By Randy Gregory, Michigan Sports Radio
Photo courtesy of Miles Postema
Rockford has faced as difficult a schedule as any team in the state of Michigan in 2025. Top ten and top five opponents have appeared week after week against Rockford and the Rams have not only responded positively, they have gained momentum and have gotten incrementally better every week. That gauntlet shows no signs of abating as Rockford will square off with Hudsonville this week Friday, October 3 at 7:00 P.M. in their annual Homecoming contest.
Hudsonville comes into the game at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in OK Red play. They are ranked third in the state in Division 1 and are the defending state runners up after falling in the finals to a loaded Detroit Cass Tech team 42-20 at Ford Field in Detroit. Rockford enters the fray at 4-1 overall and joins the Eagles as the only undefeated teams in the OK Red at 3-0. The Rams are just outside the top five in the latest rankings. Rockford has played a decidedly tougher slate of games in 2025 with games against Saline, East Kentwood and Grandville so far. Hudsonville has played only one team with a winning record as regular powers East Lansing and Byron Center have struggled thus far in 2025.
Brent Sandee is the head man for Hudsonville and has done a solid job of rebuilding a program that had fallen on tougher times recently. Last year was the culmination of his efforts as the Eagles lost their opener to Howell last year before reeling off 12 straight wins and falling just short of a state title. Included in that streak was a 28-21 win over Rockford at Hudsonville and a thorough 35-6 rout over Howell in Regional play. Rockford does hold the edge in the all-time series against Hudsonville by the count of 19-8.
Hudsonville returns very little in the way of returning starters but the quality of those starters is solid. Defensive end Ryan Auckeman (Ferris State signee) is a returning all conference player who anchors the defense. Offensively the Eagles converted starting wide receiver Brady Van Laecke to the quarterback position in 2025. He will be joined by Tight End Will DeYoung and wide receiver Braylon Miller. There is a slew of players who have experienced pretty much nothing but winning as members of the Eagle football program. This year’s senior and junior class were both undefeated as both freshmen and junior varsity players. They were just waiting their turn in line and the winning ways have remained constant.
Homecoming always draws a huge contingent of alumni and their families to Carlson-Munger Stadium. And with the magnitude of this contest, the attendance figures should be even larger.
