Ottawa-Kent teams on the Rise
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The OK Conference is home to dozens of teams, all with everchanging great seasons and lulls for all, with a few elite teams in the mix. Today I’ll be going over the teams that have made strides in their game…
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Continue ReadingThe OK Conference is home to dozens of teams, all with everchanging great seasons and lulls for all, with a few elite teams in the mix. Today I’ll be going over the teams that have made strides in their game these past few seasons, whether that be because of rising talent, a coaching change, etc. Now, here are the teams that I see trending upwards!
OK-Blue: Coopersville
The Broncos have been improving steadily ever since their 1-win 2019 campaign, even going as far as opening this past season at 5-0. I’m impressed by Ed Kamen’s work as head coach, and Coopersville has some excellent talent in the pipeline, including standout QB Beau Harris Beau Harris 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Coopersville | 2025 State MI . I’m incredibly excited to see what they can do moving forward.
OK-Gold: South Christian
The Sailors were a sneaky good team this past season, and they’ve been steadily improving for a few years now. There are a few notable names, such as Jake Vermaas, heading up the ranks, and in general, this is a team that is well-coached and highly respected in the area. The Sailors are now seeking a breakthrough season to make a playoff run.
OK-Green: Grand Rapids Union
I’ve spoken extensively about Union, and for a good reason. This team was at the bottom of the barrel for years, and now Don Fellows is turning the ship around; and I am incredibly impressed by the young talent this team has. Syncere Hobson Syncere Hobson 6'2" | 265 lbs | DL East Kentwood | 2025 State MI is a beast of a lineman who is getting D1 looks, and QB Tommy Stevens Tommy Stevens 5'8" | 175 lbs | QB Grand Rapids Union | 2023 MI is a versatile playmaker.
OK-Red: Caledonia
Another team with a recent successful coaching change, Caledonia’s transition to a more spread-out offense, has worked wonders. QB Mason Mckenzie has looked great, while the trenches still look as good as ever. This past season was tremendous for them as they went deep into the playoffs, upsetting Mona Shores along the way. I believe the OK-Red is a two-horse race between Caledonia and Rockford.
Ok-Silver: Comstock Park
A team that was struggling a few years ago, Comstock Park, turned things around quickly, having gone a perfect 8-0 in the regular season. This is a team not many know about, and in general, I’m looking forward to seeing consistent improvement.
OK-White: Forest Hills Central
A consistently good team since 2019, I saw FHC take another step forward this past season. Their only regular-season loss was against Grand Blanc, a D1 state semifinalist, and they got knocked out of the playoffs by Mona Shores, one of the most feared programs in the state. This is a well-coached squad that I thought was championship material last season, and with names like JT Hartman JT Hartman 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI , this program is an excellent spot to continue building.