The school’s football team dominated its region, but fell short in the playoff finals.

In recent years, the Eagles have left a sour note with many of their fans and many had lost hope of ever receiving a positive season. With a loss of 17-20 to start the year against Howell, some Eagle fans thought it would just be another season with a negative record. However, things unexpectedly turned around with a shocking two-point victory over the favored East Lansing. The Eagles also managed an unexpected win over the Rockford Rams with a close 4th quarter match up ending with Hudsonville ahead 28-21. “I honestly can’t believe it, I mean who would’ve thought the Hudsonville Eagles would beat the Rams?” said junior Seth Jenkins.

The Eagles had marked themselves as the OK Red champions after dominating with a 7-0 record in league games. Not only had they risen in the rankings in the league, but they had made a drastic climb through the entire state of Michigan with a placement of 1st, until they fell to the Cass Tech Technicians 42-20 in the playoff finals. Despite the dramatic loss, Eagle’s fans supported their upset players and were still impressed by the teams final record of 12-2. “It’s great to see. In my four years of being here, I never thought they would go so far. No offense,” said senior Cole Hinterman. 

With continued success, the high school is also reaping the benefits of a promising team. With a higher win rate, the school sees higher game attendance, bringing in more money. They also can gain more recognition from other areas around the state as their team’s success will be posted by either fans or potentially the Blitz, a football report produced by Fox 17 News. This recognition can be important for potential boosters to assist in the school's sports programs or potentially reel in larger prospective athletes who garner the attention of higher-ranking colleges. “I’ve never seen so many people in the stands. And the lines to get concessions or even to get in the place, oh my lord, it’s ridiculous,” said Hudsonville parent Karen Figler.

Coach Brent Sandee found a rhythm with his team, but unfortunately fell short before reaching the crown. Upset as the players are, they still have high spirits after the loss and understand they had a tremendous season. “All I know is that I want some stir-fry, even if we didn’t win,” senior John Schepers said. Hudsonville won its first regional title in 19 years after avenging its week one loss to Howell with a dominant 35-6 win over the Highlanders. They are also currently ranked 6th in the state of Michigan, their highest state ranking since 2009. A truly remarkable season for the Eagles and their flock, something the organization should be proud of.