Grace repeats as AP Division 3-4 Player of Year

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - For the past three seasons Alex Grace has been the focal point of the Saginaw Swan Valley offense.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound running back, was game-planned for week-in and week-out by every Vikings opponent.

Swan Valley’s opposition knew he was going to get the ball 20 to 25 times a game and yet each had little to no success stopping him.

In the end the three-year varsity starter amassed 7,551 career rushing yards and averaged 9.3 yards per carry. He also finished with 99 career rushing scores and 101 career touchdowns as he threw two in 2014. Statistically speaking his junior year proved to the best single season by any prep running back in state history as he rushed for 2,962 yards and 36 rushing touchdowns.

For this he was named the Division 3-4 Player of the Year by the Michigan AP in 2013.

In 2014 Grace followed his phenomenal junior season up with an equally impressive senior campaign as he rushed for 2,426 yards and 36 rushing touchdowns while leading the Vikings to a ranking of No. 1 in Division 4 poll from week one forward.

In the end the future Western Michigan Bronco has now earned back-to-back Division 3-4 Player of the Year honors as he was the unanimous choice by the Michigan AP again in 2014.

“What makes him special is his work ethic and his ability to make plays,” said Saginaw Swan Valley head coach Ken Bourbina, whose Vikings went 31-5 with Grace in the starting offensive backfield. “He’s a north-south runner with the ability to make moves when he needs to.”

For his career Grace finished with an incredible 8,294 all-purpose yards.

“I agree with coach in that I am a north-south runner who’d rather run you over than run around you,” joked Grace, who also had eight straight games in 2014 when he rushed for over 200 yards. “The best way to gain yards is by going straight, but I have some moves too.”

Grace is joined in the backfield by Avonte Bell of Lansing Sexton, Jacob Geter of Plainwell and Devin Skatzka of Richmond as first-team All-State running backs.

Harper Woods Chandler Park’s Delvin Washington and Grand Rapids South Christian’s Jon Wassink were named first-team All-State at quarterback with Niles’ Ra’Quon Glenn, Lansing Sexton’s Rayshawn Wilborn, Flint Southwestern’s Akileon Fisher and Dearborn Heights Robichaud’s Traivon Clayton earning the honor at wide receiver.

Seven Division 3-4 linemen earned first-team honors in Lowell’s Josh Colegrove, St. Joseph’s Wes French, DeWitt’s Josh Hannah, Linden’s Kyle Korman, Mason’s Stone Miller, Zeeland West’s Trevor Raby and New Boston Huron’s Jonathan Krug.

The first-team linebackers consist of Grand Rapids Christian’s Jack Bates, Detroit Old Redford’s Roderick Davis, Muskegon’s TJ Smith, Swan Valley’s Taylor Reaume and Grand Rapids South Christian’s Sam Heyboer.

Detroit Mumford’s Corrin Jones was named first-team all-state at defensive back as was Lansing Sexton’s Malik Mack and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Tyson Smith.

Mount Pleasant junior Kalebb Perry earned first-team honors as a specialist while St. Joseph’s Cullen Hoffman was punter and Muskegon’s Miguel Flores was placekicker.

New Boston Huron coach Dan Kalbfleish was named Coach of the Year in Division 3-4.