ROCKFORD ATHLETICS I HOME OF THE RAMS

By Randy Gregory, Michigan Sports Radio Picture courtesy of Miles Postema Last year saw Grandville knock Rockford out of the playoffs with a 24-14 first round victory. Rockford made sure that scenario would not unfold in 2025 in overwhelming fashion as they stormed to a 42-7 win at Carlson-Munger Stadium in Rockford on Friday, October 31. The Rams featured a balanced attack as they scored three times on the ground and three times through the air while successfully converting all six of their extra point attempts. The game was marred by a third quarter knee injury suffered by Landon Davenport that delayed the contest for an extended period while he was attended to by medical staff from both teams. The Rockford community sends thoughts and prayers for a complete and speedy recovery for Landon. For the second occasion in 2025, the Grandville offense was left with no answers in facing a swarming Ram defense that stymied them at every turn. In the first meeting this year Rockford won 28-0 and this one was a 42-0 game until a Grandville score against the Ram reserves with just over a minute remaining. Luke Ahern and Sam Cummings were seemingly everywhere for the Rams on the defensive side for the Rams with multiple tackles for losses and no gains. Rockford seemed to get off to a little bit of a lethargic start but a late first half TD gave them a 14-0 lead that they quickly built on in the second half. Ahern scored the first touchdown of the night for Rockford on a four-yard run over the right side that gave the Rams a 7-0 lead with 3:51 left in the opening quarter. And despite the dominating defensive effort, the Rams saw the score stay at 7-0 as penalties derailed one score and hampered others. But after taking over at their own 39 late in the second quarter, the Rams used seven plays to make it a 14-0 game with 1:49 left in the half. The TD came despite another costly Ram penalty that left them facing a third down and 23 at the Bulldog 35. Conventional thought was that the Rams may look to go short on a pass to set them up for a manageable field goal attempt. But Brayden Daniels dropped back and fired a deep pass over the middle to Drew Ferwerda that the 6’6″ junior reeled in to make it a 14-0 contest with 1:49 left in the half. “It’s playoff time and we knew that they were going to come out with their best punch and we just had to withstand that,” said Rockford Head Coach Brent Cummings. “When you have two good teams going at each other with that initial burst of energy you just need to get over that hump. But our kids have a confidence where they encourage each other and they knew they could overcome that and actually end up dominating the game. We are extremely proud of the effort that our defense put together again tonight. Until that last little bit that was just a tremendous effort by all eleven guys on every play. I was really happy for Drew (Ferwerda) on that touchdown catch. He made the decision to play this year and just showed once again how important he is to our team.” Rockford received the second half kickoff and wasted no time taking complete control of the game. After the unfortunate injury to the Grandville player, Ahern raced in untouched from 13 yards out with 7:57left in the third quarter to make it a 21-0 contest. After a quick three and out forced by the Rockford defense, Daniels hooked up with speedster Jax Eichbauer on a 22-yard TD pass that made it 28-0 at the 3:23 point of quarter number three. After yet another three and out from Grandville, Daniels went to the air again for another score. This time it was to a wide open Dylan Gross form 26 yards out to make it 35-0 with 47 seconds left in the third quarter. That set the running clock in order for the balance of the contest. Hayden Peoples ran for a 26-yard touchdown with 8:31 left in the game to make it 42-0. The late Bulldog TD made the final score Rockford 42 Grandville 7. That sets the stage for another rematch for Rockford. The Rams will meet up with Hudsonville in the district final at Hudsonville on Friday, November 7 at 7:00 P.M. The Eagles stand at 10-0 on the season and dealt the 8-2 Rams one of their losses earlier this season. Hudsonville jumped out to a 28-0 lead at the half in that contest before the Rams came storming back before falling just short 35-28. “I don’t really have any thoughts on that game at this point yet,” said Cummings. “We want the kids to enjoy this one tonight then get back home and get some rest and be with their families. Then we will go to work tomorrow morning because it takes a ton of work to do these things. So, enjoy tonight and we will get back at it tomorrow for a big game against a great team.”