Those looking for quality entertainment and excellent football should look no further than Houseman Field at 1:00pm on the next three Saturdays this fall.  Houseman Field hosts the Grand Rapids Community College Raider football team, now 8-0 in regular season play after amassing 4,132 yards of total offense, faces Harper College and the College of DuPage to close out their regular season at home.  Wins in both contests will also allow the Raiders to play host to Iowa Western in the MCF’s title match at Houseman Field.

The Raiders have many four star caliber football players that were ranked as some of the best high school football players in the nation when they graduated.  While many local college teams have proven to be true contenders in their conferences, no other Grand Rapids area collegiate team has the individual talent that Grand Rapids Community College has.

The Raiders count on several former D-I football players, led by West Michigan’s own Cody Kater, a quarterback from Montague High School.  Kater signed as a Cincinnati Bearcat after being named the player of the year in Michigan during the 2010 season.
Returning home after his first semester at Cincinnati to play for the Raiders, Kater has since racked up 1788 yards of passing having gone 122-of-177 thus far with 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions.  Additionally, Kater has rushed for 283 yards and six touchdowns.

Another West Michigan product and former Division I athlete is Carlin Landingham, 6-4 and 295lbs, who graduated from Muskegon High School.  Landinghamheaded to North Dakota State University upon graduation before returning home to anchor the offensive line at right tackle for the Raiders. 

The offensive skill positions are deep with Division I talent. There are no less than five D-I wide receivers catching Kater’s passes. The most notable is Corey Smith, a 4 star receiver from Akron, OH who is currently committed to the University of Tennessee.  Smith has 17 receptions for 318 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2011.

 Former Cincinnati Bearcat WR Nicholas Truesdell, Connecticut WR Brian Parker, Toledo WR Keyon Cole, and Illinois State WR/QB Terrance Moore have all been very productive for the Raiders as well as they have combined for 727 yards on 57 receptions for 6 touchdowns.

Jayshon Jackson, a running back from Columbus, OH, was the runner up for Ohio’s most treasured award in football as, “Mr. Ohio”.   Jackson plays a key role in the Raider’s running game with 410 yards on 61 carries for 3 touchdowns.

Antwan Gilbert, third in Mr. Ohio voting last year and a former Toledo commit returns kicks, lines up at running back and catches balls out of the slot position. Gilbert has accumulated 271 yards of total offense and scored one touchdown.   Elan Banks is a do everything athlete for GRCC who has come to the Raiders after leading Muskegon High School to a state championship in 2008.  Banks made a brief stop at GVSU before suiting up at GRCC. The Raiders backup quarterback Tahj Dent is the reigning SIAC Conference Player of the Year from Lane College.

The defense is also loaded with several players who started at four year schools before joining the Raiders. The front four features three former college players—CMU Chippewa Aaron Kaczmarski, Corey Stone (Northwood), and Malcolm Goines(University Tennessee-Chattanooga) have combined for 38 tackles, 14 tackles for losses and 3 sacks for the Raiders
The linebackers are led by a talented duo from the East Side of Michigan with Terrell Porter, an Iowa commit out of high school, and Devonte Snyder, a Cincinnati commit out of high school, leading the Raiders.  Together Porter and Snyderhave 36 tackles in 2011.

The deepest unit of former D-I college players is the defensive secondary led by Evan Ray a former CMU Chippewa, at corner.  Thus far Ray has 18.5 tackles with three interceptions.  Heralded University of Michigan recruit Demar Dorsey at Safety/Corner, and Jamar Wimberly, Marshall High School/WMU Commit, at safety have combined for 34 tackles, 3 interceptions, 10 break-ups and 13 passes defended.  Also in the defensive backfield, the Raiders have Brian Robinson a former defensive back from Marshall University, who has 11 tackles, and Nathan Lindsey, an Inkster product by way of GVSU, who has 36 tackles.

With outstanding student-athletes and an exciting style of play, it is no surprise that the Raiders are 8-0 this season with hopes of competing for the NJCAA National Championship.

Kick off for this weekend's game against Harper College is at 1:00PM.  Admission to this weekend's game is free.