Harbor Beach 41, Millington 7
Like this photo from Quad N Productions? View and purchase any of their photography from the 2025 season here
Pirates Control Every Aspect of Game, Cap Off Back-to-Back Undefeated Regular Seasons
It was a battle of the Big Thumb heavyweights and the Pirates delivered knockout blow after knockout blow, with Harbor Beach defeating Millington 41-7 on Friday, October 24, 2025. The victory capped off Harbor Beach's second consecutive undefeated 9-0 regular season and now has a head of steam rolling into the playoffs.
Harbor Beach took the opening kick and subsequently marched right down the field for their first score with Caden Bucholtz throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Luke Bischer. Skiler Kruse kicked through the point-after to make it 7-0 just four minutes into the game. Millington showed why they were the 2024 state champions though on their next drive, cruising down to the Pirates’ 30-yard line before their drive stalled and resulted in a turnover-on-downs. The orange & black then took the ball 70 yards in 10 plays with Bucholtz’s first rushing touchdown with 9:41 remaining in the first half. The Cardinals’ next drive was cut short when Garret Woodward’s pass was picked off by Benson Harper, which the Pirates turned into points just 87 seconds later to make it 21-0 on a Rogan Messing two-yard dive and a Kruse extra point.
The ensuing kickoff was a squib kick which was recovered by Harbor Beach and it was suddenly 27-0 three minutes later after Harper brought in a 23-yard pass from Bucholtz with 48 seconds left in the second quarter. The second half started with a similar style, with a line drive kick from Kruse ricocheted the ball into the Pirates’ hands, which again, Harbor Beach turned into additional points. Bucholtz scored his second rushing touchdown on a two-yard keep with 5:53 left in the third while Matt Geiger brought in the two-point conversion pass to make it a running clock situation, 35-0.
Millington was finally able to find the endzone just five seconds into the fourth quarter. Chase Milostan brought in the jump pass from Woodward to bring the Cardinal’s deficit down to 28 after an extra point kick by Lane Shoens, 35-7. The Pirates weren’t done yet as they milked their last drive of the night for nearly 10 minutes on 16 plays, covering 65 yards and finished with Bucholtz’s third and final rushing touchdown of the night with 2:04 remaining in the game.
Player of the Game: Caden Bucholtz
Bucholtz ran for three and threw for two touchdowns on a night he accounted for 250 yards in Harbor Beach’s victory over Millington.
The Player of the Game t-shirts are made possible by our broadcast partner, Larsen Graphics of Caro.
Bucholtz was named the Ameriprise Financial Player of the Game with the 41-7 victory over Millington. The senior play-caller accounted for a total of 250 yards of offense and five touchdowns: 12 carries for 67 yards and three touchdowns, while going 7-9 in passing for 183 yards and two more scores. Geiger brought in the most passes with four and 109 yards, while Harper finished with two catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Millington’s offense was limited to 159 total yards, led by Drake Terwilliger’s 54 yards on nine carries. Woodward went 1-5 with one interception for three total yards, coming on the lone Cardinal touchdown of the night.
Harbor Beach now enters the postseason with a 9-0 record and firing on all cylinders entering the MHSAA Division 08 Playoffs next week. Millington will have the chance to defend their Division 07 state title with a 7-2 record, losing only to Cass City (in overtime) and Harbor Beach.
