Tag Archives: Kelloggsville high school football

Kelloggsville football team poised for improvement this season 

Kelloggsville quarterback Cameron Dunbar throws a pass during the season opener. (Courtesy, chavezphotography, Alex Chavez)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor

greer@wktv.org

Improvement is the name of the game for the Kelloggsville football team this season and after the first game the Rockets are poised to blast off into the winning column.

The Rockets, who return an experienced core of players from last year’s squad, opened the season dropping a 38-22 decision at Grant. Kelloggsville looks to break into the win column this Friday when it hosts Battle Creek Pennfield.

The Rockets fell behind early in the opener at Grant, but came on strong during the second half.

“We fumbled the opening kickoff and at the half we were down 24-0,” Kelloggsville Coach Brandon Branch said. “We rallied back from there and tried to make a game out of it. The kids kept fighting and they made a game out of it in the second half.”

Kelloggsville scored three touchdowns in the second half as it cut into the Grant lead. Cameron Dunbar scored a pair of touchdowns for the Rockets on runs of three and four yards and Danyel White added a nine-yard touchdown run.


“We started out the game like a team that didn’t have a good week of practice,” Branch said. “We had an interesting week of practice with the heat and I think that set us back in the first half. We were stagnant in the first half. I was not pleased with the first half, but then we played a lot better in the second half. We definitely battled them and didn’t give up.”

Kelloggsville was led on offense by Dunbar who is the Rocket quarterback. Dunbar completed 11-of-17 passes for 186 yards with no interceptions and a long pass of 48 yards. Dunbar also rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns.

White finished with 13 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Paul Shannon led the Rockets in receiving with four receptions for 84 yards, while Jaylen Phillips hauled in two passes for 57 yards.

On defense, the Rockets were led by linebackers Terrell Jones and Isaak Kowel and the defensive line rotation of Myrece Moore, Prince Baraka, Joaquin Hill, Elijah McKinney, Zane Hendricks, Alberto Estrada, Andrew Bacon and Gliore Bahome.



The Kelloggsville defensive line prepares to fire off the ball during the season opener at Grant. (Courtesy, chavezphotography, Alex Chavez)



“Our defensive line played pretty physical across the front,” Branch said. “Our linebackers Terrell and Isaak also had pretty good games.”

The Rockets are looking for the strong effort in the second half against Grant to carry over into this week’s game against Pennfield. The game is a rematch of last year’s game in week eight that saw Pennfield win.

“We played them last year and it was tied at the half,” Branch said. “They (Pennfield) pulled away in the second half. They had some big kids last year and a pretty good running back. We expect a tough game, but we are going to line up and play football and be physical.”

Kelloggsville entered the new season with a more experienced roster.

“We have a pretty even split between seniors and juniors,” Branch said. “We have a fairly experienced team and that is nice to have. We have five or six guys who have three years of varsity experience. We also have two or three juniors who have two years of varsity experience.”

Along with experience, this year’s team is more physical on both sides of the football.

“We are a more physical team than in the past,” Branch said. “I want us to be the more physical team when we play on Friday. Our depth is also going to help us out. We have 20 guys who are going to play a lot. I like our depth and physicality and we are also pretty fast across the board. We have above average team speed.”

Offensively, the Rockets look to have a balanced attack with Dunbar at quarterback and a strong group of running backs. 



The Kelloggsville offensive line prepares to snap the ball during the opener with Grant. (Courtesy, chavezphotography. Alex Chavez)


“Cameron is an athletic quarterback,” Branch said. “He can pass when he sees the opportunity and he also does a good job of making his reads and finding the open guy.”

On defense, the Rockets are led by their linebackers.

“Terrell is a tough linebacker in the middle that likes to hit and get after it,” Branch said. “Isaak does a good job of setting the edge and likes to get physical.”

Overall, Branch likes the direction the team is headed in.

“We definitely had a much better offseason,” Branch said. “We have a lot of guys who played key roles for us back this year. I like the progress we are making.”    

Godwin Heights dominates in homecoming victory over crosstown rival Kelloggsville

Godwin Heights junior quarterback Keion Beasley showed his arm strength and poise with touchdown passes of 53 and 46 yards. 
(WKTV/Hayden Passig)



By Ty Marzean

WKTV Contributor



In a battle of winless teams, Godwin Heights used several big plays to cruise past Kelloggsville on homecoming night, 52-0, in the WKTV Game of the Week.

Penalties plagued the Rockets all game long, and it began on the opening kickoff as sophomore Nasyre Walker ran it back for a touchdown, but a holding penalty called it off. 

The Wolverines would capitalize a few plays later with an interception by Miguel Ocampo, who also returned the opening kickoff of the second half 95 yards for a touchdown.

Senior Jeff Zelaya pounded one in for a seven-yard TD and later added a 28-yard touchdown on another run.



Godwin Heights running back Jeff Zelaya. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)



Godwin Heights used tandem running backs to wear down the Rockets’ defense. Zelaya was joined in the backfield by sophomore Kares Harris, who rumbled for over 100 yards in the game.

“We are real tough to stop when we have both of them in the backfield,” said Godwin Coach Brandon Kimble of his running back duo. 

Kelloggsville senior quarterback Jeremie Tsoumou was under duress for most of the game, and had one interception returned 85 yards by Godwin’s Patrick Knight.

“He’s out there trying,” said Kelloggsville Coach Brandon Branch. “That happens when you put the ball in the air; sometimes the other team comes up with it. I can’t fault him for trying to make something happen.

“Our mantra is to be undefeated against adversity. When adversity strikes, we keep getting after it. I think we were undefeated against adversity today.”


Godwin Heights junior quarterback Keion Beasley showed his arm strength and poise with touchdown passes of 53 and 46 yards. 

“He’s a first-year starter, and he’s been working hard,” Kimble said. “We have missed a lot of key players, so he’s had to grow up fast.” 


Kimble emphasized perseverance on his team.


“If you lose your job and you’re a husband and have kids, are you going to stop fighting? Or are you going to keep fighting?”

To cap off homecoming night, newly crowned king Armani Dedrick got into the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run.

Godwin Heights (1-5) travels to OK-Silver leading Belding (5-1) next Friday. Kelloggsville (0-6) hosts Hopkins (1-5). 

WKTV Game of the Week

Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.

Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.

Kelloggsville seeing improvement despite 35-7 loss to Laingsburg

(WKTV/Jake Westbrook)



By Zach Fanko

WKTV Contributor Writer



The Rockets quick start on Thursday night was extinguished by Laingsburg as the visiting Wolfpack left with a 35-7 victory.

Kelloggsville senior QB Jeremie Tsoumou broke several tackles on an electrifying 50-yard TD run on the game’s opening drive.

Senior QB Jeremie Tsoumou scored on a 50-yard TD run. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)

“Couldn’t have asked for a better start,” Kelloggsville Coach Brandon Branch said. “Our guys fought hard throughout the game.”

The Rockets were 1-8 a season ago and are off to an 0-2 start this season. Despite the tough start to the season, Branch sees improvement in both the effort and overall depth of their program.

“Last year, I feel like during a game like this we might have packed it in,” Branch said. “But our guys refused to back down and kept fighting.






“We had our opportunities tonight and I don’t believe the final score was indicative of how we played.”



Kelloggsville kicks off the OK Silver portion of its schedule as they head to Comstock Park next Friday to face the Panthers.



WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back on Sept. 8!

Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.

As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well. 

You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!