StudentandAthlete.com > Sports > Football > 2008  MHSAA Division 1 Championship  

2008 record: 13-1

Head coach: Ralph Munger (29 seasons, 238-77, three state championships)

Assistant coaches: Randy Vanderveen, Steve Dengler, David Lee, Rick Wilburn, Joe

Schwander, Brian Richardson, Brent Cummings, Steve Ledbetter, Stu Wilkes

Captains: Tim McGee, Chad VanderWest, DJ Lubs

Trainers: Mike York ATC, Angie Wilson, Darcy Peck

Physicians: Dr. Dan Cunningham D.O., Dr. John Dew D.O.

Managers: Benjamin Parsell, Chase Stulp, Derek Scholl

Players

2 Brogan Bibler, DB, 6-0, 170, Sr.

4 Ray Sabon, DB, 6-1, 180, Sr.

5 Ryan Cochran, RB, 5-10, 170, Sr.

6 Alex Rojas, RB/LB, 5-6, 150, Sr.

8 Joe Stefanski, ILB, 6-3, 225, Jr.

9 DJ Lubs, DL, 5-11, 180, Sr.

10 Jeremy Pouba, WR/DB, 6-0, 160, Sr.

11 Taylor Masiewicz, QB, 6-5, 170, Jr.

12 Jon Lodden, WR/DB, 6-3, 180, Sr.

13 Cooper Russ, QB, 5-11, 155, So.

14 Drew Maroe, WR/DB, 6-1, 180, Sr.

15 Tim McGee, QB, 6-0, 185, Sr.

16 Josh Henry, DB/WR, 5-11, 165, Jr.

17 Derek Korthuis, DB, 6-0, 180, Sr.

18 Devin McIntyre, RB/DB, 5-10, 155, Jr.

19 Justin Amshey, K, 5-11, 165, Sr.

20 Aaron Kwekel, RB, 5-10, 173, Sr.

21 Jordan Morren, RB, 5-10, 180, Sr.

22 Nick Stokes, WR/DB, 6-2, 178, Sr.

23 Chad VanderWest, ILB, 5-11, 215, Sr.

24 Ryan Darby, RB/DB, 6-0, 167, Jr.

25 Mitch Campbell, RB/DB, 6-0, 170, Sr.

26 Alex Axdorff, OLB, 5-11, 175, Sr.

27 John Wierengo, WR/DB, 6-0, 168, Sr.

28 Kevin Badersnider, DB, 5-10, 165, Jr.

29 Taylor Huizenga, RB/DB, 5-10, 145, Jr.

30 Dan Barr, RB, 5-8, 175, Sr.

31 Nick Smythe, RB/DB, 5-11, 160, So.

33 Gabe Speirs, DB, 6-2, 165, Sr.

34 Joey Johnson, RB, 5-10, 175, Jr.

35 Josh Bergers, DB, 6-2, 175, Sr.

36 Eric Melton, RB/OLB, 6-0, 190, Sr.

37 Cory Lee, RB/ILB, 5-10, 200, Sr.

39 Zach Schmuck, RB, 5-9, 160, So.

40 Ian Oliver, RB/DB, 5-10, 155, Sr.

41 Paul Mudgett, K, 5-10, 150, Jr.

42 Kyle Pletzke, DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.

43 Kollin VanDenHeuvel, RB/DB, 5-11, 160, Jr.

44 Matt Karamol, TE/OLB, 6-4, 200, Jr.

45 Josh Osbun, OLB, 6-4, 220, Sr.

46 Tyler Pratt, RB, 6-1, 195, So.

47 Casey Lawson, WR/DB, 5-11, 155, Jr.

48 George McConnell, ILB, 6-2, 210, Jr.

49 Marcus Sapp, OLB, 6-2, 175, Sr.

50 Ethan Henderson, DL, 6-0, 195, Jr.

51 Cody Knott, OL, 6-2, 268, Sr.

52 Mike Parsell, OL/LB, 6-0, 210, Sr.

53 Mike McEntire, OL/DL, 5-10, 250, Jr.

54 Josh Pribble, DL, 6-0, 208, Jr.

55 Andy Troyanowski, OL/DL, 6-0, 200, Sr.

56 Brett Egnatuk, ILB, 6-0, 185, So.

57 Caleb Beimers, OL/DL, 6-0, 230, Sr.

58 Landon Burris, OL/DL, 6-1, 215, Sr.

59 Zach Nelson, DL, 5-10, 190, So.

60 Tyler Webb, OL, 6-0, 200, So.

61 Jason Kester, DL, 5-10, 240, Jr.

62 Steven Hubscher, OL/DL, 6-1, 210, Jr.

63 Jared Dubay, DL, 6-, 200, Sr.

64 CJ Scholl, DL, 5-5, 165, Sr.

65 Eric Fast, OL/ILB, 6-2, 235, Sr.

66 Steve Fegel, OL, 6-3, 270, Sr.

67 Gabe Stulp, DL, 6-1, 210, Sr.

68 Mike Thorsen, OL, 6-1, 230, Sr.

69 Chris Denhof, DL, 5-10, 200, Sr.

70 Sam DeHaan, OL, 6-0, 237, Jr.

71 Levi Pulver, DL, 5-11, 190, Sr.

73 Brennan Brower, OL/DL, 5-8, 228, Jr.

74 Ryan Gigowski, OL, 6-0, 260, Sr.

75, Matt Barton, OL, 6-4, 255, Sr.

76 Will Lauzon, OL/DL, 6-1, 189, Jr.

77 Jesse Somsel, OL, 6-5, 298, Sr.

78 Brandon Roberts, OL/OLB, 6-2, 195, Jr.

81 Cam Lawson, WR, 6-1, 170, Sr.

82 Chad Henry, WR/DB, 6-4, 185, Sr.

83 Zach Haugen, WR, 6-2, 170, Jr.

84 Tyler Garnsey, TE, 6-2, 195, Jr.

85 Josh Sinclair, TE, 6-3, 195, Sr.

86 Dan Pouba, WR/DB, 6-1, 160, Jr.

88 David Brower, TE, 6-1, 210, Sr.

89 Jacob Madsen, TE/OLB, 6-4, 185, Jr.

 

2008 results

Regular season

WLake Orion, 17-7

W Davison, 20-19

W Grandville, 42-14

W Hudsonville, 15-12

W Jenison, 38-6

W Grand Haven, 51-0

W Holland West Ottawa, 37-29

L  Muskegon, 6-34

W East Kentwood, 38-10

Districts

W Traverse City West, 46-26

W Grand Ledge, 56-14

Regional final

W Hartland, 24-8

Semifinal

W Livonia Stevenson, 27-13

 

Past seasons

2007 9-2

2006 12-2 (State runner-up)

2005 12-2 (State champion)

Complete history

 

Rockford's Ryan Darby celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Lake Orion.

No. 5 Rockford Rams (13-1) 26
No. 4 Lake Orion Dragons (12-2) 14
Saturday, Nov. 29, Ford Field, Detroit

 

  Detroit – Thirteen weeks later the result was the same.

 

  No. 5-ranked Rockford earned their second win of the season over No. 4 Lake Orion to win their third Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 Championship in the past five years on Nov. 29 at Ford Field.

 

  It was Rockford’s 14th straight playoff appearance dating back to 1995. The Rams were runner-up to Macomb Dakota in 2006, falling 38-16. The Rams won the title in 2005, beating Canton 31-21, and in 2004, topping Sterling Heights Stevenson 31-6.

 

  The Dragons were making their first appearance in the state finals.

 

  Lake Orion’s only previous loss this season was in their opener against Rockford, falling 17-7 at Eastern Michigan University.

 

   Lake Orion beat No. 6 Sterling Heights Stevenson 38-36 in the semifinals to advance to the final. The Dragons had outscored their opponents 389-184 this season, including five shutouts.

 

   Rockford eliminated Livonia Stevenson 27-13 in the semifinals and had outscored opponents this season 417-192.

 

  The first half was a see-saw battle.

 

   Rockford got on the scoreboard first on senior Jordan Morren’s one-yard run that capped a 12-play, 67-yard drive. Lake Orion senior John Chanthakhon blocked the extra point to make it 6-0 Rockford.

 

  Lake Orion responded in the second as freshman quarterback Sean Charette directed an 11-play, 65-yard drive and scored on a keeper from one yard out with 10:23 left in the half. Senior Jeffrey Heath’s extra point put the Dragons on top 7-6.

 

 The Rams took back the lead with less than two minutes in the half as senior quarterback Tim McGee connected with senior Nick Stokes on a 47-yard touchdown reception. Junior Paul Mudgett’s kick was good to make it 13-7 Rams.

 

  Lake Orion was forced to punt on their next possesion. Rockford senior Alex Rojas was able to break through the line and blocked the kick to give the Rams the ball back on the six yard line of the Dragons.

 

   Senior Ryan Cochran punched it in on the next play and Mudgett made the extra point to send the Rams to the locker room at half up 20-7.

 

   The Dragons refused to go down without a fight in the second half. The Dragons moved the ball down to the Ram 11 yard line only to have senior Gabe Speirs grab an interception and run the ball to the 48.

 

  Lake Orion got the ball back on the very next play as junior Phillip Serzo forced a fumble and junior Kane Hayes pounced on the ball.

 

  The Dragons drove 46 yards on nine plays and scored on senior Branden Oakes’ two-yard rush. Heath’s kick was good to close the margin to 20-14.

 

  Lake Orion got the ball back in the fourth only to have senior Ray Sabon force a fumble and senior Eric Melton recover the ball at the 50.  The Rams then marched the field and junior Ryan Darby found the end zone from four yards out to close a 10-play drive. The conversion failed, putting Rockford ahead 26-14 with only 6:07 left.

 

  Rockford stopped Lake Orion on fourth down on the 46 on their next possesion and then ran out the clock for the victory.

 

   The Rams were led on defense by senior Josh Osbun’s 11 tackles.  Senior Brogan Bibler totaled seven tackles. Junior Joe Stefanski totaled five tackles.

 

   Cochran finished with 66 yards on the ground and one touchdown for the Rams. Morren finished with 56 yards and a touchdown.

 

   Oakes rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown for the Dragons. Charette finished the game 12 for 24 passing for 123 yards.