center upped the ante Saturday with a 41-14 victory over East Lansing to earn the school’s first trip to Ford Field with a chance to win a D2 state championship.

The Bulldogs were first to score when QB Landon Tungate punched home a short touchdown run.

East Lansing’s BJ Windham hauled in a receiving touchdown late in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7.

Tungate added his second rushing touchdown of the game in the second quarter to help the Bulldogs reclaim a seven-point lead.

Byron Center held on to a 14-7 heading into halftime.

Tungate continued to dominate in the third quarter, rushing for his third touchdown of the game, giving Byron Center a 21-7 lead with just over five minutes left in the third.

Just a couple minutes later, Tungate punched in his fourth rushing touchdown. The Bulldogs grabbed a convincing 27-7 lead with three minutes left in the third.

East Lansing scored a rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter to show some signs of life and trail just 27-14 with 10 minutes left on the clock.

But Byron Center kept their foot on the pedal, scoring 14 unanswered points the rest of the way, including Tungate’s fifth score to earn the 27-point victory.

The Bulldogs will now face Orchard Lake St. Mary’s for a chance to win their first football state title.