OK BLACK
School: Kenowa Hills
Nickname: Knights
Coach: Scott VanEssen
Last Year’s Record: 4-1, 6-4
Players Lost: Mitch Breuker, Kitwana Clark, James Freybler, Evan Johnson
Players Returning: Jordan Karel, Chad Meister, Mike Pickart, Cody Ritsema, Dylan Smith, Malik Swain, Luke VanEssen
Coach’s Comment: “You have to run the football, and we have a group of kids who can run the football behind an offensive line that has done a tremendous job.”
School: Muskegon
Nickname: Big Reds
Coach: Shane Fairfield
Last Year’s Record: 5-2, 8-3
Players Lost: Angelo Corona, Greg Hunter, Juwan Lewis, Ramale Roundtree
Players Returning: Antoine Billings, Demetrius Brown, Quincy Crosby, Jalen Smith, D’Monte Briggs, Kenny Findley
Coach’s Comment: “Our offensive line has the potential to be the best in Muskegon history, and we’re hanging our hats on them. We have so many good kids; we have to make sure they check their egos at the door and make sure we’re on the same page.”
School: Mona Shores
Nickname: Sailors
Coach: Matt Koziak
Last Year’s Record: 1-4, 1-8
Players Lost: Aaron Doriot, Nick Hendricks, Elijah Pinegar
Players Returning: Brandon Gue, Tyree Jackson, Landon Kresnak, Darnell Longmire, Cody Schneider
Coach’s Comment: “Our team strength this season is our offensive line. Our skill kids are fast, athletic kids who can make you miss in space.”
School: Reeths-Puffer
Nickname: Rockets
Coach: Kyle Jewett
Last Year’s Record: 1-4, 2-7
Players Lost: Josh Glick, Jordan Riley, Kalon Shackleford
Players Returning: Johnderius Betts, Kris Johnson, Kyle Kolbe, Marquis Livers, Julian Munday, Corey Plichta
Coach’s Comment: “We have a young, but strong and intelligent group. The key for them is embracing their role as the foundation of the first year of a new program.”
School: Grand Rapids Union
Nickname: Red Hawks
Coach: Tommy Elliott
Last Year’s Record: 1-4, 1-8
Players Lost: Chaz Carpenter, Hector Rivera
Players Returning: Devon Baker, Paul Brown, Javon Burns, Jakar Key, Jalen Vasser, Aaron Wright
Coach’s Comment: “We have a lot of quality players this year, and we’re looking forward to competing. We need to get off to a good start this season.”
School: Zeeland East
Nickname: Chix
Coach: Derek Pennington
Last Year’s Record: 6-1, 9-2
Players Lost: Paul Baker, TJ Beelen, Ross Ebels
Players Returning: Patrick Banks, Josh Blauwkamp, Andrew Bouwman, Michael Custer, Spencer Viening
Coach’s Comment: “We’ve got a lot of rebuilding to do. We had a pretty good defense last year, so our biggest concern is replacing those starters on defense.”