This Week on MGN: Week 4

It’s the busiest week of the year so far in terms of MGN coverage – As we’ve been preparing for our first Game of the Week broadcast this year, while also keeping an eye on the obvious storylines surrounding the Bulldogs – as they will host the unbeaten Rockford Rams in the annual rivalry game that often helps determine the course of OK-Red season.

As mentioned, this week does provide the first MGN Game of the Week of the season as the Rockford MSR broadcast team will take the Grandville/Rockford game – so, we will be at Hudsonville, as unbeaten Unity Christian will look to keep up their impressive unbeaten (and utterly dominant) start to the season going against the Falcons of Allendale – fresh off a tough lost vs. West Catholic last week and looking to get back in the win column after a 2-1 start.

As always, this week’s MGN tailgate report will help break everything down from Grandville/Caledonia last week, Grandville/Rockford and Unity/Allendale this week, and much more. That video pod is directly below.

Week 3 Grandville Recap – Caledonia 24, Grandville 14

Caledonia Stays Unbeaten

The Fighting Scots are off to a still unbeaten start after a complete performance over the Bulldogs in MGN airwaves last Friday night. Jr QB Mason McKenzie was the Centennial Securities Player of the Game – as he accounted for over 220 total yards (167 rushing) and all 3 Scots TD runs.

At the same time, the Scots impressive early defense for new HC Derrick Pennington remained on top of their game. As the they were able to hold a Grandville offense that was averaging 38 points per game to 14.

Bulldogs Drop to 1-2

The Bulldogs incredibly difficult schedule to start the season certainly continued as Caledonia proved to any doubters that this team is for real, and despite the loss and some of the struggles – The Bulldogs did have some chanced still throughout the game. That included a game-sealing drive from Caledonia, where the Scots converted multiple 3rd downs down the field on the way to the game sealing field goal.

Despite some of those missed opportunities, the Grandville defense did make solid adjustments throughout the second half after some 2nd quarter struggles, and the offense found some positive notes, as Cade Pilczuk found the endzone again on the ground and Tyson Mann made a couple of impressive grabs, including his 3rd TD reception in as many games to open the year. QB Ian Sanders threw for 75 totals yards and a TD, despite solid pressure from the Scots pass rush.

Want to Relive the Game ? Visit the Listen Live Page’s ‘On-Demand’ section here at MichiganSportsRadio.com to relive the Fighting Scots home win to open OK-Red play over the ‘Dawgs.

This Week on MGN (And MSR)

MGN G.O.T.W – Unity Christian vs. Allendale

Unity Christian

The storylines in this game start with the Crusaders, as HC Craig Tibbe has a team loaded with 20 Sr starters that are looking to avenge a season that was prematurely ended a year ago because of a COVID outbreak. After a 65-7 win to open the OK-Blue slate vs. Hamilton, the Crusaders now sit at 3-0 on the season and could be the top team pound-for-pound in the area and absolutely one of the top favorites to make a deep run with a chance to win it all in D4 this season. And, for that reason we will likely continue to follow along with the Crusaders for the rest of the season and will be featuring more live coverage (especially in the postseason) of the ‘Saders on MGN.

Unity is led by a pair of standout twins that play both ways and will control almost every aspect of the Game. Cam and Drew Chandler are each incredibly athletic, yet big players in the offensive and defensive backfield for Coach Tibbe. They will fill up the safety positions on defense, but the bulk of the attention surrounding them is on offense where Drew (RB) and Cam (QB) are the perfect weapon for the Unity Power-T offense – as they can run with power and break off tackles, while also using their long strides at 6’3 to race away from secondaries when they race into the open field.

The offensive weapons don’t stop there, as behind a physical, tough offensive line – the UC offense relies on more strong running from Abe Rapphun and Micah Bush – and also will look to the air several times a game, with massive TE targets Gabe Newhof (6’8) and Jonny Bosma.

Allendale

The Falcons and long-time HC Ben Burke have transitioned the team in recent years for the long-time spread-type system they ran into a double-wing veer offense this year. They were able to open the year 2-0 with a couple of hard-nosed and physical wins, with the whole team picking up on that identity early. But, they struggled a week ago as Tim Kloska and West Catholic ran all over the fellow Falcons to a 51-14 tune.

As they look to pull off the upset against a a cross-town, conference rival the Falcons will rely heavily again on the services of their lead tailback Cole DiPiazza, he’s a tough and quick runner that likely will see well upwards of 20 touches in the game. Starting HBs Matty Vinton and Josh Gunneson will also draw some touches with their tough running style, along with being used in motion across the formation often.

An X-Factor certainly will be the alternate formations using split out TEs and WRs that could open up the field some for the run game, but especially could open up some opportunities to test a Unity secondary that hasn’t seen a team that heavily goes the the pass game so far this season. The test will then fall onto Jr QB Wyatt Douglass, who has good athleticism and RB experience to run the veer offense, while also having shown an ability to go to the air when needed.

Despite their struggles this is a team that will be lead by it’s defense in many ways, with one of the strengths being a front line that can get to a QB in the pass game, and also try to stuff the running lanes vs. the Unity T.

Grandville vs. Rockford

Brock Konkle and the Rockford MSR team will have coverage of the always crucial rivalry game for 2 teams each extremely keen on a win, for different reasons. As Rockford looks to keep up the unbeaten momentum to start what could be a special season for 2nd yr HC Brent Cummings, and Grandville looks to turn things around off the Caledonia loss and avoid a 1-3 start (due in large part to a very difficult scheudle) for HC Eric Stiegel.

Grandville Bulldogs

If you frequent MGN, you certainly are aware of many of the stories here. The Bulldogs offense will need to ignite things back to week 2 levels against a Rockford D that has traditionally stifled the Grandville offense. But, we certainly can look for the ‘Dawgs offense to get creative in many ways in terms of opening up the offense and mixing formations – like they did in the district championship game vs. the Rams last year.

For that reason the Ian Sanders/Tyson Mann connection, as well as Sanders to some of the lesser-utilized TEs will likely be key for the Bulldogs to find some chunk and explosive plays to keep pace with the Rams explosive offense.

At the same time, the Bulldogs defense will have to make the adjustments that DC K.J. Landis & co. have made so well in the past. Finding ways to keep the Rams uncomfortable and force turnovers like they did against the Rams in 2020 will be key. Along with getting big performances out of experienced players like Luke DeHaan and Carson Smith slowing down Rams’ QB Zak Ahern.

Rockford Rams

The Rams are very good on both sides of the ball, and most discussion will be about their offense – But, DC Randy Vanderveen’s unit has now only allowed 6 points total in the past 2 weeks (incl. only 6 against Cedar Spring’s T offense), and seems to be rounding into form to slow down opponents plenty.

The Rams offense has been one of the most talked about units in West Michigan and for good reason, Jason Vander Laan has gone from the NFL sidelines as a TE to the Rockford sidelines as the team’s new OC, and they have been racking up points. SR QB Zak Ahern, certainly has been the leader of that charge with 8 TDs on the ground and 5 more through the air, the Rams also have a plethora of options to spread the field vertically at WR and help star alongside Ahern in their read-option game in the backfield.

Not much more needs to be said about this offense, it will test the best of defenses and forcing them into turnovers – like Grandville did last year will again be critical in having a chance to pull a rivalry upset and make a huge statement for the ‘Dawgs.

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Make sure you tune in this Friday – MGN will be on the air at 6:30 with our G.O.T.W live from Hudsonville for Unity Christian vs. Allendale, and the Rockford broadcast crew will bring you the battle of OK-Red titans from Grandville. Both broadcasts (and all MSR live games) can be found through the listen live page on MichiganSportsRadio.com and the MSR app (we’ll also have the broadcasts linked and embedded on the MGN page under the affiliates tab).