<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1T81jA_0uzSZRBe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1T81jA_0uzSZRBe00" width="1280" height="960" ><figcaption>2024 Grant Tigers Football Helmet. (Photo courtesy of Gaby Lowry) Gabe Lowry</figcaption></figure>GRANT, MI — Sometimes the best way to turn things around is by going back to your roots.That’s the thought process for first-year Grant head football coach Gabe Lowry, who takes over a program that has gone 1-8 overall in back-to-back seasons.With a roster full of players who live in the local farming community, the Tigers hope to wear down opponents with their strength and power and veer away from a spread scheme that never seemed to catch on under previous coaching regimes.“I’m going to go back to the roots of what this town was known for back in the day and just run the football,” Lowry said. “This is a farming community so we’re going to take advantage, put some meat on that front line, and then just pound the rock. We’ve kind of emphasized the hard work from Day 1, that hard work wins.”To fortify that offensive line, Lowry brought in Grant graduate and former Davenport University lineman Dakota Scholten as an offensive line coach. Seniors Ethan Dean and Jaxon Chapin will anchor both the offensive and defensive lines for the Tigers.Senior Aiden Booth will be the focal point of the Grant offense that returns seven starters, including Booth as the starting running back. Lowry noted Booth’s work ethic and willingness to be a team player.“He’s just a phenomenal athlete,” Lowry said. “He’s a kid that shows up every day and works hard. You don’t have to ask him to do anything. He just does it and puts in the work.”The Tigers will also look to senior running back Brayden Jordan to establish the ground game. Lowry said Jordan’s maturity allows him to act as a player-coach, keeping his team focused and making sure everyone is dialed in during practices.“He’s an all-around good athlete, good kid, good leader,” Lowry said. “The kids just listen to him. He doesn’t put up with any kind of crap at practice. He hears it, and he barks right away, tells them to stop, which is nice as a coach to not have to do it because one of the kids does it for you.”Junior Rory Fish will return as the starting quarterback for the Tigers this fall, and Lowry views his new offensive scheme as an easy transition for the signal-caller.“He was asked to do a lot last year as a quarterback in the spread but I think a more balanced attack will help him have a bigger impact this year,” added Lowry. “He spent a lot of time at Power Strength in the off-season, so he’s gotten stronger and faster. He has looked really good throwing the football at a couple seven-on-sevens that we did this summer. He was throwing dimes. I’m excited to see him in this new offense. I think a lot of guys are going to rally around him and really make the whole team better in the process.”The defense also has been a central talking point for Grant, which returns six starters.Lowry described senior defensive back Sincere Hatch as a “ball hawk” on defense but also noted his offensive prowess as a tight end.“I want to target him a little bit more,” Lowry said. “When he did get targets, he would go up, make tough catches. … He’s been lifting a little bit and got his body stronger. That’s a good thing for him.”Lowry, who has 23 years of coaching experience in various roles on both sides of the ball at several schools including Grant, Kent City and Newaygo, said two consecutive one-win seasons is a big confidence drainer for his team, but he has faith in them to play competitive football this season.“We’ve been telling these kids that we believe in them, there’s talent here and there’s wins on that schedule if they want them,” he said. “Just getting them to believe, it’s been the biggest challenge so far.”During the team’s initial meetings, Lowry said he wanted to be realistic about his expectations for the season but added five or six wins is well within his team’s reach.“I told them from Day 1, I’m not going to come in and promise the conference championship in the first year, because I don’t think that’s realistic, and I’m a realistic guy,” he said. “But I said, I do think we can get back to being a competitive football team who has a chance to win 5-6 games depending on how we execute late in games.”Grant’s first opportunity for a win will come on Aug. 29, as they host Wyoming Kelloggsville in their season opener.---2024 Grant Tigers---Head coach: Gaby Lowry (first season) Conference: Central State Activities Association (Red)Key players: Aiden Booth (Sr., RB/LB), Brayden Jordan (Sr., RB/DB), Sincere Hatch (Sr., TE/DB), Ethan Dean (Sr., OL/DL), Jaxon Chapin (Sr., OL/DL), Rory Fish (Jr., QB).2023 review: The Tigers defeated Wyoming Kelloggsville (40-8) to open the 2023 season but lost its remaining eight games to finish 1-8 in the regular season. Grant’s offense never seemed to catch its rhythm following the Week 1 win, as they scored a total of 70 points from Week 2-9.2024 outlook: A new identity and some returning playmakers at the skill positions give the Grant football program a much-needed energy boost following back-to-back 1-8 seasons. If the offensive line can mesh quickly under first-year head coach Gaby Lowry’s smash-mouth scheme, the Tigers could surprise some opponents this fall.---2024 schedule (conference games indicated by *)---Aug. 29 – Wyoming KelloggsvilleSept. 6 – Howard City Tri-County*Sept. 13 – at Newaygo*Sept. 20 – FremontSept. 27 – at Big Rapids*Oct. 4 – LakeviewOct. 11 – at Reed City*Oct. 18 – Remus Chippewa Hills*Oct. 25 – at Kent City---Follow Josh VanDyke on Twitter and Facebook for more West Michigan sports contentIf you would like your local high school sports news delivered free to your inbox daily, click here and sign up for one of our local high school sports newsletters.Love reading about local sports? Don’t miss any of the excitement from the season ahead. Purchase your subscription and get full access to every story on MLive.---</div></body>

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Grant football preview: Tigers going back to roots with farm-strong mentality

GRANT, MI — Sometimes the best way to turn things around is by going back to your roots. That’s the thought process for first-year Grant head football coach Gabe Lowry, who takes over a program that has gone 1-8 overall in back-to-back seasons. With a roster full of...

Grant football preview: Tigers going back to roots with farm-strong mentality

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