By Randy Gregory,  Michigan Sports Radio

Photo courtesy of Miles Postema

 

After playing in the friendly confines of Carlson-Munger Stadium for their first three games of the 2024 season, Rockford will head to Hudsonville on Friday, September 20 to take on a dangerous 2-1 Eagle squad. The Rams will enter the contest with a record of 3-0 including wins over a trio of highly regarded programs (Detroit Cass Tech, Muskegon and Grandville). The Eagles stand at 2-1 and have also challenged themselves with a 20-17 loss to undefeated Howell coupled with a 14-12 win over a top-ten team in East Lansing and a 38-6 win over their neighbors from Jenison.

 

The Eagles are coached by Brent Sandee. Sandee is in his seventh season as the head coach for the Eagles and led them to the playoffs last year after missing them the previous two seasons. Hudsonville welcomes back eight starters on both sides of the ball as well as promoting a freshman and junior varsity program that went a combined 17-1 last year. The Eagles also have a strong turnout for the team this year with the roster approximating 70 players on the varsity squad.

 

Leading the way for Hudsonville is returning quarterback Griffin Baker, who will be in his second season as the signal caller. Hudsonville returns their entire slate of starters in the skill positions with Baker being joined in the backfield by bruising running back Bryce Fox. Third-year starting wide receiver Carson Dykstra is joined outside by Zach Vanderploeg who missed all of 2023 with an injury. Tight end Jack Wills also returns and has committed to Michigan State as a long snapper. The Eagles only return a pair of offensive linemen but have a solid corps of potential replacements from the JV team.

 

Hudsonville returns their entire defensive line and three of their linebackers from a unit that was pretty solid last year but has taken things to a new level thus far in 2024. The returning starters are highlighted by a pair of returning all conference players in defensive lineman Isaac VanderVeen and middle linebacker Connor Brintnall.