by With back to back wins over Valley Forge and Westlake and 3 wins in their last 5 games, the Bay Rockets are suddenly in firm playoff contention if they can defeat their biggest rivals, the River Pirates this coming weekend. For years the Rockets were known as a run only program but starting this year, under the direction of second year head coach Nick Bigrigg, that philosophy has changed drastically.
Bigrigg along with offensive assistant Keith Grabowski, have the Rockets soaring higher then ever when it comes to one of the best passing attacks in the state. Biggrigg co-founded the Bay Village Football Club, a youth football organization, and has coordinated strength and conditioning programs to help todays young athletes.
He was named head coach of Bay High School in Bay Village, Ohio, on February 18, 2025. Prior to taking over as head coach, he served on the Rockets’ coaching staff for two years working with quarterbacks under longtime coach Ronnie Rutt.
He graduated with honors from Amherst Steele High School in 2001, where he played football, eventually being recruited to play for the Kent State Golden Flashes where Attended Kent State University from 2001 to 2006. He played Division I varsity football as a tight end/receiver and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing.
After college, he had a stint in the Arena League with the Sioux Falls Storm before returning home to start his own business. Bigrigg is now an expert in chiropractic care when he is not leading the youth of Bay Village.
Top offensive assistant, Keith Grabowski, spent nearly three decades as a coach and educator before founding Coach and Coordinator. He enjoyed success as a head coach and offensive coordinator along multiple stops at the high school and college levels. The son of a coach, Keith immersed himself from an early age in the lifestyle of a coach – on the sidelines, at practices, and in meeting room. The Rockets are seeing the effect of having Grabowski on the sidelines alongside Bigrigg as they develop their high flying attack.
Coach Bigrigg talked about his relationship with Coach Grabowski and why it has been successful,
“I think the great thing about football is the relationships you build. There is something about striving for greatness and the work that goes into it that bonds you to people. Coach Grabowski was a young coach when he coached me during my junior and senior years at Amherst Steele. It is extremely special that we have maintained that relationship after all these years. He has been a great mentor, helped me coach youth football, and was a tremendous advisor during my first season as a head coach last year. His influence on this program is huge. He is one of the smartest football minds I have ever been around, but his passion for the game and love for the kids are even bigger. I am blessed to share this experience with him.”
Coach Bigrigg went on to talk about the rest of his staff who has also been excelling as well, “We have a great coaching staff. Our staff bleeds blue and white. Many of these coaches played for Bay, have coached here for years, or both. Coach Jansen, Coach Johnson, and Coach Knaack are great examples of that commitment to this community and this program. We have also added experienced coaches from winning staffs in Coach Vasil and Coach Engle, along with talented young coaches like Coach Novak. It is a great combination of experience, loyalty, and fresh ideas.”
The quarterback enjoying the fruits of the labor with this new offense is Patrick Cleary. Through 9 games he has over 2,700 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and a bright future ahead. He threw a school-record six touchdown passes in a 49–0 blowout victory over Normandy. In the games I personally covered against North Olmsted and then Valley Forge, he lit it up as well.
Cleary went 24 of 37 for 406 yards with 3 passing touchdowns against Valley Forge last Thursday. Cleary also ran for 44 yards on 6 carries as well. Two weeks prior against North Olmsted when I covered him, he went 39 of 53 passing for 395 yards with 4 TD passes.
Coach Bigrigg touched on why Cleary has improved since the early part of the season and is now starting to shine, “Pat is the most resilient player I have ever been around. He struggled during our first three games, but he never wavered. He kept working, stayed committed, and continued to believe in himself and his teammates. Since then, he has played at an extraordinary level. He is currently second in Ohio and 22nd nationally in passing yards on MaxPreps. What impresses me most is his composure. He is ice cold in the pocket, standing in there, making the correct reads, and delivering the football. His response to adversity says as much about him as the numbers do.”
Cleary has been blessed with incredible talent around him, including incredible seasons from wideouts Ethan Sedivec and Brody Beggs. Coach talked about what makes them both special as well, “Ethan is one of the most physically gifted athletes I have ever been around. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, he creates tremendous matchup problems. When the ball goes up, you expect him to come down with it. He makes that same impact on defense. He delivers devastating hits, and his range at safety allows him to cover an incredible amount of ground. He can affect a game in so many ways on both sides of the ball.
When Brody was a freshman, he was a kid who had not yet separated himself. What he has done since then is a credit to his work ethic. Through his commitment to the weight room and the track, he has developed into one of the most physically dominant athletes in the area. He is a grinder. He carries a 4.3 GPA, he is a great person, and he brings that same commitment to everything he does. I would go to war with Brody any day of the week. ”
Now, Bigrigg, Grabowski and Cleary have a chance to stun Northeast with a win over top ranked rival River. People know about the Massillon’s, St. Ignatius, St. Ed’s, Hoban’s and Avon’s of the world, there is no disputing that. But what most people don’t realize is that one of the best and oldest High School Football rivalries resides between two tiny suburbs just miles apart on the west side. Bay Village and Rocky River High Schools are only 10 minutes apart and the intensity of the feud is so thick you can almost cut it with a knife!
It’s an old school SWC rivalry that has carried over into the current day CWC. The Pirates of Rocky River and Rockets of Bay Village. Two tiny schools, small but passionate communities and extremely loyal fan bases.
These are the kids talented enough to play for schools such as St. Edward and St. Ignatius. Based on the fact that they live in Bay Village and Rocky River, it is safe to say finances wouldn’t be an issue either. But they chose to stay local and play for their hometown teams. That to me, speaks volumes as to why this rivalry is so darn good and special!
Good luck to both teams as this one is set to be yet another classic!
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