By Nate Thompson
LocalSportsJournal.com
In Cody Mallory’s vision, Year 3 of building Spring Lake’s varsity football program into a perennial playoff contender should see a few more bricks added to an already strong foundation.
If anything, the Lakers are on the up-and-up, going from a 3-6 team in Mallory’s first season in 2022 to winning their first four games last year and eventually qualifying for the Division 4 playoffs. A playoff victory slipped through the Lakers’ fingers, however, as they were stunned by Big Rapids in an overtime thriller, 27-20, ending their year at 7-3 overall.
Mallory said the sting from that loss has added an extra layer of motivation, especially for the large group of upperclassmen who want to end their playing careers at the school on a positive note.
“For many of them, it’s Year 3 in our system, and the overall understanding of what we’re trying to do is just running much more smoothly,” said Mallory, a Grand Valley State graduate who came to Spring Lake after a successful stint at Cadillac High School. “Instead of having to learn the system, the kids are now just executing. They’re overall better at their craft. Now, as coaches, we can hone in on improving technique.
“The kids are really locked in,” he added. “We want to keep building on the success we’ve experienced. And these old guys here, they want to leave (the program) better than when they found it.”
Mallory’s flexbone, triple option offense will be in good hands again with returning quarterback Reid Grimmer, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior. Grimmer broke both his tibia and fibula near the end of the loss to Big Rapids, but is 100 percent this fall.
“He’s bigger, stronger and faster and really, he’s the grease to our offense,” Mallory said. “He really makes things go.”
The flexbone keeps opposing defenses on edge because there are so many running options, including Grimmer. But Mallory said the Lakers will deploy a stable of talented running backs, and there isn’t one real standout amongst the group.
“They’re clones of one another,” Mallory said. “With what we run, running the option, you never know who the primary back is going to be. We like it that way.”
Mallory said there could be as many as seven who could get consistent carries this season, including junior Caleb Ortiz, senior Gabe Trask, senior Hayden Roll, senior Chase Segaar, junior brothers Owen and Oliver Smies, and senior Alex Batka.
When defenses stack the box, Grimmer is also a capable thrower and will have a couple quality pass-catching weapons in junior Landon O’Donnell and Logan Strey. O’Donnell will also be the Lakers’ backup quarterback.
The Lakers should have a solid offensive line in place as well, led by senior center Carson Hein, a 6-2, 290-pounder who has committed to Grand Valley State.
Mallory said Hein has taken up-and-coming sophomore Jake Troast under his wing, and Troast could be the next great leader, as he’s expected to start at guard. Junior Brady Hill also will start at guard, while the tackles will be seniors Tag Kelly and Ethan Lisman.
While he’s concerned about too many players going both ways, many of the offensive lineman will be needed on the D-line as well, led by the 6-1, 200-pound Kelly at end, and Hill and Lisman at tackles.
Owen and Oliver Smies will provide some pop at the outside linebacker position, while Trask could play linebacker or safety. Oliver Smies was the Lakers’ leading tackler in the playoff contest.
Batka and junior Charlie Recor are the Lakers’ top players in the secondary, as they could line up at corner or safety.
Spring Lake is again shifting conferences, as they are now grouped in the O-K White with Grand Rapids West Catholic, Wayland, Forest Hills Eastern, Hamilton and Grand Rapids Christian. Mallory called it a “wash” as far as the competitiveness of the league compared to the former O-K Blue.
“Every team is a good, well-coached program and nowhere on our schedule could you consider it an easy week. If you get caught sleeping, you could lose any week.”
Spring Lake opens its season on Aug. 30 against neighboring rival Fruitport, which is now considered a non-conference game.