East Grand Rapids won five state football titles in a row from 2006-10, tying the then-MHSAA record established by Farmington Hills Harrison from 1997-2001. Coached by Peter Stuursma, these five teams posted a collective 67-3 record that included a 33-game win streak.
The Pioneers’ state championship run, all in Division 3, began in 2006 with a 42-17 victory over legendary coach John Herrington and Farmington Hills Harrison, led by the one-two rushing punch of Kelvin Grady and Luke Glendening.
The 2007 title was claimed with an epic 46-39 five-overtime thriller against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, which featured future Penn State quarterback Robert Bolden and tight end Dion Sims, who would go on to play for Michigan State and in the NFL. EGR quarterback Calvin Blair threw for two TDs and Joe Glendening scored touchdowns in the fourth and fifth overtimes to put away the longest game in MHSAA finals history.
In 2008, quarterback Andrew Thompson outplayed his more heralded counterpart – future Michigan Wolverine Devin Gardner – in a 43-24 win over Inkster.
EGR’s championship run nearly came to an end in 2009 against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, which led the Pioneers 21-17 with less than three minutes left. Facing fourth-and-14, East quarterback Ryan Elble heaved a pass that was tipped twice before falling into the arms of Kirk Spencer for a 27-yard reception. Elble then hit Deon Jobe for the game-winning touchdown and a 24-21 victory.
The 2010 championship game, a 35-27 win over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, was led by Elble, the Division 3-4 Player of the Year who went 28-0 as EGR’s starting quarterback.