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Zeeland East attempting to reload for 2019

Posted at 12:37 AM, Aug 23, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-23 05:04:32-04

ZEELAND, Mich. -- Zeeland East High School matched the school record for wins (11) in 2018 and made its deepest playoff run, advancing to the division state semifinals.

"Last year was a memorable season, something I will never forget, teammates I will never forget," said Spencer Postma. "We had a lot of good players on that team, a lot of players that played college football. I think it set the expectations for this upcoming year."

While the Chix must replace guys like Adam Berghorst (who went to Michigan State), Boone Bonnema (Western Michigan), Gabe Taylor (Ferris State), and Josh Fusco (Indiana Weslyan), they feel like they have some guys who are ready to step up.

"You hope there is kids that come up from the JV, you hope there is kids that filled from behind them," 11th-year head coach Derek Pennington said. "I think we've got some guys that will do a nice job.  Every year, unfortunately, kids graduated, and we graduated a bunch."

Zeeland East scrimmaged with Niles Thursday night at home and will have a new season opener this year, taking on Holy Trinity Names out of Windsor, Canada.

"After today, we know that we have to focus 100 percent on the team from Canada," junior running back and linebacker Adam Cassel said. "It is nothing but a process to make sure we know what they are doing on defense and offense and prepare our offense and defense to match that."

Next Thursday's game will be at Hazel Park High School at 4 p.m.