By Randy Gregory, Michigan Sports Radio
Photo courtesy of Miles Postema
In what is becoming almost an annual rite of fall, Rockford and Grandville will square off in the opening round of the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs on Friday, November 1. 2024 will mark the fourth season of the last five that these two old rivals will meet for the right to advance to the District 1 Championship game. Rockford is the number two seed and the Bulldogs are the third seed thus giving the Rams the home field advantage. Hudsonville is the top seed and East Kentwood holds down the fourth spot. The winners of these two contests will meet the following week with the highest surviving seed hosting the game.
The teams met at Rockford on September 13 and Rockford emerged victorious 37-20. There have been eighty games between the teams over the years and Rockford leads the all time series by the count of 49-31. The last time Grandville came out on top was in 2019 as they trounced an undefeated Ram team 30-3. As an added aside 2024 marks the 30th consecutive season that Rockford has made the playoffs. That is a state record for the Rams.
Grandville is coached by Eric Stiegel, who is in his eleventh season as the head man for the Bulldogs and he has led them to the post season in ten of those years. A familiar face to Rockford fans is also part of the Bulldog staff. Former Rockford standout KC Zenner was named as the defensive coordinator heading into the 2024 season.
The Bulldogs score a lot of points and conversely allow their fair share on the flip side. Grandville has scored as much as 56 points in a single game while allowing as many as 53. For the season they are scoring 38.5 points per game while allowing a shade over 29. For their part in the statistics, Rockford scores 33.7 while allowing 19.9 points.
Grandville is led by their outstanding junior running back Jayden “Tank” Terry. Terry was named all-state as a sophomore and has put up big numbers again in 2024. He holds six Division 1 offers with several more almost certainly coming. Grandville also features another pair of potent weapons in senior running back Easton Suidinski and quarterback Ethan Newville. Their attack has alwways been predicated on the ground since Stiegel took the reins but they have incorporated the pass to a much larger degree this year. Gibby Connelly (GVSU commit) and Garrett Nawrocki man the tight end spots for Grandville and are also solid options in the receiving game.
The linebackers are the strength of the Grandville defense with Reid Graverson joined by juniors Braylon Henry and Nawrocki as returning starters. The secondary features Miguel Rojas, Josh Crater, Terry and Suidinski as solid tacklers and ball hawks. Rojas has also been a huge weapon in the return game for Grandville with multiple kicks and punts returned for scores over the last two seasons.
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 P.M. at Carlson/Munger Stadium and the initial forecast calls for a cool, clear evening in what is sure to be an entertaining game.
