By Ty Marzean
Wyoming-Kentwood News Today Contributor
greer@wktv.org
Kelloggsville will have to replace a dozen seniors from a team that made the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
The Rockets (6-4 last year) lost in the first round to Catholic Central 45-16.
“We still have high expectations,” said Kelloggsville Coach Justin Dennett, who’s in his second year at the helm of the Rockets football program. “We want to hold ourselves to high standards.”
The 2026 team will be led by All-Conference senior tackle Davion Whitfield.
“He’s our anchor up front; he’s a great leader and the strongest kid on the team,” said Dennett.
Whitfield will be joined on the line by fellow senior guard Se’Marion Nesby to solidify the front five of the Rockets.
“I think this year will go more smoothly,” said Whitfield. “We need to be disciplined; I expect to be even better this year.”
Dennett will use that solid offensive line to do damage on the ground.
“I grew up playing in the Wing-T; we want to be known as a physical running team.”
The Rockets will deploy a running back tandem of Bryshon Parks and Mark Nix.
“(Bryshon) Parks is a really talented running back; (Mark) Nix is a great athlete and really strong,” Dennett said of his duo.
“We’ve been working hard on offense this off-season,” said Nix. “We don’t have a set quarterback yet, but we have made it work. But the defense is locked down.”
The Rockets will put that defense to the test as they start the season Friday at home with an OK Silver matchup against the four-time defending conference champion, the Belding Black Knights. Belding comes into the season with a 23-game winning streak in conference play.
“They are a very well-coached team,” Dennett said. “They lost a lot from last year, but they have the type of program that reloads. They have bought into their system.”
The Rockets got off to a 14-0 lead vs. Belding last season before falling 44-14.
Kelloggsville hosts Laingsburg on Thursday, Sept. 3, in its lone non-conference game of the season before getting into conference play at Calvin Christian on Friday, Sept. 11.
