East Kentwood @ West Ottawa Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Later this evening, the #31 team in Division 1, West Ottawa, will face the #28 team in Division 1, East Kentwood. Now, these rankings are based on the MHSAA's playoff points, but knowing there are only 32 programs that make the postseason makes this game monumental. Whoever wins this matchup will be in great shape to make the postseason, while the losing team will struggle to contend. Now, let's compare both teams and outline some key players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Quick Comparison </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td>East Kentwood</td><td>West Ottawa</td></tr><tr><td>PPG</td><td>18.5</td><td>20.6</td></tr><tr><td>PAPG</td><td>17.8</td><td>25.2</td></tr><tr><td>Common Opponents</td><td>Rockford (41-20 L), Grand Haven (42-0 W)</td><td>Rockford (41-13 L), Grand Haven (35-14 W)</td></tr><tr><td>Best Win </td><td>vs. Brother Rice (19-17)</td><td>vs. Portage Northern (21-10)</td></tr><tr><td>2021 Record </td><td>2-7 (6th in OK-Red) </td><td>0-9 (8th in OK-Red)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Difference-Makers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East Kentwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='271134' first='Khi' last='Copes'] - DB - 2024 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Copes had a great offseason with Legacy and has had a ton of bright spots this season. Most notably, he picked off [player_tooltip player_id='407081' first='Mason' last='Mckenzie'] twice and [player_tooltip player_id='232200' first='Mac' last='VandenHout'] once. I also think his pursuit angles are good, he's able to shed some blocks, and he hits hard when he wants to. I hope to watch more of Copes tonight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='241629' first='Casey' last='Joppie'] - QB - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another guy with a great offseason and has shown significant improvement from last season. Much of today will fall on Casey, and what I can say about him is that he knows how to command his offense. He throws a good deep ball, and his throws are usually very calculated. I look forward to snapping pictures of Casey and evaluating his performance tonight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='253244' first='Stellan' last='Bowman'] - LB - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a linebacker who knows how to lay the wood. The first thing that pops out on tape is his hit power, and boy, is it strong. I'm impressed by his ability to catch ballcarriers as they attempt to gain the edge, and in general, once he sees who has the ball, he's a freight train coming to them. Bowman is going to be critical in stopping West Ottawa's offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Ottawa </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kayden Forbes - RB - 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forbes is the soul of this offense, and he's just a sophomore. Straight-up, he knows how to play running back. Some of his most explosive plays are the slowest developing, as he's a patient runner who knows exactly when to turn on the jets. Once the play breaks down, Forbes is often able to make yardage out of nothing. His speed is very good, with a 12-second 100M dash, but I'm especially impressed by his acceleration. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper Terpstra - OT - 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In order to have a dominant run game, you must have some dominant offensive linemen. Terpstra is a 6'4" Grand Valley State commit who is an incredible run blocker. His size alone gives him a huge advantage, and he's violent enough to shove people around. Terpstra and the entire WO offensive line is going to have to play well against a good EK front 7. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zeke Perez - MLB - 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing one of the most important defensive positions, Zeke Perez is going to have to bring his A-Game against East Kentwood. Overall, Perez is a good linebacker who does his job well. Today, I'll look for him to be aggressive-especially in short-yardage situations where every inch counts. If Perez can have an exceptional game, WO has a great chance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->