ORWELL — The resurgence continues at Grand Valley, where second-year coach Matt Rosati’s objectives are competing for the Northeastern Athletic Conference championship and a postseason run.
The Mustangs improved from one win to five in 2025, Rosati’s first year at the school. This was despite a second half of the season without some of the team’s talented skill position players.
GV opened fall camp with a much clearer sense of who will be able to fill positions, and Rosati (193 career wins) is anxious to see what the offense is capable of achieving.
In 2025, the Mustangs averaged 30.9 points per game, their most since 2017’s school record (46.0).
The architect of that offensive surge, especially over the second half of the season, was now-senior Carter Turk, a three-sport standout.
“Carter did a phenomenal job,” Rosati said. “He’s a great leader, very smart. He’s been in so many pressure situations that nothing rattles him. He’s definitely going to be able to get the ball to the guys. We have a lot of confidence in him.”
The rest of the backfield will feature sophomore Caden Rowland, a sophomore transfer from Champion who rushed for more than 1,300 yards last fall; senior Luke Giddings, one of the players who sat out the last half of the 2025 season, and sophomore Lukah Mramor, who started as a freshman.
“We have very, very talented guys at the running back position,” Rosati said. “All of them are going to be on the field, it just depends on the formation. We’ll move them all around.”
Junior Hunter Doing, sophomore Mason Demshar and freshman Turner Hejduk are also in the mix.
“We’re not hiding much of anything [in the preseason],” Rosati said. “[Giddings and Rowland] are going to be predominantly handling the football, but we have other guys we’re going to be able to get the ball to as well.”
Four players are competing at tight end.
Senior Forrest Portman, who starts on defense, is being pushed by classmate Kingston Barnes, a returning letter-winner, and sophomores Easton Wilkinson and Teagan Zetlaw.
Rosati has confidence in the offensive line, as well, with as many as 10 players vying for playing time. The Mustangs will likely settle on their starting five, but the others will be used interchangeably.
Seniors Max Thirion and Bryce Meeker are returning starters.
Juniors Jeremiah Corll, Jesse DeLisle, Ashton Lampman all started last year on defense, but will be offensive starters this season.
Parker Zupancic and Andrew Boomhower are also competing for starting roles.
“Last year we wanted to platoon everybody, which was fine and we were able to do it until we got into the eligibility thing,” Rosati said. “So we were forced to bring some guys over. So this year, we said, hey, we’re just going teach everybody offense and defense.
“We have 10 really, really, solid guys up front. They’re all gonna know how to play offense, but they also have a defensive position. So five of them are probably gonna play offense, and probably five of them are gonna play defense. It’ll just sort of happen naturally, but they’ll have the ability just in case we need to flip them over. So we’re going to be balanced in that respect.”
Rosati said this offense may be the strongest, physically, he’s ever had.
“This is my 30th year as a head football coach and I’ve been fortunate enough [to have] some pretty talented guys, but I’ve never had three backs that are this strong and this fast,” he said.
At a recent workout, Giddings bench pressed 185 pounds 53 times, Rowland 30 times and Mramor 23.
“Luke, for instance, is never going to come off the field,” Rosati said. “He missed the last five games last season, so I feel like I owe him playing time to make up for that. He’ll play offense, defense and special teams.”
Rosati is excited about the talent the underclassmen bring to the squad.
“We have eight seniors, but these young guys are very, very impressive, and a lot of them have played [varsity] already,” he said. “A lot of these are freshmen we’re counting on, our sophomores that we’re counting on are returning starters for us.
“And they’re not playing because we have to have them play. They’re playing because they’re that good, so we obviously feel pretty good about them. I know what they can do and they know what to expect.”