Click the video link to see video from Wednesday's practice. Click the AUDIO buttons to hear comments from Ryder Forvilly, Ben Wilson, and Coach Dennis Cannoot.
GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Braves are back on the football field as practices are under way across the Upper Peninsula. And the Braves have a new look now, with a new head coach, new offensive scheme, and guys playing at new positions.
New Braves Coach Dennis Cannoot says things are off to a good start.
“We're rolling out some changes and the energy and tempo has been fantastic,” Cannoot told RRN Sports at Wednesday's practice. “We're just going to build off of what was already started. I think we're sitting at 18 seniors in the locker room right now, and we have a great junior group coming in backing them up. So I feel really good about everything.”
Gladstone senior linebacker/fullback Ryder Forvilly says the team is hungry, after finishing 1-8 in 2024 and 3-6 in 2025.
“We've been in the weight room almost every single day throughout the summer,” Forvilly said. “That's been almost the whole varsity team, so we're pretty dialed in this year. We're focused on perfecting our craft. Just keep repping, repping what we're good at. We're just gonna stick to the basics on what we know and I think we're gonna win some games.”
Braves senior offensive lineman Ben Wilson agrees, saying there's a new attitude.
“Definitely, our conditioning, and I think that energy and physicality is gonna be huge this year,” Wilson said. “We didn't have a ton of that the last few years, so I think that we're really improving on that.”
The Braves open their season on Thursday, August 27, with a road game in Gwinn. They'll also be in Marquette County on Friday, August 21, for a scrimmage in Marquette, and will play their Week Two game in Negaunee in early September.
All of Gladstone's games, home and away, will be broadcast on The Voice of The Braves, FM-93.5, AM-600, and online at www.radioresultsnetwork.com.
