Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley was elected to serve a fourth term after defeating challenger Monica Sparks.
Unofficial results show that Mayor Kepley received 4,857 votes (53.21%), compared to Sparks’ 4,264 (46.71%).
Mayor Kepley has served the citizens of Kentwood as Mayor and Head Administrator since 2013. He also has served as Director of Engineering and Inspections/City Engineer for 11 years, along with an additional 15 years in the private manufacturing design and construction sector.
Sparks is in her fourth term as a Kent County Commissioner serving District 12 (parts of Wyoming and Kentwood).
Kentwood Mayoral Candidate Monica Sparks (WKTV We the People)
Kentwood City Clerk
Ana Jose received 4,322 votes (51.125) in the Kentwood City Clerk race to defeat Cameron Duffey, who received 4,110 (48.61%).
Kentwood City Treasurer
Running unopposed, Laurie Sheldon earned another term as Kentwood City Treasurer by receiving 7,353 votes (99.18%), while write-ins received 61 votes.
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out the new and exciting football clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you much of the local high school football home stadium action from the local varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Monday night! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
East Kentwood quarterback Kayd Coffman completed 14-of-21 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns, and also had 69 yards on the ground in 11 attempts. (Photo Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
East Kentwood was firing on all cylinders Friday in its Division 1 playoff opener against Grand Ledge. The Falcons produced a whopping 555 yards of total offense as it defeated the visiting Comets 49-15. With the win, they advanced to the district finals against host Howell to face the 9-1 Highlanders at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Offense has been a strong point for East Kentwood all season and the outburst against Grand Ledge was one of the most productive efforts. The 49 points equaled the Falcons effort in a Week 9 win over Grand Haven and was just five points off the season-high 54 points they scored against Jenison in Week 3. The effort was even more impressive considering Grand Ledge entered the game with a 7-2 record.
“We played a lot cleaner game that we did the week before which I was hoping for,” said East Kentwood Coach Tyrone Spencer. “I thought we ran the ball really well. We had over 345 yards rushing and defensively we had four takeaways. I thought we played pretty good complementary football.”
East Kentwood helmet. (Photo Courtesy, Eli Reed)
East Kentwood led 28-0 at the half
The Falcons wasted little time taking control of the game as they put up 21 unanswered points in the first quarter and led 28-0 at halftime.
East Kentwood set the tone for the game on the first drive. Starting on their own 22-yard line, the Falcons marched 78 yards down the field in 12 plays. The drive was capped with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Kayd Coffman to Stephan Jones. Jayden Garcia tacked on the extra point giving them a 7-0 lead.
The first takeaway of the game by the Falcon defense came on Grand Ledge’s ensuing possession. The Comets managed to drive down to the Falcon 18-yard line, but a fumble recovery by East Kentwood’s Benedi Kanda stopped the drive.
The Falcons then turned it into points as they went on an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown march. They again capped the drive with a touchdown pass, this time as Coffman hit Kendrick Mayhue on a six-yard scoring strike.
The East Kentwood passing attack produced the third score later in the first quarter. This time Coffman connected with Owen van der Veen on a 25-yard TD pass. Garcia added the point after putting the Falcons up 21-0 while still in the first quarter.
East Kentwood extended the lead to 28-0 in the second quarter. The Falcons scored their fourth touchdown via the ground as Jesse Phillips Jr. ran in for a score from a yard out giving Kentwood a 28-0 lead after Garcia’s extra point kick.
Grand Ledge gets on board in the third
Grand Ledge scored its first points of the game in the third quarter with a touchdown that cut the deficit to 28-7. The Falcons, however, answered with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns to put the game out of reach. Kentwood’s first touchdown of the third quarter came on a six-yard touchdown run by Phillips. The Falcons then struck through the air for the fourth time as Coffman fired a 49-yard touchdown pass to Stephan Jones that put the Falcons up 42-7 after Garcia’s point after.
The two teams closed the game out by trading touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Jacarvion Johnson scored the Kentwood touchdown on a 35-yard scoring run.
For the game, the Falcons finished with 346 rushing yards and 209 passing for a total of 555 yards. Coffman completed 14-of-21 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 11 times for 69 yards.
“Bam” Nettleman led with 116 rushing yards
Davien “Bam” Nettleman led the ground game with 116 yards rushing on 11 carries. Phillips added 89 yards on 12 carries with a pair of touchdowns, while Johnson ran for 54 yards on three carries with a touchdown.
“Our offensive line played lights out all day,” Spencer said. “They did a great job for us.”
Jones led the way in the receiving department with three catches for 77 yards and two scores. Ahman Edmonds hauled in a team-high six passes for 42 yards, while Mayhue caught two passes for 21 yards and a score.
The East Kentwood defense was paced by junior linebacker Christopher Thompson II who totaled three tackles, an assist and a tackle for loss, followed by Dallas Thomas-Moody, two tackles, two assists and a tackle for loss, Major Barnes, two tackles and two assists, Alijah Bondon, two tackles, an assist, one sack and two tackles for loss and Donovan Jones and Jonathan Flores each added an interception.
Jayden Garcia logs seven touchbacks on kickoffs
“The guys were flying around and making plays on defense when we had to,” Spencer said. “It was just a pretty good day for us defensively. Our kicking game was also really good. Jayden Garcia had seven touchbacks on kickoffs. That was really important because it gave them (Grand Ledge) a long field to drive each time.”
With the win, East Kentwood improved to 8-2 for the season.
(Image Courtesy of South Christian)
South Christian gets knocked out in overtime
The football season came to an end for South Christian, but not without a fight. The Sailors fell 42-41 in overtime in a Division 4 opener at undefeated Portland.
The game began as a defensive struggle with neither team able to put points on the board in the opening quarter.
Portland scored the game’s first touchdown in the second quarter and South Christian quickly answered with a two-yard scoring run by Brody Shilts that tied the game at 7-7 after the extra point by Hudson Kerstetter.
Portland regained the lead with a touchdown midway through the second quarter. The Sailors, however, closed out the first half strong with a pair of touchdowns to take a 21-14 lead into halftime. South tied the game on an 80-yard touchdown pass from Austin Burgess to Owen Burgess. South Christian then took a 21-14 lead with 43 seconds remaining in the first half on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Burgess to Jesse Van DeGriend. Kerstetter added both extra points.
Sailors led 28-14 early in the third
South extended the lead to 28-14 early in the third quarter when Austin Burgess scored on a three-yard touchdown run.
Portland responded with a touchdown to trim the margin to 28-20.
The Sailors closed out the third quarter with a touchdown to go up 35-20. Burgess connected with Easton Raak on a 34-yard scoring pass that gave the Sailors a 15-point lead heading into the final quarter.
Portland tied the game for overtime
Portland, however, tied the game up in the final quarter to send the game into overtime. Brad Meyers scored for Portland with nine minutes remaining and then in the final minute of the game Nolan Zbytowski scored on a one-yard run and the Raiders tied the game with a two-point conversion.
In overtime, Portland scored on its first possession and added the point after. South Christian then matched that score as Austin Burgess ran in from a yard out, but Portland won the game when it blocked the extra point attempt.
Burgess passed for three TDs and ran two in
Austin Burgess completed 14-of-20 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Burgess also added 38 yards rushing and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Jesse Van De Griend ran for 42 yards and caught three passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. Owen Burgess led the Sailors in receiving with six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown, while Shilts added three receptions for 44 yards.
VanSolkema led with nine solo tackles and two assists
The South Christian defense was paced by Kasjen VanSolkema who totaled nine solo and two assists for 11 total tackles. Benjamin Buiter and Dax Blackport added eight total tackles apiece, while Jack Weiss added five.
South Christian ended the season with a 4-6 overall record, while Portland improved to 10-0.
Godwin Heights, Kelloggsville fall in playoff openers
OK Silver squads Godwin Heights and Kelloggsville both fell in their district semifinal games.
(Courtesy, Godwin Heights)
Godwin Heights dropped a 42-35 decision to Spring Lake in a Division 4 district semifinal game. The Wolverines wrapped up the season with a 7-3 overall record.
Kelloggsville dropped a 45-16 decision to undefeated host Grand Rapids Catholic Central in a Division 5 district semifinal game. The Rockets ended their season at 6-4.
Kelloggsville is one of four area teams playing in the MHSAA state playoffs Friday. Godwin Heights, South Christian and East Kentwood round out the other three.
The Kentwood/Wyoming area is well represented in this year’s Michigan High School Athletic Association state playoffs that begin this Friday. East Kentwood, Godwin Heights, South Christian and Kelloggsville all qualified for the playoffs this year with two of the teams, East Kentwood and Godwin Heights, hosting playoffs.
East Kentwood is in the playoffs for the second straight year and is hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2018. The Falcons finished the season with a 7-2 record. East Kentwood is hosting Grand Ledge out of the Capital Area Activities Conference in a first round Division 1 playoff game with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
East Kentwood. (Photo Courtesy, Eli Reed)
Grand Ledge comes into the game at 7-2 and finished second in its league at 5-1 behind undefeated DeWitt. The Comets boast an offense that is putting up 35 points per game, while the defense is allowing 22.2 points. Grand Ledge played four playoff teams this year, including games against DeWitt and Detroit Catholic Central who both turned in 9-0 records. The Comets fell to DeWitt 59-7 and lost to Detroit Catholic Central 36-14.
Grand Ledge does share a common opponent with East Kentwood. In Week 1 Grand Ledge traveled to West Ottawa and claimed a 30-27 win. East Kentwood defeated West Ottawa 45-8 in Week 6.
East Kentwood enters the game with an offense putting up 40.8 points per game, while the Falcon defense is allowing 17.3 points. Kentwood has played five playoff teams this year. The two blemishes on the Kentwood schedule came by a combined total of eight points to Rockford (21-14) and Hudsonville (43-42), who have a combined record of 16-2 this season.
Unlike last year when the Falcons played at Hudsonville in the first round of a district comprised of fellow OK Red teams, the Falcons are in a district with teams to the east and south. The change of scenery is something East Kentwood Coach Tyrone Spencer doesn’t mind.
“It’s nice being able to play someone new that you haven’t seen before,” Spencer said. “After a season in the OK Red beating up each other, it’s a nice change to play someone else.”
Spencer said the team also is excited about the playoffs and the opportunity to play a home playoff game.
“The kids are super hyped up”
“We got together on Sunday to watch the selection show and they loved it,” Spencer continued. “They are excited about it and playing a home playoff game, something we haven’t done since 2018.”
(Image Courtesy, Godwin Heights)
Godwin Heights hosting
Godwin Heights finished the regular season with a 7-2 record and also will be hosting a playoff game. The Wolverines host Spring Lake Friday at 7 p.m. in a Division 4 playoff opener.
Spring Lake enters the game with a 6-3 mark. The Lakers are members of the OK White where they turned in a 3-2 record and finished third. The Lakers average 37.4 points per game on offense, while the defense is allowing 21.3 points. Spring Lake played three playoff teams this season, including losses to league rivals Grand Rapids West Catholic (21-14) and Grand Rapids Christian (24-21).
“Closely matched teams”
“It will be a matchup of a couple of closely matched teams,” said Godwin Heights Coach Brandon Kimble. “We don’t know a whole lot about them, but they did play Fruitport who is in our league. We are looking forward to it and we expect it to be a really good game.”
Godwin Heights counters with an offense that is putting up 28.3 points per game. The Wolverines have faced four playoff teams this season and were 2-2 in those meetings. Godwin Heights is in the playoffs for the first time since 2018 other than the 2020 covid season when every school in the state qualified for the playoffs.
“The guys put in a lot of hard work”
“The boys are excited about the game,” Kimble said. “Coming into the season, making the playoffs is one of our main goals. The guys put in a lot of hard work this season and it’s always good to see the success from all the hard work they put into it. We’re super excited about playing at home in front of our fans and the community. We’re also super appreciative of all the support we have received from the administration and the community.”
(Image Courtesy, South Christian)
10 years in a row for the Sailors
South Christian qualified for the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season. The last time the Sailors missed the playoffs was 2015 when they finished at 2-7. South Christian hits the road for the playoff opener as it travels to Portland to take on the 9-0 Raiders of Portland in a Division 4 playoff game slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday. Portland reached the regional finals last season and two years ago the Raiders advanced to the state semifinals where they fell to South Christian 21-6.
Portland features a potent offense that is putting up 38.1 points per game and utilizes a strong ground game. The Raider defense is especially stingy allowing opponents five points per game. Portland has played three teams that qualified for the playoffs this season.
“They (Portland) have a real good program,” said South Christian Coach Danny Brown. “The past few years they have had a lot of success. They know how to win. Watching the film you can see the enthusiasm they play with. They also tackle well and block well. They will be a challenge for us.”
South Christian enters the game at 4-5. A look inside the numbers, however, points to a highly-competitive schedule that the Sailors needed to navigate to earn a spot in the playoffs. South Christian played six playoff teams during the season with two wins against those teams to its credit. South defeated Grand Rapids Christian 27-13 and Zeeland East 41-12. The Sailors also had close losses to playoff teams, Grand Rapids Catholic Central (24-17), Zeeland West (12-6) and Grand Rapids West Catholic (27-20), meaning they enter the game being more than battle tested.
“The kids are excited for the opportunity,” Brown said. “They are excited about the playoffs, the second season, and playing in a win or go home situation.”
South enters the game with an offense putting up 22.3 points per game and its defense has developed into a team strength.
“Our defense has been continually improving,” Brown said. “We will really need our defense to play well Friday. We are going to need 11 hats flying to the football.”
Rockets head to the playoffs with a 6-3 mark
Kelloggsville enters the playoffs with a 6-3 record, the best mark at Kelloggsville since the 2017 Rocket team turned in a 9-0 regular season. That was the last time the Rockets qualified for the playoffs other than the 2020 season that was affected by the Covid pandemic.
Kelloggsville travels to Grand Rapids Catholic Central Friday for a 7 p.m. Division 5 opener.
Catholic Central is a familiar face in the playoffs for Kelloggsville as the Cougars defeated the Rockets 45-34 in the 2017 playoffs. That Catholic Central team also went on to win the Division 4 state championship.
Catholic Central enters the game with a 9-0 record. The Cougars, who average 29.3 points per game on offense, won the OK Black Conference championship this year. They field a stingy defense that’s allowing just 7.6 points per game. That defense was on display when the Cougars edged East Grand Rapids 10-7 in a game that determined the league champion. Catholic Central played a total of four playoff teams this year including a road win against defending Division 6 state champion Jackson Lumen Christi.
Running back Keyontae Gibson leading the charge
Kelloggsville enters the game with a high-powered offense of its own that’s putting up 25.2 points per game. The Rocket offense is led by running back Keyontae Gibson, who’s coming off a five-touchdown, 416-yard rushing effort in a win against Holland in the regular-season finale.
That win propelled the Rockets into the playoffs and the team is thrilled to be going.
“The kids are pumped up about it,” said Kelloggsville Coach Justin Dennett. “Everyone is really excited about it. It’s been great seeing the way the school and the community have rallied around the team. Everyone is embracing it and enjoying the ride.”
With talented senior running back Keyontae Gibson leading the charge on offense, Kelloggsville held off Holland 40-34 to cap a winning regular season and secure a spot in the state playoffs.
Gibson turned in a game to remember as he carried the ball 41 times for 416 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Rockets turned back a late Holland comeback to earn the win and finish the regular season with a 6-3 record. That record is the best one the Rockets have posted since 2017 and is the first time they have qualified for the playoffs since 2017 other than the covid year of 2020 when every team qualified.
The 2017 team finished the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record and reached the second round of the playoffs where it dropped a 45-34 decision to Grand Rapids Catholic Central, who went on to win the Division 4 state championship. Ironically, Kelloggsville faces Catholic Central in the first round of the playoffs this week.
The rushing exploits of Gibson went a long way in helping the Rockets secure the playoff spot this year. For the year, Gibson has rushed for over 1,400 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.
“Keyontae had quite the game Friday,” said Kelloggsville Coach Justin Dennett. “We are trying to find out if it was a school record. There is a chance it is, but we are not sure. We ran the ball exclusively Friday as we didn’t complete a pass. Isaak Kowal and Cameron Dunbar also helped out running the ball to give Keyontae a break.”
Offensive line paved the way for Gibson
“Our offensive line really did a good job,” Dennett said. “Zane Hendricks is a senior lineman and he did a great job of leading our line on both offense and defense. Davion Whitfield is a junior who starts on both the offensive and defensive line and he also did a great job. The guys up front did a great job Friday night and have been getting the job done all season too.”
Dunbar, who has been battling through injury, also has been a big part of the Kelloggsville ground game this year totaling 505 yards rushing with 10 touchdowns.
The Kelloggsville defense also stepped up with some impact plays to preserve the win.
Defense big as well
“Our defense really came up with some big plays,” Dennett said. “We had three interceptions and a fumble recovery on defense. Nasyre Walker had an interception and a fumble recovery. Isaak Kowal also had a great game on the defensive side of the ball. We moved our freshman Sincere Allen to inside linebacker. He had never played there before and he had a lot of tackles all over the place. He made a lot of plays for us.”
The win capped a big turnaround season for the Rockets who went 1-8 last season. Paving the way for the turnaround has been the Rockets’ senior class.
“We have a really good core group of seniors,” Dennett said. “They have stepped up and have been leading us all year. They do a great job of setting the tone in practice. They have set a new standard in how to do things. This is my first year as head coach here and that group of seniors bought right into what the new coaching staff was putting in.”
The Rockets started the season strong with wins against Grant and Perry before falling to Fruitport in Week 3 and eventual league champion Belding in Week 4. In Week 5 the Rockets came up with a pivotal 30-22 win against Hopkins.
Hopkins win was telling
“The Hopkins game was when our kids realized that we have a chance to make the playoffs and can be a pretty good football team,” Dennett said. “Hopkins has been a good team for a long time and we took a 22-0 lead on them. They came back to tie it, but we came back with a scoring drive to seal it. To come back and beat them was a big win for us. We also won a close one with Comstock Park.”
Kelloggsville defeated Comstock Park 22-18 in Week 7 to improve to 5-2.
“Winning the close ones”
“We had to learn how to win the close ones,” Dennett said. “We found a way to win in those close games this year. Winning the close games has shown the growth in this team and how much they have improved since the start of the year.”
The Rockets now face a 9-0 Grand Rapids Catholic Central team in the first round of the playoffs. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at Catholic Central’s Cougar Stadium.
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out the new and exciting football clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you much of the local high school football home stadium action from the local varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Monday night! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
Davenport seized a 49-9 halftime lead, then continued to pour it on, beating the visiting Roosevelt Lakers 75-23 Saturday.
Coach Sparky McEwen’s Panthers, who improved their GLIAC record to 3-2, 4-3 overall, set team and individual records during the win, including the most points in a single contest. Running back Cephus Harris led the onslaught with three scores plus a DU single game record 181 yards rushing on a mere eight carries, before heading to the bench midway through the third quarter.
Davenport running back Cephus Harris had a program-record 181 rushing yards and three touchdowns on eight attempts. He also had a team-record 87-yard run. (Photo Courtesy, Davenport University)
Roosevelt, which journeyed from Chicago for the contest, fell to 0-4 in the GLIAC, 1-6 overall.
“The record feels great,” said Harris afterward, saluting his “good offensive line having your back every time. I just took the ball and ran with it.”
The Panthers held a 14-0 lead three minutes into the contest on an opening drive 4-yard pass from quarterback D’Wan Mathis to Clint Walker, followed by Vince Cooley’s 27-yard pick six interception of Laker QB Tony Chahino’s first pass.
Chahino redeemed himself with a TD pass for the visitors, but DU’s Mathis responded with a 57-yard run, increasing the lead to 21-7 at the 9:58 mark of the first quarter.
Cephus Harris stole the show The 5-8, 215 lb. junior produced a 37-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, a 4-yard TD run 72 seconds into the second quarter, and a team record 87-yard touchdown sprint 6:44 before halftime. Davenport also got a 7-yard score from Harris‘ running mate Kayden Collins. Roosevelt managed only a safety, setting DU’s halftime margin at 49-9.
The 40-point lead aside, DU’s McEwen felt that his team had plenty of work to do at halftime, noting that he felt his team was not finishing plays in the opening half.
“We talk about consistency around here,” McEwen said. “I felt like we got out of our own way and it’s fun to have games like that so everyone can enjoy it. Just hard work you can see paying off. We’re starting to peak and it couldn’t be a better time.
Davenport quarterback D’Wan Mathis completed 6-of-9 passes for 81 yards and one touchdown, while adding 72 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries. (Photo Courtesy, Davenport University)
“It was nice to see it all work together today.”
The Panthers responded to halftime advice with scores on an 81-yard Gregory Asher punt return, an 87-yard kickoff return by George Sims following a second Roosevelt touchdown pass, and a 32-yard field goal from freshman kicker Ian Jenkins to lead 65-16 after three quarters.
JT Hartman added a 5-yard final quarter TD run and Jenkins hit a 19-yard field goal, making it 75-16 before Roosevelt added a TD pass with 30 seconds to play.
Du finished with 503 yards of total offense, with a school record 387 on the ground and 116 through the air.
Davenport linebacker Latrell Scott led with 11 tackles Panther linebacker Latrell Scott had 11 tackles to go with six apiece from Jayden Cray, Myles Harris, and Nick Pulley. DU also had three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Davenport now continues with three straight noon kickoffs at home in November against Saginaw Valley, Northern Michigan and GLIAC leader and current national No. 1 Ferris State.
Marine Corps veteran and Birthday Ball organizer Eric Winters with skywritten smiley face above him at the Muskegon Air Show. (Photo Courtesy, Eric Winters)
While recovering from a car accident after his Marine Corps service, veteran Eric Winters wasn’t happy with the challenges he faced.
“During my recovery, I became so mad at the system that I had to start a nonprofit to help my military brothers and sisters,” explained Winters, who founded a nonprofit called VETS (Veteran Enrichment Taskforce Services) in 2024. “We are out here advocating for our military community, with a primary focus on mental health, housing and more.”
Winters was inspired to found VETS after the accident left him unable to continue working. He said he wanted to advocate for veterans who have been left behind. The nonprofit seeks to raise awareness of veterans’ issues through community events.
Their mission: “To identify, develop, deliver and evaluate veteran-based needs paralleled with a service solution for growth, prosperity and fun.”
Marine Corps Birthday Ball This year marks the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps and what better way to highlight the milestone with a celebration.
Marine Corps Birthday Ball to celebrate 250th anniversary. Tickets can be purchased through Nov. 3. (Image Courtesy, Eric Winters)
“I had a sudden epiphany,” said Winters, who served from 2004 to 2012. “Milestone life events bring parties, and parties bring people and awareness. It just so happened that Marines around the world would be celebrating their birthday, so let’s host the next Marine Corps birthday ball.”
The First Annual City of Grand Rapids Marine Corps Birthday Ball will be held on Monday, Nov. 10, at the DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW Grand Rapids. That marks the exact date the Marine Corps was founded 250 years ago; Nov. 10, 1775, in Philadelphia by Commandant Samuel Nicholas.
The Marines were the third branch of the US Armed Forces, arriving five months after the Army and one month after the Navy. Today, the Marine Corps is a component of the U.S. Department of the Navy, with nearly 200,000 active and reserve personnel.
Local veterans at the US Marine Corps War Memorial. (Photo Courtesy, Eric Winters)
The Skinny The event, slated from 5 to 9:30 p.m., begins with a cocktail and social hour, followed by an official ceremony at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 and dancing at 8 p.m.
The goal of Winters and VETS is to fundraise and support the Marines while honoring past and present service members and their families. They are partnering with Creative Community Entertainment (CCE) to host the event.
Additional festivities begin a few days before, with a drone light show at 555 Monroe St. from 5 to 9 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7 and 8. The light show features live music, vendors and a VIP booth offering alcohol sales.
On Sunday, Nov. 9, from 2 to 6 p.m., there’ll be bowling, arcade games and food at the Main Event Center, located at 3121 28th St. SE, Kentwood. Patrons can present their receipt from the Ball at the Main Event, which will donate 20 percent of all proceeds to it. A Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11 will cap off the weekend. Starting at 6 p.m, it’ll run from Lyon and Ottawa Street through Veterans Memorial Park.
“For Marines, this day is more than a celebration – it is a sacred tradition observed with the reverence of a national holiday,” Winters explained.
Grave Markers from the 22 A Day Suicide Awareness Program on the side of the US-131 highway in Grand Rapids in remembrance of the 22 veterans who take their own lives each day. (Photo Courtesy, Eric Winters)
Marine Ball shy of fundraising goal VETS set an initial fundraising goal of $250,000 by the 250th anniversary Ball, which Winters admits was ambitious. The group has currently raised just over $15,000, with the budget for the ball estimated at $30,000. Members of the public are invited to donate in any way they can to support the cause. Winters notes that VETS will allocate any extra funds raised toward the broader mission of CCE and VETS.
“Your support will not only help us celebrate this historic occasion, it will also empower veterans who have given so much in service to our country,” Winters said.
Tickets can be purchased through Nov. 3. The first 200 guests to register will receive an event T-shirt, a commemorative cup and a challenge coin. Tickets may be purchased at this link.
“Becoming a Marine is a lifelong badge of honor – one earned through dedication, sacrifice and pride,” Winters said. “Marines are not only members of the world’s most elite fighting force, but also part of a greater community that continues to serve and uplift others long after active duty ends.”
Marine Corps veteran Eric Winters (right) with a WWII veteran at a Comstock Park football game where veterans were honored on the field. (Photo Courtesy, Eric Winters)
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out the new and exciting football clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you much of the local high school football home stadium action from the local varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Monday night! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
Davenport Running Back Cephus Harris runs through a crowd. (Courtesy, WSU Athletics)
BY Bill Rohn WKTV Contributor greer@wktv.org
Four scores from running back Cephus Harris combined with a revived passing attack led Davenport to a 49-14 win over Wayne State’s Warriors in Detroit Saturday.
The win improved the Panthers’ Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record to 2-2. DU is now 3-3 overall, while Wayne State fell to 0-3 and 0-7.
DU’s revved up run/pass combination produced 214 yards on the ground and 330 yards through the air.
Harris — a 5’8” 215 pound Junior transfer from Youngstown State, whose older brother Myron Harris led the Panthers’ rushing attack last year — opened the scoring on a 9-yard run midway through the first quarter, then added two one-yard TD plunges in the second quarter. Davenport also got a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback D’wan Mathis to Dom Grguric with 5:44 left in the opening quarter.
Davenport receiver Dom Grguric grabbed a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback D’wan Mathis in the opening quarter.(Courtesy, WSU Athletics)
The Panthers led 28-0 with 1:23 left before halftime when Wayne’s Luke Johnson stepped in front of an ill-timed pass from Mathis and quickly returned his interception 67 yards for a score, cutting DU’s intermission margin to three touchdowns, at 28-7.
Meanwhile, Davenport’s defense harassed Wayne‘s quarterbacks all afternoon. They knocked Warrior starting QB Carson Creehan out the game with concussion symptoms on Wayne’s second play from scrimmage, then sacked replacement QB Justin Cox four times. The DU defensive surge was led by Xavier Marquez and Latrell Scott, with five tackles each. Coach Sparky McEwen’s squad also forced a fumble and snared two interceptions, while holding the Warriors to 37 net rushing yards.
Second half action saw Davenport continue to press its advantage. Mathis hit wide receiver Keonta Nixon with a 50 yard third-quarter touchdown pass before Harris found the end zone from nine yards out for his third touchdown with four minutes left in the quarter. Harris finished the contest with 133 yards on 20 carries, for an average of nearly seven yards per attempt.
The Warriors finally got on the offensive scoreboard on a one-yard run by XaVior Tyus early in the fourth quarter, making the score 42-14. Davenport closed the scoring on a 4-yard run by Jeremiah Sterling with 7:34 left to play.
In addition to DU’s strong running game, Mathis threw for 285 yards, connecting on 18 of 25 throws including a five for five performance while targeting wideout George Sims.
Late in the game, Davenport actually reached 576 yards in total offense. However, Panther quarterbacks then saw two center snaps fly over their heads and land well behind the line of scrimmage. The result was over 30 yards in losses, wiping out DU’s chance at a new total offense record.
Davenport now returns home to Caledonia, with noon kickoffs on each of the next four Saturdays, beginning on October 25 against Roosevelt University. Wayne State will next attempt to get a first win at GLIAC foe Saginaw Valley State.
Godwin Heights continued their winning ways with a 41-22 victory over rival Kelloggsville Friday and in the process set up a winner-take-all scenario for the OK Silver championship at Belding.
The win kept Godwin Heights perfect in the OK Silver with a 5-0 record and sets up next Friday’s showdown in Belding against the Black Knights who are also 5-0 in the league. The two teams also have 7-1 overall records.
“It was a real battle with them last year,” said Godwin Heights Coach Brandon Kimble. “It was 14-7 at halftime and it was close in the third quarter before they ran away in the fourth quarter. The conference championship is going to be on the line and our boys are going to be ready to play. We have a real strong senior class that is used to going on the road and we’ve played in some really tough games already.”
The win against Kelloggsville was another one of those tough games. Godwin Heights fell behind the Rockets 16-7 in the first quarter before scoring the next five touchdowns to secure the win in the annual rivalry between the Division Avenue neighbors.
“It’s a big rivalry game for us,” Kimble said. “You can throw out the records when we play. Kelloggsville has been playing good as well this year and we knew they were going to give it their all. We battled back and forth early and it was a good game. They played hard, but our boys came to play.”
Wolverines averaging 33 points per game
Godwin Heights has been especially strong on offense this season as the Wolverines are averaging 33.6 points per game. Junior running back Julius Hoskins was among the offensive leaders for as he ran for four touchdowns against Kelloggsville. Hoskins finished the game with 202 rushing yards.
“Julius is really going to be something special,” Kimble said. “We actually have two stud running backs. Ka’Res Harris splits carries with Julius and he actually leads us in touchdowns.”
Godwin Heights sophomore quarterback Martellis Forest also was a big part of the offensive outburst. Forest passed for 171 yards.
“We are blessed with the athletes that we have at all of our skill positions,” Kimble said. “Martellis is one of the best quarterbacks in the area. He can really spin it. He can put the ball anywhere and can throw the deep ball. He puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses.”
Forest also is blessed with a wide variety of receivers.
“We have some really good receivers on the outside,” Kimble said. “We have four receivers who are capable to taking it to the house at any time. Isziah Walker, Martise Raphael, Aidan Jackson and Taisjon Allen have all been doing a great job for us.”
Walker led Wolverine receivers with nine catches, 98 yards and a TD
Walker led the way against Kelloggsville as he caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Paving the way for the backs and providing pass protection is an offensive line anchored by Jeremiah Lee and Jayden Ingram.
“Jeremiah is our right tackle and he had over 10 pancake blocks,” Kimble said. “Jayden is our left tackle and he is just as good. Our entire offensive line has been doing a great job and we have had over 200 yards rushing in the last three games.”
While the offense has been putting up plenty of points this season, the Godwin Heights defense has been stingy when it comes to allowing points.
“Our defensive line is very strong,” Kimble said. “We are led up front by Louis Wilson who is a three-year starter. Lonnie Sanders and Josiah Cox flank Louis. Our defensive line is really strong.”
The Wolverines also are solid in the defensive backfield.
“Taisjon Allen is a team captain and he leads us in the back end,” Kimble said. “He had a pick on Friday.
Mikyius Witherspoon plays a rover position for us and he has led us in tackles in three out of the last four games. He is a big part of our defense. He had four tackles for loss on Friday. He has really been playing great for us.”
With a 7-1 overall record, Godwin Heights is heading to the playoffs regardless of the outcome of Friday’s game with Belding. The Wolverines are 13th in the state in Division 4 in playoff points.
Kelloggsville also is looking to punch its ticket for the playoffs next Friday when it hosts Holland. The Rockets are 5-3 for the season and a win against 2-6 Holland would secure a playoff spot for the Rockets.
Cameron Dunbar led Kelloggsville with a pair of touchdowns and Keyontae Gibson added one as well.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport earned the top spot in the USA TODAY Reader’s Choice Awards for best small airport.
The 20 finalists for the category were selected by a panel of experts and then voted on by the public. Voting was open from Sept. 8 until Oct. 6 with the public being invited to cast one vote per person, per day.
The panel consisted of editors from USA TODAY and 10Best.com, expert contributors and industry sources. The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards series highlight top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations.
“We are honored that the best guests in the country have helped us win the No.1 spot for the best small airport,” Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority President & CEO Tory Richardson said. “The community’s incredible support continues to propel our commitment to providing a world-class airport experience, and we are thrilled to have won this award for the community.”
The top 10 winners in the best small airport category were:
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
Pensacola International Airport (PNS)
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Surpassing a record-breaking number of 4 million passengers in 2024, the Ford International Airport serves as West Michigan’s gateway to the world. The Airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, which has more than 100 team members who are responsible for the infrastructure and maintenance of airport facilities. Additionally, more than 1,300 team members from eight airlines, food and beverage providers, maintenance facilities and several other partners come together to offer air service and amenities to guests.
“We thank everyone who took the time to cast their vote for the Ford International Airport,” Richardson continued. “We also thank our dedicated team members and partners who help provide an exceptional guest experience to this award-winning airport.”
The Kentwood Police Department is encouraging community members to take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kentwood Police Department, 4742 Walma Ave. SE. KPD will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in its original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. The event also will accept vaping devices and cartridges if lithium batteries are removed. Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs will not be accepted.
The national observance is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back initiative. It aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible way for community members to dispose of prescription drugs while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.
“When community members properly dispose of medication, it helps prevent identity theft, accidental poisonings, drug addiction and overdose deaths, while keeping medication from polluting landfills and sewer systems,” Kentwood Police Chief Bryan Litwin said. “From saving a life to protecting the environment, participating in Drug Take Back Day is an impactful way residents can be part of our community effort.”
For individuals unable to attend the event, the Kentwood Police Department also has a year-round Drug Take Back Program. Community members can safely dispose of unused and/or expired prescription medications in the Kentwood Police Department’s lobby from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. To learn more about the program, visit kentwood.us/DrugTakeBack.
Kentwood National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. (Photo Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Law enforcement agencies across the nation partner with the DEA to host Drug Take Back Day events every October and April as part of ongoing efforts to combat prescription drug misuse and overdose deaths. The events provide timely opportunities for residents to safely and securely dispose of unneeded medications to help address this public safety and public health issue. Studies have shown most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out the new and exciting football clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you much of the local high school football home stadium action from the local varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Monday night! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
It was a showdown for first place in the OK Red Friday when East Kentwood traveled to Hudsonville. The contest lived up to all the hype and then some as the Eagles edged the Falcons 43-42 in a game that came down to the final play.
That final play was a 26-yard touchdown pass from Hudsonville quarterback Brady Van Laecke to Andrew Meerman who caught the pass in the back of the end zone after it was deflected with the final seconds ticking off the clock. The Eagles tacked on the extra point to secure the deciding point and come away with the win and keep their record perfect at 7-0 for the season, 5-0 in the league.
The climactic final play capped a stunning six-play, 70-yard scoring drive in the final 31 seconds of the game that gave the Eagles an amazing come-from-behind win after East Kentwood surged ahead with a late-game drive of its own that culminated with a touchdown with 31 seconds remaining in the game.
“It was a great game between two great teams,” said East Kentwood Coach Tyrone Spencer. “I thought our guys played well. It all came down to a couple of plays. Both teams had guys making plays and for them they made the final play when the clock ran out.”
What looked to be the game-winning drive
Trailing 36-35 with 5:52 remaining in the game, East Kentwood mounted what looked to be the game-winning drive. Starting out on its own 20 after Hudsonville had taken the lead on a two-yard touchdown, EK moved the ball 80 yards in 15 plays. The drive was a pressure-packed excursion as the Falcons twice kept the drive going by taking a page out of Detroit Lions Coach Dan Campbell’s playbook and going for a first down on fourth down. The first successful fourth-down play was when the Falcons faced a fourth-and-three on their own 27-yard line. Falcon running back Davien “Bam” Nettleman kept the drive alive with a five-yard run. Later in the drive, the Falcons faced a fourth-and-12 situation on their own 40 with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
With their backs to the wall, Falcon quarterback Kayd Coffman found Ahman Edmonds open and Edmonds turned on the jets for a 14-yard gain to keep the drive alive. With 45 seconds remaining in the game, Coffman again hooked up with Edmonds for a key pass play, this time the play netted the Falcons 38 yards and gave Kentwood a first-and-goal on the Hudsonville two-yard line. After a one-yard run on first down, the Falcons took the lead when Coffman scored on a quarterback sneak giving the Falcons a 42-36 lead after Jayden Garcia tacked on the extra point.
East Kentwood Quarterback Kayd Coffman passed for 188 yards and three scores. (Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
“I was really proud of the way the guys kept battling,” Spencer said. “To be on the road and come back like they did.”
Spencer also was pleased with how the Falcons started the game. Getting out to a fast start was a goal of the Falcons entering the game and that was exactly what Kentwood did.
Kayd Coffman keeper starts up the scoring
On the first possession of the game, Kentwood forced Hudsonville into a three-and-out deep in Eagle territory. After taking possession of the ball at the Hudsonville 45-yard line, the Falcons needed just four plays to score the first points of the game as Coffman took off 33-yards down the middle of the field to score on a quarterback keeper.
Eagles score right away as well
Hudsonville answered that score with a six-play, 80-yard scoring drive of its own.
East Kentwood regained the lead on the next possession. This time the Falcons drove 70 yards in seven plays with Coffman finishing the drive by hooking up with Stephan Jones on a 26-yard touchdown pass giving the Falcons a 13-7 lead.
Falcons grab 20-7 lead in first quarter
East Kentwood upped the lead to 20-7 late in the opening quarter. That score was set up by a fumble recovery by Dmari Love-Simmons at the Hudsonville 22-yard line. The Falcons cashed in on the turnover when three plays later Coffman again hooked up with Jones, this time on a 16-yard scoring strike.
“Our offense really got off to a fast start,” Spencer said. “We took advantage of some things that they were giving us. Their defense did a good job of stabilizing things in the third quarter.”
Hudsonville answered that score with an eight-yard touchdown pass by Van Laecke with 9:46 remaining in the first half cutting the Falcon lead to 20-13.
The two teams closed out the first half by trading touchdowns. Coffman snuck over from one-yard out for the Kentwood touchdown while Van Laecke threw a touchdown pass from 15-yards out with 20 seconds remaining in the first half cutting the Kentwood lead to 27-21.
Hudsonville took its first lead of the game in the third quarter, when the Eagles drove 65 yards for a score in six plays with Van Laecke tossing a 29-yard pass on fourth down. Hudsonville added a two-point conversion to go up 29-27.
The East Kentwood defense rose to the occasion on the next two Hudsonville drives and forced a pair of three-and-outs.
“Our defense kept us in it when Hudsonville stopped our offense in the third quarter,” Spencer said.
Falcons regain lead early in fourth
Early in the fourth quarter the Falcons regained the lead, driving 48 yards in seven plays with Coffman connecting with Owen Van De Veen on a 22-yard touchdown pass. Coffman then connected with Edmonds on a pass play on the two-point conversion putting the Falcons up 35-29 with 11 minutes remaining in the game.
Hudsonville answered that score with a methodical 68-yard, 14-play march that ended with a touchdown that put the Eagles up 36-35 with 5:52 remaining in the game setting the stage for the late-game dramatics.
With the loss, East Kentwood fell to 5-2 overall, 3-2 in the conference. The Falcons return to action this Friday at Grandville.
“At the end of the day, a game like this prepares us for the playoffs,” Spencer said. “The regular season is important, but we want to end the season playing at Ford Field and these kinds of games prepare us for that.”
The East Kentwood offense was paced by Coffman who passed for 188 yards and three scores. Jones caught seven passes for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Edmonds hauled in eight passes for 50 yards and Van Der Veen caught two passes for 32 yards and a score. Coffman added 58 yards rushing and three scores while Jesse Phillips ran for 42 yards.
An anemic offense and a 49-yard field goal attempt that missed by three feet with little time to play doomed the Davenport Panthers to a 16-14 loss to Michigan Tech Saturday at Meyering Field in Caledonia.
The loss dropped the Panthers’ record to 1-2 in the GLIAC Conference and 2-3 overall. The visiting Huskies improved to 2-0 in the GLIAC, 5-1 overall.
Both teams showed strong defensive play throughout the contest. They also regularly failed to score in a game that Tech led 10-7 at half and 13-7 entering the fourth quarter. Davenport fell notably short, with game totals of 55 yards net rushing, 186 yards of total offense, and only nine first downs.
Difficulties moving the ball aside, Davenport had a shot at victory before its Homecoming crowd of nearly 2,000 late in the final quarter. The Panthers had a first down at the MTU 27 with just under two minutes to play. However, a delay of game penalty and two incomplete passes led to a fourth down 49-yard field goal attempt – his first ever as a Panther – by DU freshman Ian Jenkins with 1:09 on the clock.
Jenkins’ boot had enough distance, but sailed three feet wide to the right, ending Davenport’s victory hopes.
Davenport Coach Sparky McEwen was clearly unhappy with his team’s offensive performance, suggesting that it was “time to show some heart” at halftime.
“We knew this would be a tough game and there were far too many mistakes on our end,” said McEwen afterward, adding, “We’ve just got to get it figured out because it doesn’t get any easier from here.”
Among Davenport’s problems Saturday was the absence of prior starting quarterback D’Wan Mathis, who missed the game with an injury suffered in DU’s loss to Grand Valley one week ago. That meant the Panthers rode behind quarterback Mac VandenHout, who hit 12-of-25 passes for 131 yards, but also threw two interceptions. Making matters worse, Davenport’s rushing attack — which had averaged 185 yards per game entering the contest — averaged only 1.7 yards per attempt on 32 carries.
Addressing DU’s offensive performance, McEwen offered that Davenport “missed some reads, and they got some pressure on us. Those things happen and we’ll just have to get better from it.”
The Panthers managed only one lead in the contest. Following a first quarter field goal by Tech’s Avery Kucharski, they got a 74-yard kickoff return by George Sims, after which VandenHout found the end zone on a 4-yard quarterback keeper to make it 7-3. The Huskies responded with a 23-yard touchdown on a reverse by Nick Nora to lead 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, then led 13-7 at halftime following a 26-yard second quarter field goal from Kucharski.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Davenport continued to struggle with the ball, falling behind 16-7 on a 22-yard field goal by Kucharski with eight minutes remaining.
Davenport answered with a quarterback switch, as McEwen inserted redshirt senior QB Grant Thwaites behind center. Thwaites picked up the pace for the Panthers and closed the deficit to 16-14 with a 21-yard TD pass to Ernest Sanders.
From there, it was a question of whether the Panthers could score one more time, setting the stage for DU’s unsuccessful field goal try with 69 seconds remaining. The Huskies drained the clock in victory formation after the missed attempt.
D’Angelo Bellamy led the Panthers with eight tackles. (Photo Courtesy, Davenport University)
McEwen had praise for DU’s defense saying, “As bad as we were on offense, our defense was just as good.” Led by D’Angelo Bellamy and Antonio Mayes, with eight and seven tackles respectively, the Panthers held Michigan Tech to 20 points below its season average entering the game. “They gave us a shot to win in the end,” McEwen said.
Some good news for Davenport is they may have a good shot at improving their record in the short term. DU travels to Detroit on October 18 to face currently winless Wayne State, before returning home October 25 to host Roosevelt University. Roosevelt is currently 1-4 overall following a 42-7 weekend defeat at Saginaw Valley.
Falling from a tree stand is a real possibility, and all hunters who go into the air need to make safety their first thought. (Photo Courtesy, Whitetails Unlimited)
Tip 1: This is Real! Yes, YOU can fall from an elevated stand! Everyone who hunts from a tree stand needs to place safety first – there is no animal out there that is worth dying, or being injured, for. If you don’t follow all safety rules every time you go into a tree stand to hunt, then quit using tree stands and stay on the ground. It’s really that simple.
Tip 2: Educate Yourself. There are a lot of resources about tree stand safety out there, and the gear and standards for tree stand safety have changed a lot in the last two decades. Don’t assume you know everything. A little time on the internet and reading the instructions for your new full-body harness and life line will get you up-to-date in no time.
Tip 3: Safety is a System. While the full-body harness and life line are the core of tree stand safety, remember that every component is important and needs attention. In addition to the gear, the procedures are also part of the system, and you need to perform them correctly, every time. Procedures include always using a lift line for your unloaded firearm or bow; strapping in to the lifeline before hauling gear up; always having three points of contact while ascending or descending; and having a cell phone and/or emergency signaling device in a place you can reach if you fall.
Tip 4: Check, and Recheck. You need to become obsessive about checking things, like the nuts, bolts, and fasteners on your stands; the stitching on your harnesses; and watching for frayed or damaged spots on ropes. If you have a home-built stand (not recommended, but people still do it) you need to check and repair anything that is not solid. If it’s attached to a tree, it’s subject to continual movement and will be stressed in between every use. A free-standing elevated stand can weather and rot, and critters can make dramatic changes to a stand in a very short period of time.
Tip 5: Spend the Money. If you think it’s too expensive to buy a quality harness, imagine how much it will cost for an emergency room visit, an extended time off from work, or to modify your house to accommodate your sparkling new wheelchair. Or how much it will cost your family to pay for your funeral. Yes, this is dramatic, but it happens every season to people who think, “It won’t happen to me.” Safety gear is as important as your bow or firearm, license, clothing, or ammunition.
Tip 6: Know Your Limitations. Are you getting older? Is it getting harder to get into that stand? Are you starting to lose your footing on the ladder when it is wet or frozen? Have you started taking a medication that makes you drowsy or dizzy? Are you not comfortable at that height anymore? If there is any way you are not relaxed and calm in that elevated stand, then rethink your hunting strategy. This is not a contest to see who is the toughest or most fearless – if you are not enjoying the hunting experience, start looking for alternatives.
Tip 7: There is No One Answer. There are a lot of ways to hunt deer, and a lot of deer were taken before elevated stands became popular. Hunting is a very safe activity; but it can be safer – do not put yourself at risk!
(Photo Courtesy, Davin Harsila)
Whitetails Unlimited
Whitetails Unlimited works as the voice of our members to promote conservation, preserve the hunting tradition, and celebrate North America’s premier big-game animal, the white-tailed deer. Whitetails Unlimited’s mission is to raise funds in support of educational programs, wildlife habitat enhancement and acquisition, and preservation of the hunting tradition and shooting sports for future generations.
Since our beginning, Whitetails Unlimited has spent over $147 million on projects including research, wildlife agency assistance, habitat enhancement/acquisition, scholarships, educational materials, hunter safety/education, anti-poaching measures, and cooperative projects with other conservation organizations.
From Left: Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership Chair Dennis Kirksey, Great Lake St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Project Manager Matthew Doss, Muskegon County Community Development Director Bob Lukens, City of Muskegon Mayor Ken Johnson, U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten, Michigan EGLE Director Phil Roos, U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel, West Michigan Shoreline Development Commission Executive Director Erin Kuhn. (Courtesy Photo)
After decades of work, Muskegon Lake has officially been removed from the binational list of “Areas of Concern,” and is no longer considered one of the Great Lakes’ most environmentally degraded areas. Muskegon Lake is the eighth U.S. Area of Concern to be delisted.
On Oct. 1, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Anne Vogel, along with Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Director Phillip Roos, joined other federal, state, Tribal and local partners in Muskegon, Michigan, at an event to celebrate the cleanup and restoration of the Muskegon Lake Area of Concern, a 4,149-acre lake that flows into the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
“The successful cleanup and restoration of the Muskegon Lake Area of Concern, achieved through decades of dedicated effort, marks a significant milestone in our ongoing work to restore and protect the Great Lakes,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Anne Vogel. “This accomplishment showcases the commitment and collaborative spirit of our partners in restoring not just the lake, but also the habitats and recreational opportunities that had been lost for so long.”
“Completing this long journey of recovery, restoration and renewal is a tremendous community achievement that EGLE (Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) has been proud to assist,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “Alongside many partners, we celebrate today’s success and look forward to supporting tomorrow’s continued stewardship and growth.”
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) said, “I’m thrilled to celebrate the restoration of Muskegon Lake, a body of water that is vital to both the local community and health of our Great Lakes. This achievement is a testament to the decades of collaborative efforts between federal, state, local and tribal partners to get the job done. During my time in the Senate, I’ve been proud to fight for continued funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to bolster cleanup across the state, including tens of millions of dollars to support this essential project, and I’ll never stop fighting to protect our Great Lakes for future generations.”
Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI-3): “Today is a huge milestone in Muskegon Lake’s comeback story. Once, this lake was a symbol of environmental degradation. Today, it is a testament to what a community can accomplish when it comes together to protect and restore our beloved public lands. Michigan’s lakes are treasures, and I will always fight for resources to protect our environment in Congress.”
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI-4), Republican Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force: “The delisting of Muskegon Lake as an Area of Concern is a great bipartisan win for Muskegon, the Lakeshore, and the entire Great Lakes region. I am proud to have championed funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative which played a critical role in the recovery of Muskegon Lake. For years, I have discussed how the Great Lakes economy is directly tied to the ecological health of the Great Lakes. By cleaning up legacy pollution, removing contaminated sediment, and restoring natural habitats, Muskegon Lake has transformed from an area of environmental concern to a source of recreation and economic opportunity. The efforts to restore Muskegon Lake have demonstrated how local, state and federal partners can work together to reinvigorate communities, rebuild recreational opportunities, and make the Great Lakes even more enjoyable for the next generation.”
Michigan State Representative Will Snyder: “Muskegon is a city first and foremost set on Muskegon Lake; the lake has always been the lifeblood of the community, from the days of lumber, to the days of industry, to the tourism of today. This momentous day is the culmination of decades of hard work by hundreds of concerned active citizens partnering with government at every level to do big things. It’s exciting that we have restored Muskegon Lake to this degree. I look forward to the next decades of restoration.”
Mark Eisenbarth, Muskegon County Administrator: “Muskegon Lake is set to be delisted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Michigan, Muskegon County, municipalities and WMSRDC marking the culmination of decades of dedication and collaboration. Through generations of environmental cleanup, municipal sewer lift station upgrades, and the steadfast participation of private partners, this achievement stands as a monumental milestone. This achievement restores cleaner water, healthier fisheries, improved wetlands, and stronger wildlife habitats. It also creates lasting recreational opportunities, protects public health, and ensures that future generations will enjoy the natural beauty and vitality of Muskegon Lake.”
Ken Johnson, Muskegon Mayor: “For decades, our community has worked with partners in the non-profit sector and every level of government to heal the wounds left by industrial pollution and to restore our treasured Muskegon Lake. Today’s delisting is not only an environmental victory, but a testament to what’s possible when people come together with a shared vision for a healthier, more sustainable future. Muskegon Lake’s recovery is ongoing, however, so we must be vigilant in protecting and cherishing the natural resources that define who we are as a community and a shoreline city, while we still look to our waterways to support economic growth.”
Dennis Kirksey, Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership Chair: “We are thrilled to share that Muskegon Lake has officially been delisted as a U.S. EPA-designated Area of Concern—a milestone that marks the successful restoration of our watershed. From improved water quality to revitalized habitats, the transformation of Muskegon Lake reflects years of dedicated work and collaboration. This achievement is the result of sustained efforts by local, state and federal partners, and especially the tireless contributions of volunteers through the Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership (MLWP), which has served as the local Public Advisory Council throughout this journey. We are already witnessing the benefits of this restoration—not only in the health of our environment, but in the vitality of our local economy. These improvements will continue to shape our community for generations to come.”
Erin Kuhn, West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission Executive Director: “I’m honored to have been part of the monumental transformation of Muskegon Lake. This achievement marks not only the end of an era, but the beginning of a new chapter, one that will shape our community for generations to come. As we close the book on Muskegon Lake’s designation as an Area of Concern, we celebrate a powerful moment in our shared history. It’s a privilege to stand together in this historic transition, and now we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to redefine our lake and our future while never losing sight of how far we’ve come.”
Federal, state and local project partners remediated more than 190,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment in projects totaling approximately $47 million. EPA provided $21 million of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding and $9.2 million of funding under the Great Lakes Legacy Act cost-share program. These investments leveraged an additional $16.3 million from state and local partners through in-kind and cash contributions.
Partners completed seven habitat restoration projects in the AOC with $38 million in GLRI funding, restoring approximately 134 acres of habitat and over 6,000 feet of shoreline. These restored areas include nearly 100 acres of open water and emergent wetlands, as well as habitat for fish and native plants. Additionally, project partners removed more than 110,000 tons of logging-era sawmill debris from the lake, restoring habitat for bottom-dwelling invertebrates and for fish and wildlife populations.
Economic Impacts
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative investments to restore Muskegon Lake are already paying dividends. According to a study by Grand Valley State University, the remediation and restoration of Muskegon Lake is projected to increase local home values by nearly $8 million and boost the local recreation economy by $28 million annually. Muskegon has already seen a 19% increase in customers at the marina, and a 45% increase in hotel room tax collected by the county. Overall, the projections anticipate a 6:1 ratio of return on investment.
Grand Valley State University scored three first-half touchdowns, then held Davenport scoreless in the third and fourth quarters en route to a 37-14 victory Saturday in Allendale.
The win was the eighth in a row by the Lakers over their crosstown rival, who has never beaten GVSU.
“We had tremendous balance today and now we know who we can be,” said Grand Valley Coach Scott Wooster following the game, which was played in temperatures reaching 85 degrees. Grand Valley, ranked 10th nationally in the American Football Coaches Division II poll at kickoff time, improved its record to 3-1 overall, 1-0 in the Great Lakes Athletic Conference. The visiting Panthers fell to 2-2, 1-1 in the conference.
Quarterback Brady Drogosh led his team with 74 yards on the ground, including three touchdowns.
Wooster gave credit to Davenport for “dialing up“ solid offensive plays that rattled the Laker defense early on.
Davenport running back Kayden Collins had a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter for the Panthers. (Photo Courtesy, Brandon Petrysyzn)
The Panthers started strong, receiving the opening kickoff and launching a 10-play, 75-yard opening series that ended when running back Kayden Collins ran around the Laker left end for a 10-yard touchdown. Davenport never faced a third down during the six-minute drive.
Grand Valley answered quickly with a three-play drive that ended when redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Shuster found receiver Sean Byrd with a 28-yard TD pass.
Second quarter action saw the Lakers stifle Davenport’s offense, while taking a 21-7 lead on a 29-yard run by Kellen Reed and a 17-yard sideline sprint by quarterback Brady Drogosh, who alternated at QB with Shuster and freshman Zak Olejniczak throughout the game for GVSU.
“We’ve essentially got three all-conference guys at quarterback,” Wooster said.
Davenport closed to within 21-14 at halftime, when quarterback D’wan Mathis found Earnest Sanders with a 75-yard touchdown pass.
Drogosh lights up running game in second half
Following halftime, a sellout crowd of 15,188 was treated to more heroics by Drogosh. The 6-4, 220-pound sophomore sandwiched a third quarter six-yard TD run and a fourth-quarter TD carry of 12 yards around a safety that occurred when Davenport centered a punt snap out of its own end zone. Those 16 points accounted for all of the second-half scoring and the Lakers’ 37-14 final margin.
Grand Valley’s defense was dominant in the second half, holding Davenport quarterbacks Mathis and Mac VandenHout to final passing statistics of 4-for-19 for a total of 109 yards. The Lakers were 12-for-25 through the air for 127 yards. The Panthers picked up 193 yards on 45 rushes. Grand Valley, paced by Drogosh’s three rushing TDs, picked up a season-high 254 yards on 38 carries.
Anthony Cardamone led the Lakers with 10 tackles, while D’Angelo Bellamy had nine stops for the Panthers.
Grand Valley travels to winless Northern Michigan for a Saturday night contest. Davenport hosts Michigan Tech, winners of four of five games, in a Saturday afternoon Homecoming game.
Laker running back Derrick Woods. (Photo Courtesy, Grand Valley State University)
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out the new and exciting football clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you much of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Monday night! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
It could be a hotel, car, a park, shelter or campground … or doubled up with another family or couch surfing at a friend’s house. That’s where many students and their families reside.
The number of Kentwood Public Schools students qualifying for services was 359 last year district-wide in grades K-12. The numbers have increased since COVID and Sarah Weir, Student Services Liaison for KPS, estimates around 10 percent of students could qualify for services.
When students in Kentwood register for school and don’t have a permanent address, Weir steps in to help. As the Student Services Liaison, she follows the federal McKinney-Vento Act that mandates services to students experiencing homelessness. The law allows students to stay in their “school of origin” by providing transportation, educational support and help with other needs. Weir has served in this role for 10 years.
Sarah Weir, KPS Student Services Liaison. (Photo Courtesy, Kentwood Public Schools)
“We end up connecting with the family and find out a little bit more about the situation and help them get to school,” Weir said. Kentwood Public Schools provides transportation to school, and helps them with school related items and field trips.
A budget of $6,000
Weir works with a budget of about $6,000. Although no food items are provided, Weir directs them to local food pantries and Kentwood’s monthly food truck.
“I can provide hygiene items, shampoo, conditioner and things like that,” Weir said. She can also provide winter coats and boots thanks to local businesses and the Knights of Columbus who help out.
“If they participate in an extracurricular activity we cover that, from sports gear to band fees, and art supplies,” Weir said.
Supply room for KPS students/families in need. (Photo Courtesy, Kentwood Public Schools)
Student Challenges
Although it’s not always evident about a student’s living situation, these students face challenges.
“Most people don’t realize the student is unhoused. I haven’t had instances of students being treated differently,” Weir said. “There’s plenty of situations. You could be asked to leave at any time.”
She believes the biggest barrier for students is not getting a good night’s sleep.
“Sharing a room with strangers, moving often, sleeping on the floor are all reasons students are not getting the rest they should,” Weir said.
She noted that it’s hard for students to stay focused on a math equation if they are hungry, or don’t feel safe.
Dropout rate high
Unfortunately, the dropout rate is high with unhoused students. Kentwood Public Schools does offer an online program.
“It (online) has to make sense for them. I think in-person is an easier way to learn for more people,” said Weir, who has seen some success stories including a family who left her caseload after seven years. They just got housing and Weir is keeping her fingers crossed that they can keep it.
The greatest challenge and most rewarding parts of her job go together.
“I love that we are able to make the school day easy for students and families,” Weir explained. “We can get them here, feed them, provide great instruction and care for them while their parents work on a tough situation. We can give the family about seven hours of peace each day.”
Systemic Issue
Weir said the problems related to a housing crisis are much bigger than the school day.
“Systemic policy changes such as livable wages are needed to make an impact on the housing crisis,” Weir explained. “I have families who can afford rent, but because they have a bad credit score, they don’t get the chance to get in anywhere. It would be great if landlords were willing to consider other evidence besides a credit score number.”
Weir also serves on the Kentwood Planning Commission that is looking at housing in the area.
“We really need to focus on paying people livable wages. We don’t have any kind of cap on how much housing costs.”
There was no looking ahead to this Friday’s key OK Red showdown with Hudsonville for the East Kentwood football team as the Falcons struck early and often to defeat West Ottawa 45-8.
East Kentwood scored four touchdowns in the first quarter to take a commanding lead and cruised to victory to improve to 5-1 overall, 3-1 in the conference. The win sets up the Falcons with a trip to Hudsonville where they play the undefeated Eagles with a share of first place in the conference on the line.
“I liked that we were able to start fast,” said East Kentwood Coach Tyrone Spencer. “In the last two games we did not score in the first quarter. Tonight, we scored 28 points in the first quarter and 10 more in the second quarter. Being able to start fast was very important to us and we were able to get that done.”
Running back Nasir “Nas” Williams got the Falcons on the scoreboard first as he ripped off a 52-yard touchdown run. Jayden Garcia tacked on the extra point putting Kentwood up 7-0.
The Falcons scored on a second long run on their next possession when Jesse Phillips broke loose for a 26-yard touchdown. Garcia again tacked on the point after giving the Falcons a 14-0 lead.
Falcon quarterback Kayd Coffman scored the third touchdown of the opening quarter on a five-yard run.
EK quarterback Kayd Coffman. (Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
East Kentwood closed out the scoring in the opening half through the air. Coffman hooked up with Ahman Edmonds for a 74-yard touchdown pass giving the Falcons a 28-0 lead after Garcia’s point after.
“We had something of everything on offense,” Spencer said. “Both of our backs ran for over 50 yards. Our quarterback was efficient completing 8-of-13 for 154 yards and our other quarterback (Tyran Harris) was five-for-five and threw a touchdown. It was a balanced game on offense.”
The Falcons tacked on 10 more points in the second quarter as running back Ace Bryant scored on a three-yard run and Garcia added a 27-yard field goal giving the hometown Falcon fans a 38-0 halftime lead to enjoy.
Neither team scored in the third quarter and the two teams traded scores in the fourth. East Kentwood’s final score of the game came when Harris connected with Amari Burch for a seven-yard touchdown strike.
(Photo Courtesy, Eli Reed)
East Kentwood had 415 yards of total offense; 223 passing yards and 192 rushing. Coffman passed for 154 of those yards while Harris, a sophomore, added 41 passing yards.
Nettleman led the Falcons in rushing with 70 yards, while Phillips added 50, and Coffman, 47. Edmonds led Kentwood in receiving with 74 yards, followed by Owen Van Der Veen, two catches for 48 yards and Stephan Jone, four for 47.
Paving the way for the offense was a Falcon offensive line led by tackles Chris Lovelady and Xavier Williams, guards Isaiah Wilson, Leland Croskey and Jabari O’Bryant and center Charlie Nichols.
Offensive line “solid”
“Our offensive line has been doing a great job,” Spencer said. “We talked as a staff this week about just how good these guys have been. They are not the biggest group, but they are really solid. They are the reason we run the ball well. It’s a real close-knit group and they do a real phenomenal job of executing and doing the job at a high level.”
Big Falcon “D”
The Falcon defense also turned in a big effort. Along with limiting West Ottawa to single figures on the scoreboard, the Falcons allowed West Ottawa just 54 rushing yards and 117 in passing.
“I thought the defense performed pretty good,” Spencer said. “There were a couple of third downs where we should’ve got them off the field, but overall, I thought the effort and performance was good.”
Tyler Meeuwsen led with seven tackles and an assist, while Alijah Bondon, Donavan Jones and Christopher Thompson all added three tackles.
With the win against West Ottawa tucked away, the Falcons can now concentrate on Friday’s OK Red showdown in Hudsonville.
“This is going to basically be like a playoff game,” Spencer said. “We are going to have to do our job better then they (Hudsonville) do. We have got to get off to a fast start and defensively we have to work to get off the field on third down. They (Hudsonville) do a great job of possessing the ball and their quarterback is a really good athlete. We have to make sure that our offense is on the field for most of the game and not their offense.”
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out the new and exciting football clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you much of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Monday night! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
The City of Kentwood invites local organizations and community members of all abilities to its fourth Adaptive Recreation Expo on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th Street SE. Admission is free and open to the public.
Guests are invited to explore the products, services and activities available for individuals of all abilities. Vendors will have the opportunity to meet target market customers face to face, interact with students in the field, and network with other agencies.
“We’re excited to welcome the community to our fourth Adaptive Recreation Expo,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “This event continues to shine a light on the many resources, equipment, and recreational opportunities available to individuals with disabilities and their families. It’s inspiring to see so many organizations collaborate, and when that happens, the entire community benefits.”
During the event, individuals who have disabilities and their loved ones can learn more about a variety of local programs and resources, including recreation opportunities and adaptive equipment demonstrations. Students and community members interested in adaptive recreation can connect with local agencies and learn about volunteer, internship and employment opportunities.
A past Kentwood Adaptive Recreation Expo. (Photo Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Vendor applications are still being accepted. Vendors will have an opportunity to connect directly with potential new clients and volunteers as well as other organizations.
If your organization is interested in becoming a vendor, contact Lori Gresnick, Program Coordinator, at 616-656-5317.
Thank you to our sponsors for helping make this event possible. The event’s gold sponsor is Estate Planning Legal Services, PC, silver sponsor is Clock Mobility, Hanger Clinic, and Strive Recreational Therapy. Bronze sponsors are Down to Defend, Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics, Novo Chiropractic Sports and Wellness Center, and West Michigan Bike & Fitness.
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out the new and exciting football clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you much of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Monday night! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
In a battle between two of the premier Division 1 high school football heavyweights in West Michigan, the Rockford Rams made a few more big plays than East Kentwood and that proved to be the difference as the Rams grabbed a 21-14 OK Red win.
Defense and the running game played big parts in the showdown as Rockford handed the Falcons their first loss of the season.
“I thought it wasn’t one of our best games,” said East Kentwood Coach Tyrone Spencer. “I felt that the effort was there. We fought hard, but we definitely made a lot of mistakes that we could’ve prevented. We had a lot of opportunities on our end that we did not take advantage of. We could’ve played a lot better overall, especially on defense.”
Neither team was able to put any points on the scoreboard during the opening quarter of the game.
Rockford on offense during the Rams 21-14 home victory over East Kentwood Friday. (Photo Courtesy, Eli Reed)
Rams strike first
Rockford broke the scoring drought in the second quarter, when it scored on a 19-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0 with 10:35 remaining in the first half after the extra point kick.
The score remained that way until late in the first half when both teams scored in the final minute of the half.
East Kentwood tied the game when quarterback Kayd Coffman capped a drive by running in for a touchdown from four-yards out. Jayden Garcia kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 49 seconds remaining in the first half.
East Kentwood quarterback Kayd Coffman sets the offense during the Falcons 21-14 loss to Rockford Friday. (Photo Courtesy, Eli Reed)
Those 49 seconds, however, proved to be enough time for Rockford to regain the lead before halftime.
Starting on their own 25-yard line, Rockford quickly moved down field on a 15-yard run by quarterback Braylen Daniels and a 38-yard pass play from Daniels to Jax Eichbauer. Daniels then finished the drive connecting with Jackson Cummings on a 22-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining in the half. Rockford added the point after to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
Both defenses tightened up during the third quarter as neither team put any points on the scoreboard.
Midway through the fourth quarter, East Kentwood drove down to the Rockford one-yard line, but on a fourth down and goal from the one, the Ram defense came up big and kept the Falcons out of the end one.
East Kentwood fans filled the visitor stands during their 21-14 loss to Rockford Friday. (Photo Courtesy, Eli Reed)
Rockford turned to its ground game and went on a long drive of its own. The Rams eventually scored as Luke Ahern ran across the goal line with 5:04 remaining in the game, giving Rockford a 21-7 lead.
East Kentwood, however, refused to fold and cut the deficit to 21-14 with 3:48 remaining in the game. Coffman broke free for a 39-yard touchdown run.
That was as close as the Falcons would get as Rockford put the game on ice with its running game.
“We missed some shots we had,” Spencer said. “We had three fourth-and-ones that we missed and we have got to get those. Against good teams you are not going to get too many opportunities and you have to take advantage of them when you get them.”
East Kentwood and Rockford battled it out Friday night. (Photo Courtesy, Eli Reed)
East Kentwood finished with 358 total yards; 231 on the ground and 127 through the air.
Coffman led the way for the Falcons with 101 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns. He also completed 13-of-28 passes for 127 yards.
Jesse Phillips added 59 yards rushing on 12 carries, while Nasir Williams added 51 rushing on 13 carries.
Ahman Edmonds led the Falcons with nine catches for 90 yards, followed by Owen Van Der Veen, three for 33 yards.
Malachi Daly with seven tackles
Malachi Daly led the Falcons with seven tackles, followed by Major Barnes, five tackles and an interception, Donavan Jones, three tackles, an interception and a tackle for loss and Jaziel Negron, four tackles, including a tackle for loss.
“Defensively, we did create three turnovers so we did do some good things on defense,” Spencer said. “We did miss some alignments on defense so we have some things to work on defensively.”
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the conference. They return to action Friday when they host Caledonia (2-2 overall, 0-2 in conference play) with losses to Hudsonville and Grandville.
“We are excited about this week,” Spencer said. “I think we match up well with Caledonia. Like everybody else in the OK Red, there are no gimmees. You have to come ready to play and ready to play hard. We can’t have misalignments and miscues. We have to be ready to play our best on offense, defense and special teams.”
If ever there was a jack of all trades at Berlin Raceway, the late George Keen was just that man.
Keen, who passed away in 2021, was a big part of the racing scene at Berlin Raceway for some five decades beginning in the 1960s. During his time at the raceway, he was a driver, car owner and car sponsor. Keen also promoted racing in West Michigan as a radio racing announcer, an announcer of Berlin racing on a website and also hosted a popular racing show on WKTV that was a staple for over 20 years.
All of that work was recently recognized with the announcement that Keen would be inducted into the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame. He will be honored in January at Berlin Raceway’s annual banquet and a Hall of Fame plaque will be unveiled and added to the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame next season.
“George did everything that you could possibly do at the track,” said veteran track announcer Matt McKenzie, who worked with Keen on the livestreaming Track Pass network that broadcast Berlin racing over the internet. “I am actually writing the write-up for his Hall of Fame plaque and it will be a challenge to get everything he accomplished in five sentences. George had his hand in so many things.”
A career that began in the Sixties
“George did everything in racing,” McKenzie said. “He owned race cars, he drove race cars, he sponsored other drivers, he was a radio broadcaster at the track and he started a racing show at WKTV. He even built a two-seat racing car so fans could ride around the track with their favorite driver.”
Later in his career, Keen provided another valuable service to drivers at Berlin with his mobile tool shed which was basically a concession for tools that pit crews and mechanics could turn to in a pinch.
“George was very entrepreneurial,” McKenzie said. “He knew how to sell about anything.”
Keen also knew how to give back and promote the sport he loved. He was a radio announcer for Berlin racing and also hit the streets to sell advertising for the broadcasts. In the early 1990s, Keen added television to his media portfolio with his racing show on WKTV.
George Keen hosting his popular “Racing Show” on WKTV. (WKTV)
A long pit stop at WKTV
“George turned “The Racing Show” from its first airing in 1993 until 2010, into a staple for West Michigan racing fans through the winter months,” said Tom Norton, executive director and general manager of WKTV. “His was the only individual TV show here who’s TV viewers had a well-attended winter party. With George and his team during those years, it was wonderful.”
Racing was not the only sport that Keen was involved in on the television end at WKTV. He also was part of the station’s annual coverage of the Golden Gloves.
George Keen also was involved with hosting various programs during the popular 28th Street Metro-Cruise like WKTV’s Dream Wheels. (WKTV)
A “shining star” at WKTV
“George was one of the shining stars of WKTV for decades,” Norton said. “George was a great television host, called many a sporting event for us, and of course, hosted “The Racing Show” for so many years. We truly miss George’s energy and spirit.”
As online broadcasting began to take hold, Keen also was ready to adapt to that as he teamed with McKenzie on NBC’s Track Pass each Saturday night to announce Berlin racing via the internet.
With his interest in so many activities surrounding racing, it was only natural that Keen would amass a wealth of contacts.
“George knew everybody”
“George knew everybody,” McKenzie said. “You could name any type of business in West Michigan and George knew someone in that business. If you needed something in audio, paint, tires, pizza, whatever, George knew people in that business. If you ever needed anything all you had to do was get a hold of George and he would make a call and get you in touch with whatever you needed. George was just a great guy.”
Keen also had a hand in the Berlin Hall of Fame that he’s going to be inducted into.
“George always wanted the Hall of Fame to be improved,” McKenzie said. “The hall of fame plaques used to be on a back wall next to the bathrooms. George wanted them moved to a bigger area and have an area built for them. He was working on getting that before he passed away. After he passed, I helped make sure that a new Hall of Fame area was built.”
With his induction into the Berlin Hall of Fame, the jack of all trades at Berlin Raceway is now a permanent fixture at the track.
The Kentwood City Commission approved a Brownfield TIF plan to support a 216-unit housing development by Allen Edwin Homes and extend Breton Avenue.
The $30-million project will redevelop a 66.6-acre parcel at 2720 52nd St. SE, 2854 52nd St. SE and 5491 Wing Ave. SE, creating 216 new single-family homes, including 69 townhome rentals, to the city. Ten of the single-family townhomes will be rent-controlled units reserved as income-restricted rentals for households at or below 120% of area median income for 10 years.
In addition to new housing, the project includes the extension of Breton Avenue from 52nd Street to 60th Street, which will ease traffic congestion on Wing Avenue.
“With the Brownfield TIF, we are able to partner with developers to make improvements that benefit the whole community,” said Kentwood Community Development Director Lisa Golder. “These projects will help us meet the growing demand for housing in our city while also delivering the much-needed extension of Breton Avenue.”
Brownfield tax increment financing, or TIF, is a development tool available to help offset costs in revitalizing vacant, damaged or polluted properties and giving them new, useful lives through redevelopment. In 2023, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority expanded the tool to include workforce housing development and rehabilitation as an eligible activity for TIF reimbursement.
Kentwood Commission approves Brownfield TIF for new $30-million housing development by Allen Edwin Homes. (Map Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2026, starting with extending Breton Avenue and then the 69 rental units. The entire 216-unit housing development is expected to be completed by 2043.
Kentwood’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved the application on Aug. 18. Final reimbursement agreements and project plans will now be submitted for state review. If approved, the TIF revenue collection is expected to begin in 2026, with capture planned for up to 18 years.
More information about Brownfield TIFs and how to apply for a property in the City of Kentwood, contact Community Development Director Lisa Golder at golderl@kentwood.us or 616-554-0709.
The East Kentwood football team opened OK Red Conference play in a big way Friday as it totaled over 500 yards of offense in a 54-7 win against Jenison.
The offense came from a multitude of sources as 261 yards came via the ground game and 240 yards from passing as the 54-point scoring output was the biggest offensive outburst by the Falcons since they scored 63 points in a 2019 win against West Ottawa.
East Kentwood football Coach Tyrone Spencer. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
“I liked the way we executed the game plan,” said East Kentwood Coach Tyrone Spencer. “We want to be able to keep teams off balance with our offense and we were able to do that. I also think we were able to wear Jenison down. They had some guys that were going both ways and I think we were able to wear them down as the game went on.”
Coming into the season the Falcons planned to run the ball and use a running back by committee approach. That plan is being carried out as the Falcons again shared the wealth in the ground game. A total of four Falcons eclipsed 40 yards rushing for the game with three rushing for over 60 yards. Kentwood junior Ace Bryant led with 68 yards on four carries, followed by Ahman Edmonds, one carry for 62 yards, Jacarvion Johnson, two for 60 and a touchdown and Nasir “Nas” Williams ran seven times for 40 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Davien “Bam” Nettleman added 12 yards on three carries and scored a touchdown, while sophomore Tyran Harris, five yards on one carry and a TD.
“Our running back by committee has been working out nice,” Spencer said. “The guys are progressing well. We have guys that do certain things well and they are making the most of their opportunities.”
East Kentwood Quarterback Kayd Coffman. (Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
QB Kayd Coffman in high gear
Senior quarterback Kayd Coffman also clicked into high gear against the Wildcats, completing 15-of-20 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Ahman Edmonds led the way in receiving with 114 yards on six catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. For the game, Edmonds totaled 176 yards of total offense. That kind of production is not going unnoticed by college recruiters as Tiffin University offered Edmonds a scholarship following Friday’s game.
Like the running backs, the Falcons shared the wealth in the receiving department. Junior wide receiver Stephan Jones caught four passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wideout Bryce Barnes caught three passes for 43 yards, while senior tight end Kendrick Mayhue caught a pair of passes for 26 yards and sophomore receiver Caiden Cox caught a pass for 10 yards.
The Jenison defense proved to be a tough nut to crack during the early potion of the game as the contest was scoreless at the end of the opening quarter. The Kentwood offense began to percolate in the second quarter with four touchdowns to take a 26-7 halftime lead. Nas Williams scored the first Kentwood touchdown on a three-yard run and Jayden Garcia tacked on the extra point.
Jenison tied the game thanks to a long touchdown run. The Falcon offense then took over, reeling off three consecutive touchdowns. The Falcons took the lead for good when Coffman hooked up with Stephan Jones on an 18-yard scoring strike. The Falcons closed out the first-half with a two-yard touchdown run from Williams and a one-yard scoring run by Bam Nettleman.
East Kentwood put the game on ice with four touchdowns in the third quarter. The outburst began with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Coffman to Edmonds. Coffman then hooked up with Jones on a 14-yard scoring strike. The Falcons closed out the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run by Tyran Harris and a 59-yard touchdown run by Jacarvion Johnson.
Strong EK defense as well
Along with the offensive explosion, the East Kentwood defense came up with an impressive effort. Factor out the 77-yard touchdown run, and the East Kentwood defense surrendered 116 yards of total offense for the game. Subtracting the touchdown run, the Falcon defense allowed Jenison 2.4 yards per play.
Defensive back Donavan Jones led with four tackles and two assists. (Greg Chrapek/WKTV Contributor)
“Overall, I thought our defense turned in a really good performance,” Spencer said. “They created some turnovers and got some big stops. I thought we controlled their passing game, and other than the one big run we controlled their running game.”
The Falcon defense turned in a total-team effort against the Wildcats. Junior defensive back Donavan Jones led with four tackles and two assists, followed by Senior Benedi Kanda, two tackles for loss, Malachi Daly and Austin Bobo also added a tackle for loss. The Falcon defense also intercepted three Jenison passes with Dallas Thomas-Moody, Jaziel Negron and Major Barnes all recording picks. Senior defensive lineman James Jones Jr. racked up four assists, while Barnes and Baxter Johnson added three.
With the win, East Kentwood improved to 3-0 overall, 1-0 in the OK Red. The Falcons return to action this Friday with a big conference road trip to Rockford to face the 2-1 Rams, who opened conference play with a 42-24 win at Grand Haven.
At the young age of seven, Samantha Perry was a “lucky” traveler on a small private plane which made a lasting impression.
“My dad was working for a fastener company and a large automotive organization needed an emergency part that was causing a production outage, and his company rented a small private plane to fly him from Michigan to Chicago to get the required part,” said Perry, who is on GE Aerospace’s cybersecurity team and president of the Great Lakes Chapter of Women in Aviation International (WAI). “It was because I tagged along with him in that plane that I caught the ‘bug’ for aviation, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
“While open to all genders, our initiative is designed to expose school-aged females to the aviation industry and spark inspiration about the career opportunities available in aerospace.”
Since becoming president, Perry’s highlights have included bringing Girls in Aviation Day back to Grand Rapids, expanding the chapter board to increase collaboration, and creating strong partnerships with other midwest WAI chapters (and partner organizations) to expand the reach of their professional network.
“Many Women in Aviation International Chapters across the globe host a Girls in Aviation Day event,” Perry said. “The Great Lakes Chapter has held about seven events since inception. However, this is our second year hosting the event with capacity to facilitate larger-scale attendance.”
Girls in Aviation Day set for Sept. 20 at Avflight. (Courtesy, Luke K/PistonFly)
Girls in Aviation Day Details
Time/Date: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 Location: AVFLIGHT, 4211 Cassard Ln., Grand Rapids Featuring: –Stem activities –Themed crafts –Static displays –Airfield tours –Scavenger hunts
The Mission
“Women in Aviation International is the largest nonprofit organization that envisions a world where the sky is open to all, and where aviation and aerospace dreams are possible without barriers,” said Perry, who has a private pilot’s license. “The WAI Great Lakes Chapter is building an inclusive, diverse and global aviation and aerospace industry – starting here in the Great Lakes Region.”
Members vary in age and career stage, from high school senior to retirees.
“In our chapter, some members are corporate pilots (business jets), some are airline pilots, some are certified flight instructors,” explained Perry, who has a private pilot’s license. “We have some non-flying occupations too, including, aircraft mechanics, airport operations officers, flight dispatch personnel, trip schedulers, line technicians, aircraft management staff, aviation authors, avionics manufacturers, aerospace engineers, FAA employees, and more.”
“Goal is to increase female representation”
“There is a significant gender gap in most aspects of aviation, and our goal is to increase the female representation in all aerospace occupations. While there are certain aspects of aviation that have larger female populations (flight attendants, for example), other occupations (engineering and maintenance, for example) could benefit from increased diversity.”
Check out the exciting clips above from our first Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like during basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Monday night! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
A new era is dawning for Kelloggsville football and the Rockets have made it a successful launch in the first two weeks.
The new look starts with Justin Dennett, who stepped in as the new Coach. The early results are proving positive as the Rockets defeated Grant 43-14 to open the season, and beat Perry 48-28 Friday.
“We started out pretty good,” Dennett said of the opening day win. “We received the opening kickoff and went down and scored. Then on Grant’s first possession they fumbled. We were up 22-6 at halftime and then scored a few more times early in the second half. We got off to a good start and were able to maintain it.”
Quarterback Cameron Dunbar posts three TDs against Grant
Offensively, the Rockets were led by senior quarterback Cameron Dunbar (5-11, 185 pounds) who completed 7-of-10 passes for 82 yards and rushed the ball 12 times for 176 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Keyontae Gibson logs 157 yards and three TDs in opener
Running back Keyontae Gibson added 157 yards on 14 carries and scored three touchdowns. Gibson also caught a pair of passes for 27 yards. Danyel White (5-11, 165) added two receptions for 25 yards.
A core of seniors led the way for Kelloggsville on the offensive side of the ball starting with Dunbar at the quarterback position.
“Cameron is a tremendous athlete,” Dennett said. “He is our fastest and strongest athlete. He really fits the offense that we want to run. He is a dynamic kid and a good leader for us.”
Gibson, White and senior Isaak Kowal (5-11, 180) provide plenty of options in the running and passing game.
“Keyontae had a breakout game for us,” Dennett said. “He is a really dynamic kid. He is fast and strong and broke a few long runs. Danyel is one of our fastest kids and has good hands. He is also a good blocker which is good for our offense. Isaak is a senior running back who is a good, tough runner and a good blocker.”
Up front, senior Zane Hendricks (5-10, 200) and Prince Bakara (5-6, 210) anchor the offensive line where they provide plenty of senior leadership for a young group of linemen.
The Rockets also turned in a productive game on the defensive side of the football in their opener.
“Defensively, I wasn’t sure how it would go in Week One,” Dennett said. “The defense played really well and forced four turnovers. They (Grant) only scored once on our first-team defense. I was pleasantly surprised with our defense. We have a lot of good athletes on defense. We still have to fine-tune some things and clean some things up, but for Week One it was a really good effort.”
With a small roster, the Rockets rely on several players to log minutes on both the defensive and offensive side of the ball.
Dunbar and White head up the defensive secondary. Kowal and Gibson lead the way at inside linebacker. Bakara and Hendricks anchor the defensive front.
The defense also is receiving contributions from senior Nasyre Walker (5-9, 170), who plays a hybrid outside linebacker/safety position, senior Jaquardre Montes (5-10, 160), inside linebacker, and Qubec Griffin, defensive back and receiver on offense.
Dennett brings plenty of head coaching experience to Kelloggsville. A native of Byron Center, Dennett was the Coach at Montague the past four seasons.
“We have a good group of seniors,” Dennett said. “They were all pretty committed over the summer. We have a lot of potential, but we need to focus on the little things.”
“We definitely had a good start,” Dennett said. “Our main focus right now is to grow our numbers. Hopefully we can grow them and have a junior varsity team. I was really happy with Week One and hope to build on it.”
For the second week in a row, the East Kentwood football team found its high gear on offense. Led by a potent passing game and a productive ground attack, the Falcon offense found the end zone six times as it defeated Byron Center 43-14 in their first home game of the season.
East Kentwood scored three touchdowns in each half as it opened up a 21-0 halftime lead and put the game away with 22 second-half points.
The Kentwood offense eclipsed the 40-point mark for the second straight week and was led by senior quarterback Kayd Coffman, who completed 17-of-24 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. Coffman tossed four TD passes in Kentwood’s 43-8 win at Southfield A&T in the season opener. Ahman Edmonds led the Falcons with five catches for 108 yards, while Nasir Williams led in rushing with 80 yards on 12 carries.
East Kentwood quarterback Kayd Coffman passed for three touchdowns in the win after tossing four TD passes in the season opener. He completed 17-of-24 passes for 299 yards in the win over Byron Center. (Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
Quarterback Kayd Coffman “locked in”
In his second season as the starting quarterback, Coffman has taken his game to the next level.
“I think Kayd has responded well this season,” said East Kentwood Coach Tyrone Spencer. “Last year at this time he was splitting reps with a senior. Now he is confident, has the position all his own, is committed to a university (Michigan State) so that confidence skyrockets. He has done a phenomenal job with his leadership. He stays locked in and he is an awesome benefit to us.”
Coffman completed all four of his passes on the opening drive of the game as he moved the Falcons 79 yards downfield in seven plays for a touchdown. He capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Owen Van Der Veen. Jayden Garcia tacked on the point after.
After the Kentwood defense forced Byron Center into a three-and-out on its first possession of the game, the offense embarked on a second long touchdown drive. Starting on its own 36-yard line, the Falcons drove the ball 64 yards in 13 plays. Coffman capped the drive with arguably the throw of the game as he fired a laser to junior Stephan Jones at the corner of the end zone on a third-and-goal play from the Bulldog 22-yard line. The Falcons overcame four penalties on the drive including a pair of delay of game penalties near the Bulldog goal line.
Byron Center responded on its next possession by driving down to the East Kentwood 19-yard line where the Falcon defenders came up with a big fourth-down stop.
Overall, the Falcon defense turned in a solid effort allowing Byron Center a pair of second-half touchdowns.
East Kentwood defense “played well”
I thought they played well,” Spencer said. “I thought they executed their assignments well. We tried to take away what they do. They are a tough, physical football team and we wanted to take some things away and we did and we forced them to do some other things that they don’t necessarily do a lot.
Kentwood tacked on a third touchdown with just 59 seconds remaining in the first half as Coffman connected with Davien Nettleman on a 15-yard scoring strike.
The touchdown pass was caught by a third different Falcon receiver highlighting the depth and talent of the team’s receiving corps.
East Kentwood’s Kayd Coffman sets the offense against Byron Center in a 43-14 win Sept. 6, 2025. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“They are all great guys,” Coffman said. “They are just so good. We get a ball in space and they can go make a play. That is very reassuring for me and helps me sleep at night.”
One of the Kentwood playmakers is senior Ahman Edmonds, who not only makes plays in the passing game, but also can provide impact plays as a runner and kick returner.
East Kentwood’s Ahman Edmonds returns a kickoff in a 43-14 win over Byron Center on Sept. 6, 2025. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“Our offense is definitely deep,” Edmonds said. “We’ve got a lot of good receivers. This offense is fun to play in. Me being a smaller guy they can put me out or in the backfield and I can show everything so it’s definitely a good advantage. My eyes blow up because I know that Kayd can make a big throw and I can make a big catch.”
Byron Center scored its first points of the game on the opening drive of the second half as Will Baubach hauled in a 38-yard touchdown pass.
Kentwood answered with a touchdown on the next possession. A 43-yard pass play from Coffman to Edmonds was the highlight of the drive that was capped by a four-year touchdown run by senior running back Jesse Phillips.
Kentwood upped the lead to 35-7 late in the third quarter when senior running back Nasir Williams ran in for a touchdown from a yard out.
The two teams closed out the game by trading touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Cam Payne scored Byron Center’s touchdown on a two-yard run. Williams scored East Kentwood’s final touchdown on a one-yard run.
Coffman completed 17-of-24 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. Edmonds led the Falcons in receiving with five catches for 108 yards, followed by Nettleman, three catches for 52 yards, Van Der Veen, three for 50 yards, Jones, three for 49, and Kendrick Mayhue, two catches for 26 yards. Williams led the Falcon running game with 80 yards on 12 carries, while Nettleman added 49 yards on seven carries and Phillips, 20 on six carries.
Chris Thompson led the way with six tackles, followed by Dallas Thomas-Moody and Malachi Daly, five apiece, Donovan Jones added five tackles and one tackle for loss, James Jones Jr., four tackles and a tackle for loss and Jaziel Negron added four tackles.
With the win, Kentwood improved to 2-0 for the season and returns to action next Friday when it travels to Jenison to face the 2-0 Wildcats in opening-week action in the OK Red Conference.
While the Falcons are pleased with the start, they know the season is long and there is plenty of room for improvement.
“I think there is always room for improvement,” Spencer said. It’s part of rebuilding a program. We did overcome some penalties and we did overcome some mistakes so it shows a lot of the character of our guys and the kind of mental toughness that they have. There are some things we have to clean up.
“I told them it wasn’t the cleanest game, but I was satisfied with the effort. I thought we had great enthusiasm.”
The South Christian football team kicked off the season in a big way on the road with a 27-13 win over long-time rival Grand Rapids Christian.
The Sailors utilized a total team effort as the offense displayed plenty of balance, while the defense slowed down a potent Grand Rapids Christian offense.
South Christian also benefitted from a quick start with a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter, while keeping the host Eagles scoreless.
South’s Austin Burgess scampers 17 for first TD of game
South put the first points on the scoreboard at the 7:30 mark of the first quarter. That was when junior quarterback Austin Burgess, making his first-ever varsity start at quarterback, scampered in from 17-yards out to give the Sailors a 6-0 lead.
Owen Burgess reels in 41-yard TD pass for South Christian. (Greg Chrapek/WKTV Contributor)
They extended that lead to 13-0 with 22 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. This time South went to the air to score as Austin Burgess hooked up with Owen Burgess on a 41-yard touchdown pass. Austin Burgess kicked the point after.
“We had a real nice first drive,” said South Christian Coach Danny Brown, “and then we got a stop on defense and scored again. The quick start definitely helped settle down those first-game nerves. At that point we started to run the ball more and control it and play some good defense. Anytime they did something we were able to answer. I’m proud of how the kids stayed the course and played a full four quarters.”
Eagles get on the board in second quarter
The two teams traded scores in the second quarter. Grand Rapids Christian scored its first points when Charlie King ran in for a score from seven-yards out. King added the extra point cutting the deficit to 13-7.
The Sailors answered that score with 4:36 remaining in the first half when the Burgess-to-Burgess connection clicked again, this time from 24 yards out to increase their lead to 19-7.
Easton Raak, South Christian. (Greg Chrapek/WKTV Contributor)
After a scoreless third quarter, South Christian broke the game open in the fourth. Easton Raak scored the final Sailor touchdown with a 14-yard run. The Sailors tacked on a two-point conversion as Austin Burgess connected with Charles Vermass on a pass.
Grand Rapids Christian closed out the scoring with a touchdown with 1:23 left in the game to make the final score 27-14
.
Offensively, the Sailors totaled 426 yards. Burgess completed 11-of-14 passes for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“Austin did a real good job of executing the game plan,” Brown said. “I was really happy for him in his first start as a junior. It was a little nerve-racking for him making his first varsity start, but he settled in and did everything we asked of him.”
Owen Burgess led the Sailors with five catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
South Christian’s Jesse Van De Griend led on the ground with 53 yards on 10 carries. (Greg Chrapek/WKTV Contributor)
Overall, South ran the ball 40 times, while passing 14. Jesse Van De Griend led the South ground game with 53 yards on 10 carries, followed by Raak, 50 yards on five carries, Kyle Naklizki, 41 yards on eight carries and Isaac Osterhaven, 25 yards on nine carries.
“I thought our running backs did a really good job,” Brown said. “They each had about the same amount of rushes. They all added a different dynamic and I was very happy with that. Football is a physical game and 40 rushes is a lot for one back so being able to spread it out among three guys is a benefit.”
In all, four different Sailors ran the ball at least five times and six different Sailors caught at least one pass.
The team effort extended to the defensive side of the ball where the Sailors limited Grand Rapids Christian to 262 total yards with 179 coming through the air, 83 via the rush.
“I was really happy with our defense,” Brown said. “We were very physical and I thought we made them one-dimensional. We held them to under 90 yards rushing and that enabled us to do some things to disrupt their passing game.”
Brown credited the defensive line for their effort in stopping the Eagles’ ground game.
Caleb Wieneke led the Sailors with five tackles and three assists. (Greg Chrapek/WKTV Contributor)
“Collectively, our front four played really, really well,” Brown said. “As a unit they blew up the running game and were able to get at the quarterback. Our inside linebacker, Caleb Wieneke, had a nice game. He was our leading tackler and forced a fumble.”
Wieneke totaled five tackles and three assists, followed by Cody Jones with two tackles, three assists and 1.5 tackles for loss, Ben Buiter, one tackle, three assists, one tackle for loss, Noah Klump, four tackles, two tackles for loss and Kasjen VanSolkema, two tackles, one assist and 0.5 tackles for loss.
South returns to action Friday hosting East Grand Rapids at Byron Center Stadium.
