KENT CITY, Mich.

In a statement-making performance, the Kent City Eagles captured their first-ever regional football title, defeating the previously unbeaten Montrose Rams 50–20 in the MHSAA Division 6 regional final on Saturday, Nov. 15. 

Kent City (12–0) came into the game riding a dream season, and on this afternoon, they proved why. The Eagles piled up 402 total rushing yards, averaging 8.6 yards per carry, as their ground game overwhelmed Montrose. 

Junior running back Logan Thompson exploded for 177 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries (scoring runs of 64 and 56 yards), and he credited the offensive line for opening up big holes throughout the game. 

Quarterback Andre Meade, a senior and Grand Valley State University commit, was a one-man show: he opened the scoring early with a 76-yard touchdown run, added another short run, and later returned a Montrose fumble 20 yards for a touchdown. By the end of the day, Meade finished with 120 rushing yards on eight attempts, made six tackles on defense, and showed all-around leadership on the field. 

Defensively, Kent City was just as dominant. Fourteen different players made tackles, and senior leadership anchored the effort. Thompson and senior Cooper Stinson each had seven tackles. Meanwhile, Jayden Loomis Sandison and Harrison Smith each added five stops, with Smith snagging an interception. 

Kent City opened a commanding lead by halftime, going up 28–6, and never looked back. By the end of the third quarter, they had stretched the lead to 42–12, putting the game away before Montrose could mount any serious threat. 

Eagles head coach Zach Gropp, in his fourth year leading the program, said the win was a culmination of the team’s commitment:

“Year after year, we keep winning … we showed up in the summertime, sacrificing that time … It’s starting to show. It’s an incredible feeling.” 

Montrose coach Dennis Reinhart, a veteran leader, gave Kent City its due:

“They were the more physical team. They owned us … They kicked our tail, and they deserve it.” 

With this win, Kent City advances to the state semifinals. Their next opponent will be Kingsley (10–2), with a 1 p.m. kickoff next Saturday in Cadillac, Mich. 

Senior Trevor Rawson didn’t mince words when asked about their goals:

“We’re going for it all. I think we can win it all.”