In his 11 years coaching football in Ionia, this year's roster is one of the smallest Chad Rhynard can recall having at the varsity level.

And those numbers have dwindled due to injuries and illness through the opening third of the regular season.

That has led to Ionia forfeiting its scheduled Week 4 CAAC White contest on the road against Portland slated for Friday, Sept. 19.

"We've taken some significant injuries at the varsity level that have really kind of put us in a tough spot this week," Rhynard said.

"I don't know if I've really experienced a year like this. We were already short on players as it was. We don't have a lot of seniors this year and the amount of injuries that they've withstood has been kind of incredible. There's not really much more to it than that. We don't have

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