By Randy Gregory, Michigan Sports Radio

Photo courtesy of Miles Postema

 

For the first time since 2019, Rockford suffered the agony of defeat in a regular season football game last week. After three straight home triumphs over highly thought of squads from Detroit Cass Tech, Muskegon and Grandville, the initial road trip of the 2024 campaign saw the Rams fall by the score of 28-21 to a hard-hitting disciplined team from Hudsonville. Hudsonville jumped out to a 21-0 lead before a spirited Ram rally in the second half saw them fall just short.

 

The Rams return to the friendly confines of Carlson-Munger Stadium as they will host a 1-3 Jenison team in an effort to get back on the winning track. Jenison started the year with a 14-0 win over Kalamazoo Central before falling 28-6 to Forest Hills Norhtern, 38-6 to Hudsonville and 46-35 last week to Grandville. The Grandville game saw Jenison lead for a large portion of the contest and found them trailing only 39-35 late. But a late TD from the Bulldogs sealed the win over a game Wildcat contingent.

 

Jenison brought in a new coach this year as they hired a proven winner in Josh Lucas. This is the tenth year for Lucas as the head coach of a high school team. Most notably he spent the previous six seasons as the head coach at Chelsea. He compiled an excellent record of 60-13 in those six seasons including winning a state championship in 2021 and falling in the finals in 2018. He has implemented a new offense and has seen the team roster double in his first year at the helm. The Wildcats will take the field with a roster that nears 70 players.

 

For many years Jenison had Rockford’s number as they won in frustrating fashion for Rockford on a nearly annual basis. The Rams now hold a narrow 25-23 edge in the all-time series including a 49-12 win last year. You have to go all the way back to 2005 for the last Jenison victory over Rockford (19-14).

 

The Wildcats are led by tight end AJ Park on offense. He is joined by Wide receiver Charlie Norton and offensive lineman Connor Householder. Junior running back Brody Schuiteman had a huge game last week for the Wildcats on the ground. They are led defensively by defensive linemen Ian Baryanas and Dylan Gage.