PDF: Preview the Grand Ledge Comets
Schedule, coach, roster
8/23 (Thu.) at East Kentwood
8/30 HOLLAND WEST OTTAWA
9/7 SEXTON
9/14 at Okemos
9/21 JACKSON
9/28 LANSING EASTERN
10/5 at Everett
10/12 at East Lansing
10/19 HOLT
MATT BIRD
* Age: 38
* Playing experience: Lansing Catholic 1989-91
* Coaching experience: Grand Ledge 2006-present
* Career record: 40-20
* Full-time job: Grand Ledge High government teacher
* Assistant coaches: Blake Wegenke, Mark Ditsworth, Chad Guild, Joe Brya, Sean Stevens, and Mike Smith
no. name
position…year
3 Keefer Johnson WR/DB…jr.
4 Jay Jay Brickley WR/DB…jr.
5 Marq Adams RB/DB…jr.
6 Connor Anderson WR/DB…sr.
7 Luke Vasilion RB/DB…sr.
8 Dion Benson RB/DL…jr.
9 Brad Taylor K…sr.
10 Ben Cornell WR/DB…sr.
11 Tony Brand WR/DB…jr.
12 Eric Loftus QB/DB…jr.
16 Jalen Brady QB…jr.
19 Charlie Kreager WR/DB…sr.
20 Joe Reverman RB/DB…jr.
22 Josh Volk RB/DB…sr.
24 Andre Carter WR/DB…sr.
25 Anthony Van Horn WR/DB…sr.
26 Isaiah Roberts WR/DB…jr.
28 Tyler Vincent RB/DB…jr.
32 Xavier Beasley WR/DL…sr.
35 Jacob Hawes WR/DB…sr.
36 Dar Vancourt RB/DL…jr.
38 Nick Verran RB/DL…sr.
40 Nick Cugini RB/LB…jr.
42 Jacob Fielstra WR/DB…jr.
43 Shane Sawyers TE/DL…jr.
44 Dylon McMann RB/LB…sr.
45 Dakota Pettit RB/LB…jr.
50 Ben Bedard OL/DL…sr.
52 Brandon Keifer OL/LB…sr.
53 Aaron Riley OL/DL…jr.
54 David Horak OL/DL…sr.
55 Redmond Riggs OL/DL…sr.
56 Jacob Quain OL/DL…sr.
57 Mason Kreiser OL/DL…jr.
58 Matt Beatty OL/LB…sr.
60 Brad Chaney OL/DL…sr.
62 Tyler Dietz OL/DL…sr.
65 Andrew Lehman OL/DL…jr.
66 Ethan Bunting OL/DL…sr.
70 Aaron Mueller OL/DL…jr.
71 Greg Trimmer OL/DL…jr.
75 Ryan Pelfery OL/DL…jr.
76 Kyle Cox OL/DL…sr.
79 Travis Taylor OL/DL…sr.
80 Will Farr TE/DL…sr.
88 Brent Rutkowski WR/DB…jr.
Returning starters
8 on offense
7 on defense
OFFENSE
Marq Adams, 6-1, 180, jr. RB
Ben Cornell, 6-0, 200, sr. WR
Jalen Brady, 6-0, 195, jr. QB
Joe Reverman, 5-9, 185, jr. RB
Andre Carter, 5-9, 170, sr. WR
Ben Bedard, 6-4, 260, sr. OL
Ethan Bunting, 6-1, 205, sr. OL
Will Farr, 6-5, 220, sr. TE
DEFENSE
Keefer Johnson, 6-3, 205, jr. FS
Charlie Kreager, 5-10, 185, sr. DB
Ben Bedard, 6-4, 260, sr.. DL
Redmond Riggs, 6-0, 255, sr. DL
Jacob Quain, 6-3, 215, sr. DL
Andre Carter, 5-9, 170, sr. DB
Dylon McMann, 6-0, 200, sr. LB
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS
OFFENSE
Connor Anderson, 6-1, 180, sr. WR
Matt Beatty, 5-10, 200, sr. OL
Tony Brand, 6-0, 175, jr. WR
DEFENSE
Josh Volk, 6-0, 190, sr. DB
Tyler Vincent, 6-1, 185, jr. DB
Brandon Keifer, 5-10, 185, sr. LB
Fourcast
CHAMPIONS AGAIN
Grand Ledge will be seeking a third straight CAAC Blue title this fall, and a fourth in the past five years. After compiling 3-6 records in 2006 and 2007 in coach Matt Bird’s first two seasons, the Comets were just a 34-27 loss to Holt in 2009 away from going undefeated for three straight years in the league. Grand Ledge was one of four schools to tie for the league title last fall. So the Comets have compiled an impressive 22-3 record in the CAAC Blue and an overall record of 34-8 the past four seasons.
WEST-SIDE FOES
The Comets faced two Ottawa-Kent Conference Red Division opponents from the west side of the state in the playoffs last year: Grand Haven (a 21-14 win) and Rockford (a 42-14 loss). So Grand Ledge scheduled two OK Red foes from the Grand Rapids area the first two weeks of this season. The Comets open at East Kentwood on Thursday before hosting Holland West Ottawa the following Thursday.
SOME OF THE BEST
Five players who earned all-conference and three others who were named honorable mention all-conference in the CAAC Blue are among Grand Ledge’s 15 returning starters on offense and defense. The all-leaguers were senior Ben Bedard on the offensive and defensive lines, senior defensive back Charlie Kreager, and senior defensive linemen Redmond Riggs and Jacob Quain. Making honorable mention were senior Andre Carter at both wide receiver and defensive back, plus junior Keefer Johnson at free safety.
COMET SMARTS
Grand Ledge, which had 11 football players with 4.0 grade-point averages, earned the top GPA in the state last year at 3.32.
