TEAM OUTLOOK

Last year, the Allendale Falcons made their first playoff appearance since the 2020 season with a final 6-4 mark, but 2024 will be a season of complete change for the program, as they look to build on that success through a lot of fresh faces. Notably, Joel Brose now enters his first season as head coach in Allendale.

The team aso loses all 11 starters from the 2023 offense on what was a senior-laden and explosive team that started the campaign at 5-0 last season. This additionally will now be the third different system that the team has had to learn in the last four years, but the Falcons have the young talent to be able to learn quickly. Calling the shots on offense and starting at QB will be Michael Hurlbutt, coach Brose describes him as ‘tough kid and strong competitor’ – He’ll have to put that to the test as he does not have any varsity reps coming into this season.

On offense, Allendale has a strong group up front led by seniors C Jeremy Morgan, OL Degan Devries, and OL Deacon Weaver (who is the only one with significant returning varsity snaps on the line). The Falcons will also look to explosive and quick senior RB Ian Bunce on offense, with Ranging 6’5 TE Luke Vredeveld, senior WR Drew Ashbay, and junior wideout Marquel Harris as strong options for the new QB Hurlbutt to find.

Luke Nason will be the leader of the defense, the returning all conference LB will also play FB on the other side of the ball and a physical and high motor player that this entirely new coaching staff will be looking to, as the Falcons also embrace an entirely new schedule – as they join the all-new River Cities Alliance conference and prepare to take on tough competition with others like Coopersville and Lowell joining the fray as well.