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Brighton Bulldogs 5 Another football season is here, and you’ll be up to date on all of the action on Friday nights by listening to WHMI’s Byron Eagles 7 Game Night. We’ll have live score updates from games Dexter Dreadnaughts 9 throughout the area at :15 and :45 past the hour. If you miss the games on Friday, tune in Saturday morning at 6:30, Fenton Tigers 11 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30 for the Saturday Sports Scoreboard. Fowlerville Gladiators 13 Conference Lineup Grand Blanc Bobcats 15

Kensington Lakes Activities North Central Thumb Hartland Eagles 17 Association - West Division 8-man League - Red Division Brighton Northville Ashley Genesee Holly Bronchos 19 Canton Novi Burton Madison Morrice Hartland Plymouth Flint International Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart Howell Highlanders 21 Howell Plymouth Salem Saginaw Valley Linden Eagles 23 Lakes Valley Conference Conference - Blue Division Milford Mavericks 25 Milford Walled Lake Western Davison Grand Blanc South Lyon Waterford Mott Flint Carman-Ainsworth Lapeer South Lyon East Waterford Kettering Flint Powers Saginaw Arthur Hill Morrice Orioles 27 Walled Lake Central White Lake Lakeland Flint Southwestern Walled Lake Northern Southeastern Conference - Pinckney Pirates 29 White Division Capital Area Activities South Lyon E Cougars 31 Conference - Red Division Adrian Pinckney Chelsea Tecumseh South Lyon Lions 33 Fowlerville Mason Dexter Ypsilanti Haslett St. Johns Lincoln Lansing Eastern Williamston Stockbridge Panthers 35 Independent Flint Metro League - Webberville Webberville Spartans 37 Stripes Division Michigan Independent White Lk Lakeland Eagles 39 Fenton Holly Athletic Conference Flint Kearsley Linden Flushing Swartz Creek Clarenceville Rochester Lutheran Northwest Whitmore Lake Trojans 41 Lutheran Westland Southern Christian Mid Michigan Activities Oakland Christian Whitmore Lake MI College Teams 42 Conference Parkway Christian Byron Mt. Morris Williamston Hornets 43 Chesaning New Lothrop Durand Otisville Lakeville Michigan State 44 Montrose Ovid-Elsie Teams in blue have a write-up in Guide University of Michigan 45

The Fall Football Guide is produced by WHMI 93-5 Radio in Livingston County, Howell, Michigan Detroit Lions 46 517.546.0860 • www.whmi.com • Editor: Richard Renko, WHMI General Sales Manager Graphic Design: Red Hen Design, [email protected] 2019 Team Schedules 3 4 Fall Football Guide Brighton Bulldogs

Head Coach: Brian Lemons

2018/7-3 8/29 AT LIVONIA CHURCHILL 9/6 AT NOVI 9/13 HARTLAND 9/20 AT PLYMOUTH Brighton Bulldogs 9/27 After missing the playoffs for the first time under coach Brian Lemons last year, Brighton rebounded with a AT CANTON 7-3 mark that included losses to Belleville to begin and end the regular season and a 31-28 playoff loss to East Kentwood. In the offseason, the Bulldogs worked on building team unity in an effort to pull out more 10/4 NORTHVILLE close games. “We focused on each other and being there for each other,” Lemons said. “In the tough games that we came out on the bad end of, it’s because we weren’t as tight a group as we needed to be. If 10/11 we fix that, we’ll do better in tight games. We want to be able to beat those teams, not just compete.” AT SALEM The Bulldogs are rare among area teams in having rosters double those even of schools their size. 10/18 Brighton had nearly 90 players last year, with about half returning this season. That number includes Colby HOWELL Newberg, a senior who will step in at this season after being a backup last year. Nick Hoffman 10/25 returns to anchor the offensive line, while junior Riley Sheldon returns at running back, but others will get KLAA CROSSOVER plenty of carries this season, as Lemons prefers. Wideouts AJ Lin and Nick Nemechek, a senior and junior, respectively, return as wideouts. On defense, Cole Riddle and Zach Pardonnet, both junior linebackers, and senior defensive linemen Nate Kwapicz and Luke Stanton return. “We have a lot of experience coming back,” Lemons said. “Not necessarily as starters, but a lot of guys got a lot of snaps.” That, too, has been a Lemons trademark. He prefers the two-platoon approach, especially with a large roster, and those who aren’t in the top 18 on offense and defense often see time on special teams. It keeps players fresh and reduces the chances of injury. But Lemons also is fostering the concept of brotherhood among players on his teams, a theme you’ll see often in these pages.

“Our schedule is tough,” he said of a slate that includes Canton and Plymouth, who made the playoffs last year, rivals Hartland and Howell, and a crossover game against another likely playoff team. “Half the conference is pretty strong. What’s going to have to happen is everyone’s got to stay healthy, obviously. But we have to get together with our juniors and seniors and sophomores in the mix and let that brotherhood carry us through adversity. If we can do that, we’ll be in pretty good shape.”

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6 Fall Football Guide Byron Eagles

Head Coach: Byron Schartzer

2018/5-5 8/29 WILLIAMSTON 9/6 AT DURAND 9/13 AT NEW LOTHROP 9/20 AT MOUNT MORRIS Byron Eagles 9/27 The Eagles have made the playoffs in each of the last four seasons, although each playoff run ended in the first LAKEVILLE round. They came close last year, falling to Flint Hamady 27-21 in the first round after their final drive stalled late in the game. “It was good to see us come back, but it was disappointing to fall short,” coach Byron Schartzer said. 10/4 CHESANING The Eagles have 25 returning players, including four starters. But Schartzer’s priority is finding a quarterback and an offensive line. “That’s our biggest concern, making sure we have a good line and the right guy taking snaps,” 10/11 he said, senior Jack Selon, who was a starter as a running back last year, and junior Jared Moe, who quarterbacked AT OVID-ELSIE Byron’s JV team last year, are in competition to play quarterback. “We’ve given both a ton of reps,” Schartzer said. 10/18 “We’re waiting to see what happens when we get the pads on,” Both are 5-9, 170, athletic and quick, the coach MONTROSE said. The player who doesn’t get the quarterback job will start at running back for Byron. On the line, Jacob Huhn, a senior who played guard and tackle last year, returns as a starter. Drew Pettit, who’s 6-6, 350, is expected to 10/25 play a bigger role on both sides of the this season. Another candidate is senior Casey Hatfield, who is going AT FLINT BEECHER out for the team as a guard this season. “He’s a basketball kid who turned to football,” Schartzer said. “He lacks experience, and his footwork’s off a little bit, but he’s real athletic and has a lot of natural ability. Wideouts Josh Green, the Eagles’ leading receiver last year, and Cooper Czisewski return at wideout. They could be joined by Braden Hoffman, who didn’t play last year.

On defense, Jaden Jones returns at safety, while Matt Tillman, Hatfield and Moe are returning at linebacker. All are seniors. Cole Staton, a junior, will play either defensive end or linebacker and Tyler Sage, another junior, will see time on the defensive line. The Eagles face another tough slate in the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference, beginning with a nonconference game at home against Williamston. Defending Division 7 champion New Lothrop will play host to Byron in week 3. “They’re a perennial powerhouse, the traditional king of the hill,” Schartzer said. “Our conference is pretty tough. There’s good competition, for sure. Ovid-Elsie and Montrose are always competitive and you can’t rule out Mount Morris or Durand. Every Friday’s going to be a tough football game for us.”

All the while, the Eagles will be looking to integrate newcomers on the fly. “We’re going to have to have a lot of young guys step up and hope our guys can mesh well,” Schartzer said. “We’re still looking for a leader, so when things get hard they can say something to get us back on track. “We have to eliminate penalties and mistakes,” he continued. “If we can keep the ball and eliminate mistakes, it will give us a chance to win.” 2019 Team Schedules 7 THEY’RE YOUR METROPARKS. AND THEY PUT ON A GREAT SHOW.

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8 Fall Football Guide Dexter Dreadnaughts

Head Coach: Phil Jacobs

2018/6-4 8/30 CHELSEA 9/6 AT YPSILANTI 9/13 DEARBORN EDSEL FORD 9/20 Dexter Dreadnaughts AT JACKSON Phil Jacobs admits that last year’s breakout season for the Dreadnaughts came as a bit of a surprise.“We thought we would 9/27 do in year three, this year, what we did last year,” he said. ADRIAN He was talking about Dexter’s first-ever playoff berth, which saw the Dreadnaughts more than hold their own against South Lyon before losing in . The Dreadnaughts had set a goal of ending a 41-game losing streak, which they did with a 10/4 home win against Ypsilanti in week 2. TECUMSEH “The whole community was there to celebrate,” Jacobs said. “It was pandemonium on the field afterward. It was very 10/11 special.” But it was something Jacobs had been expecting. “People asked us if we were going to win a game, but for us, AT PINCKNEY we were expecting to win games, more than one, last year,” he said. A strong senior class had a lot to do with that. “Last year was a good learning experience,” Jacobs said. “Hopefully we can build on it this year.” 10/18 The Dreadnaughts are a two-platoon team, and their offense is led by Colin Parachek, who was all-state as a sophomore AT YPSILANTI LINCOLN and threw for more than 2,500 yards. “His arm strength and decision-making have improved a lot this year,” Jacobs said. He’ll be throwing to all-state selection Antwan Ficklen, a slot receiver who had 1,400 all-purpose yards, including kick and 10/25 returns. The coach’s son, Rhett, is another senior slot receiver who missed much of last season with an injury. The CROSWELL-LEXINGTON backfield returns Jordan Watson, who also played middle linebacker last season. He will be joined by Evan Krowleski, a junior who starred for the JV team last year. Jacobs’ priority is putting together an offensive line. Pat Kaercher, a senior guard, is the only returning player this season. On defense, Watson, a senior, returns, as do safeties Daniel Troncalli and Yusef Mohammad, both seniors, and all-SEC defensive end Mark Young. Jacobs says the growth in his team from last year to this is already noticeable. “Our kids know more football than we knew all of last year,” he said. “You’re starting to see the instinct take over. Now we can polish the techniques.” They’ll need every edge in what figures to be a tough SEC White Division battle. “I expect us to be in the thick of things, and there are four or five teams that can win it,” Jacobs said. Whichever teams catches some breaks is likely going to win it.” One of those five teams is rival Chelsea, which got all the way to Ford Field last season and represents another long losing streak the Dreadnaughts would like to end. “It’s been 23 straight years of losses,” Jacobs said. “They remind us every year. It’s something we’d like to get rid of.” To do that, and meet their team goals, the Dreadnaughts will do what Jacobs has instilled in them in his first two seasons. “It’s something I’ve always believed in, no matter what team I’ve had,” he said. “We take things one play a time, one drill at a time, one practice at a time, one at a time. We never look past anyone, and it’s one game at a time. We want to be 1-0 in everything we do.”

2019 Team Schedules 9 10 Fall Football Guide Fenton Tigers

Head Coach: Jeff Setzke 8/29 2018/7-3 AT DAVISON 9/6 AT MONROE 9/13 SWARTZ CREEK 9/20 Fenton Tigers AT HOLLY The Fenton football program had what could be considered an off season in 2018 by Fenton standards. “Most 9/27 teams would be very satisfied with a 7-3 record, but we have higher expectations,” coach Jeff Setzke says. “Our AT FLINT KEARSLEY goals were higher than that. It seemed like it was unsuccessful at the time, but that’s not true when you step back and look at it.” Setzke’s no-alibis approach is most evident about five minutes into a conversation about the team, 10/4 when asked about key returners this season. “One of the biggest is our quarterback, Dylan Davidson. He won the LINDEN starting job as a sophomore, had a fantastic first quarter in the opener, and then breaks his elbow and is lost for 10/11 the season.” As a result, the Tigers had to change their offense on the fly, which is challenge enough. But Setzke FLUSHING says the Tigers also weren’t as motivated as in previous seasons. “We had won seven consecutive league titles, and sometimes you take things for granted until you don’t have it anymore,” he said. “That’s something that has 10/18 motivated us. We want to keep that all year.” As mentioned, Davidson, a junior, returns at quarterback. He’s one VS FLINT METRO of five returning starters from last year. “We look forward to his coming back,” Setzke said. LEAGUE CROSSOVER Three offensive linemen return, including junior Josh Thompson, a three-year starter who returns at left guard. 10/25 Center Mike Miller and tackle Elliott Wakeha also return. Caleb Anderson and Jaden Lainesse will see time carrying WALLED LAKE the ball as well as playing inside linebacker on defense. Receivers will include three-year starter Ryan Miller, who NORTHERN was an all-Flint Metro League selection last year, and Brandon Miller, a sophomore who also starred on Fenton’s track team last spring. None of the Millers are related. On defense, returners include junior Austin Henard, a three- year starter at defensive end, senior safeties Steven Bloss and Brady Trioka and defensive tackle Will Smith.

The Flint Metro League has split into divisions after adding Corunna, Goodrich and Lake Fenton for this season, making it a 12-team league. The six largest schools are in the Stripes Division, the smaller schools in the Stars Division. “I think it will be a competitive division,” Setzke said. “Flushing, obviously, is a formidable foe, and we’ve got Holly and Linden, and when you play those guys, records don’t matter. Bragging rights are always on the line in those games. Swartz Creek is coming off a great season and Flint Kearsley should be improved. We have to come to play in each of these games.”

The Tigers have 25 seniors returning from last year’s roster. “That’s a good number,” Setzke said, “and we are counting on a lot of kids who were backups last year to step up this year.

“We’ve got to stay healthy this season,” he added. “We have decent depth, a 39-man roster, and I think every man can contribute. ... I like this team. It’s a good group. We had an 8-1 JV team and have good kids coming up from that team. They’re going to blend well with our seniors.”

2019 Team Schedules 11 12 Fall Football Guide Fowlerville Gladiators

Head Coach: Jon Fletcher

2018/4-5 8/29 AT CHARLOTTE 9/6 CORUNNA 9/13 AT WILLIAMSTON 9/20 HASLETT Fowlerville Gladiators 9/27 After his program took another step forward with a 4-5 mark in 2018, third-year Fowlerville coach Jon Fletcher AT LANSING EASTERN believes his team has built a base for future success. “We’re excited about it,” he said of the 2019 season. “We like what we have coming back and what we’re getting from the JV team of a year ago.” That squad went 10/4 MASON 8-1, a positive sign, but one that might be more significant is that players are used to Fletcher’s program. “It’s familiar to them now and getting into the rhythm of things helps a lot,” Fletcher said. 10/11 ST. JOHNS The Gladiators had an experienced group of seniors last year, but graduation didn’t leave the cupboard bare, he said. “We have 16 returning players, including sophomores called up last year,” he said, “Seven or eight 10/18 started at some point last season.” Among the starters coming back is Kyle Lutz, a senior who was a receiver AT LANSING CATHOLIC and defensive back last season. He’s competing for the starting quarterback job along with juniors Adam Simmon and Nathan Ash. “We’ll feel comfortable with whoever plays the position. They’re all working hard,” 10/25 PINCKNEY Fletcher said

Simmon, and outside linebacker, and Ash, a defensive back, could also see time on defense as well as offense. “We can move them around on offense if needed,” Fletcher said. “They’re well-rounded athletes.” Zach Reske, a guard moving to tackle, will lead the offensive line while playing some defense, while all CAAC Red Division selection Brendon Gildon will start on the defensive line and also take some snaps on offense. Hunter Knaggs, who started on defense last year and became the Gladiators’ top running back at midseason, returns. “He’s got it all,” Fletcher said. “We’re excited to have him back.” Other players who made starts last season who return include senior linebacker Jacob Friel, safety Joe Palyj, and Nathan Esch, a tight end and linebacker, along with junior safety Caleb Chappell.

While St. Johns is considered a favorite in the CAAC Red, Fletcher says his Gladiators will be in the mix. “It’s a good football league,” he said. “There are a lot of good schools, and each week is going to be a new challenge. I see it as anyone’s race.” After a long offseason of workouts before school and later in summer’s heat, the Glads are ready to get going, “We’ve had a real good offseason, and our work ethic has been good,” Fletcher said. “We’re excited to get going.”

2019 Team Schedules 13 14 Fall Football Guide Grand Blanc Bobcats

Head Coach: Clint Alexander 2018/5-5 8/29 4PM MIDLAND DOW AT ATWOOD STADIUM 9/6 SAGINAW HERITAGE 9/13 AT FLINT SOUTHWESTERN Grand Blanc Bobcats 9/20 CARMAN-AINSWORTH Going into his third season, Clint Alexander says familiarity should be a key for the Bobcats this season. “After three years, I know them, they know me, and they know what I expect,” he said. “We’re playing the same schedule 9/27 for the first time in three seasons. Last year we faced a team for the first time and they threw the ball all over the AT DAVISON place on film. When we played them, they ran the ball 50 times, so now we have a better idea of what to expect.” 10/4 During his first two seasons, Alexander has worked both on finding depth at the varsity level while making sure his LAPEER junior varsity and freshman teams have had both plenty of depth and plenty of success. “The numbers are great,” he said. “Our young guys were 17-1 last season, so they’re coming up with some success.” The numbers are such 10/11 that Grand Blanc will go to a two- at all three levels, with each player going all-out on one side of AT SAGINAW ARTHUR HILL the ball. As for depth, the Bobcats have 10 players competing for spots on the offensive line, a marked difference from Alexander’s first season in 2017. “When I came here, we had five linemen on the varsity,” he said. “We 10/18 couldn’t do a lot of drills because we were afraid of injury. We have 10 this year, so that should be a benefit.” FLINT POWERS The offense, which has always been potent, is diversifying this year. Grand Blanc, which for years didn’t have a 10/25 tight end on the roster, has two this season in seniors Jack Baldridge, who’s 6-3, 225, and Will Nemechek, who’s AT SALINE 6-3, 265. “Jack is a likely college player, and Will plays basketball. He runs well and has good hands,” Alexander said. The offensive line will be led by left tackle Michael McCurdy, a three-year starter. The Bobcats for years ran a one-back set to great success, and Alexander has a standout returning in TeAvion Warren. But he plans to use any one of three juniors in the backfield with Warren this season. Starting quarterback Tyler Lydem, a junior, returns, while senior Easton Edwards and Ty Brodebeck will compete for the job as well. A pair of senior captains, middle linebacker Garrett Shoemaker and nose tackle Cameron Carpenter, will lead the Bobcats defense. Senior Cameron Witucki returns as the long snapper. He’s already gotten an invitation from Nebraska to be a preferred walk-on, but Alexander thinks he’ll get better offers as a senior. “It’s great to have a guy like him in that position and not have to worry about it,” he said.

The key to success for the Bobcats will be up front on offense. “For us to take that next step, we have to be great from the box,” he said. “We have to be tough up front. That’s been our focus, to have a better offensive line and a bigger commitment to run the ball. That should make us tougher to defend.”

2019 Team Schedules 15 16 Fall Football Guide Hartland Eagles

Head Coach: Brian Savage 2018/3-6 8/29 AT DEARBORN FORDSON 9/6 SALEM 9/13 AT BRIGHTON 9/20 AT NORTHVILLE Hartland Eagles 9/27 Last year, the Eagles had a young team, taking their lumps in a 3-6 campaign. “We had three games that came HOWELL down to the fourth quarter,” Hartland coach Brian Savage said. “If we had won things would have been different.” But the experience gained should come in handy. “That’s the hope,” Savage said. “The kids have done a good 10/4 job in the offseason with hitting the weights and going to camps and doing the things we do in the summer. Our AT PLYMOUTH numbers are up, too. We’re trying to build on (last year) and do the best we can.” 10/11 That experience could be most noticeable on the offensive line, where all five starters return from last year. That NOVI unit includes junior center Gavin Wisniewski, guards John Livingston and Tino Mendez (a three-year starter), both seniors, and tackles Jake Gizinski and Jacob Schaller, both seniors. “Tino’s the strongest player in our program,” 10/18 AT CANTON Savage said. “He’s a nice asset that we’ve had.” Holden D’Arcy, who took over the starting job at quarterback as a sophomore last year, is back, as is Logan Tobel, a senior who will be a primary target at as well as 10/25 playing defensive back. Garrett Sisco, a senior defensive lineman, and linebacker Aiden Ross and safety Carson KLAA CROSSOVER Neuer, both juniors, also return.

The Eagles will have to find a way to replace Reece Potter, a dynamic running back who graduated. “Those are some big shoes to fill,” Savage said of Potter. “But that’s the fun thing about high school, moving on to next year and seeing who will step up and fill those shoes.”

One of the candidates is Charlie Anderson, who was the leading rusher on the JV team last year.

“It’s been running back by committee this summer,” Savage said. “We’ve used all kinds of guys. Nothing’s set on that.’

It’s been four seasons since the Eagles have made the playoffs, and they face another gauntlet this season in the KLAA West. It’s a schedule that includes Brighton, Canton and Plymouth, all playoff teams last year, and an opener at Dearborn Fordson, which went 10-2 last year. “It’s a tough division,” Savage said. “There’s no rest for the weary. We get right at it in this league.”

With such a small margin of error, the Eagles are counting on what they learned last year to lift them this season. “We need to build on last year,” Savage said. “We have to take advantage of the little things we learned. We need to take those things and learn in transition from last year and finish what we started.”

2019 Team Schedules 17 18 Fall Football Guide Holly Bronchos

Head Coach: Dallas L’Esperance 2018/3-6 8/29 FRASER 9/6 ORTONVILLE BRANDON 9/13 AT LINDEN 9/20 Holly Bronchos FENTON Dallas L’Esperance helped start the Holly youth football program 20 years ago before becoming an assistant under 9/27 Brian Lemons at Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. He returned to Holly as an assistant in 2012 and spent five seasons AT FLUSHING as an assistant before taking a year off from football last season. When Ryan Collopy resigned after last season, L’Esperance, currently the assistant athletic director at Holly High School, applied for and got the job. He plans to 10/4 FLINT KEARSLEY implement many of the things he learned under Lemons with the Bronchos including a two-platoon system. “I’ve told the kids that if they work hard and for the program, we’ll give you an opportunity to play,” L’Esperance 10/11 says. “I always believe in giving kids as many opportunities as we can as long as they earn it. That’s how you build AT SWARTZ CREEK a program. If you put in the work, we’ll give you every opportunity to be on the field.” 10/18 Although the Bronchos slipped to 3-6 last year after three consecutive 5-4 seasons, L’Esperance says the cupboard FML CROSSOVER is far from bare. “I have a lot of talent available,” he said. “I think Ryan did a great job to build the program to where it is. The players are here. I’m excited to see what we can do with it.” Holly will have a three-way competition at 10/25 AT GOODRICH quarterback. Kye Snodsmith, a senior who was at tight end last season, will compete with juniors Jacob Hild and Brian Morgan. Hild saw some time at quarterback last season but spent most of the year playing safety as a sophomore. “Our work well together,” L’Esperance said. “It’s a competition, but a friendly competition.”

The Bronchos return nine starters on offense, including senior Tyler Hild, a two-year starter at center, along with Jenson Walker, a three-year starter at tackle who is getting interest from college programs as a long snapper. Lucas Reipe and Skylar Hubbard, both seniors, also return on the line. “Our strength will be our offensive line,” L’Esperance says. “They’re good-sized, athletic and quick, which is a good combination. If we can utilize that strength, it will help us.”

They’ll be a key part of a Broncho running attack that will feature junior captain Kolton Steele, who also will play linebacker, and sophomore Jacob Gonzalez. Logan Spencer and Alec Lewis, both tight ends, also will play on defense, a group that also will include senior defensive back Taj Pittman along with Luke Leighty, Tristan Backs, Jeffrey Preston and Logan Dzendzal.

“If our numbers stay where they are, we have to stay healthy,” L’Esperance said. “We have a lot of experienced players coming back, but when you bring in a new system, there’s always a challenge the first year. “If we don’t overcoach and let them play football,” he added, “we’ll be successful.”

2019 Team Schedules 19 20 Fall Football Guide Howell Highlanders

Head Coach: Aaron Metz

2018/4-5 8/29 AT LIVONIA FRANKLIN 9/6 AT PLYMOUTH 9/13 NORTHVILLE 9/20 NOVI Howell Highlanders After a down season in 2017, Howell looked to be on its way back to the playoffs in 2018, winning four in a row 9/27 AT HARTLAND after losing the first two. But injuries and a lack of depth against three quality programs led to three losses to end the season without a playoff berth for the Highlanders in the tough KLAA West. But coach Aaron Metz, now starting 10/4 his 12th season, says his team is on the upswing. Last year, our senior class had only 30 kids on its freshman SALEM team,” Metz said. “This year, we’ll have 45-50, and those are solid numbers.” As a result, a more experienced team won’t need as many sophomores to step in and step up as the Highlanders have the last couple of years, 10/11 CANTON giving them a chance to develop at the junior varsity level.

Where Howell will be strong this year is up front. Senior Mason Nelson and junior Grant Porter are both 6-3 and 10/18 about 310 pounds. Nelson will be a three-year starter and Porter is in his second year on varsity. They lead an AT BRIGHTON offensive line that will be counted on to create holes, and often, for tailback Jonah Schrock, who is a returning 10/25 starter as a senior, and Brian Greene, who will play in the slot. Nelson and Porter will be joined by John McDevitt, KLAA CROSSOVER another returning starter at guard or tackle, Phil Pietila, who might move to fullback at some point, and Ethan Lassitter, another two-way lineman. “Our strength is we have five guys returning with a lot of blocking experience,” Metz said. “We’ll have to be able to run the ball, control the clock on offense and do a better job stopping the run on defense. If we can shorten the game (through controlling the time of possession) and play great team football like we know how, we’ll be OK. We won’t have the kind of outstanding individuals as some of the teams we’ll face, but as a group, we should be OK.” The Highlanders have three quarterbacks in the mix at starter. Senior Brian Althouse and junior Evan Metz will be joined by sophomore Nolan Petru in the competition to run the offense.

“We’ll figure it out,” Aaron Metz said. “We have three kids trying out for the spot, and I’m excited for the opportunity.” All of the non-quarterbacks will also see time on defense, as will senior defensive back Carter Dershaj. “We’ll have a group of guys battling it out,” Metz said. “Once we put on pads, it will be a lot clearer.” Another key returnee is kicker Aleck LeBrun, who will play football and soccer this fall.

While the line appears to be set, the skill positions other than running back appear to be in flux going into the season. “We graduated a lot of our kids at skill positions, so we have to rebuild there,” Metz said. “We’ll be young there, and that will be our challenge. We’ll run the ball while those kids develop. We have some playmakers, but they’re young and will develop.” 2019 Team Schedules 21 YOUR GROWING FAMILY. OUR IDEAS.

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22 Fall Football Guide Linden Eagles

Head Coach: Denny Hopkins

2018/4-5 8/29 7:30PM AT PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 9/6 AT GOODRICH 9/13 HOLLY 9/20 Linden Eagles FLUSHING You couldn’t blame the Eagles for feeling like they survived the 2018 season rather than competing in it. Coach Denny Hopkins lost 17 starters to injury last season, which led to him bringing up his entire junior 9/27 SWARTZ CREEK and cancelling its season just to have enough players for varsity games. “I’ve been coaching a long time,” he said, “and we had more injuries last year than in the last, probably, 15 years combined. I don’t want to go through a year 10/4 like that.” As a result, the Eagles had their first losing season since 2001, snapping a 16-year playoff string in the AT FENTON process. “We’ll be OK,” Hopkins says. “We have a lot of kids with experience. I’m not so sure a lot of them were ready to play varsity at the time, but from then to now, hopefully they’ll be ready this fall.” 10/11 AT FLINT KEARSLEY Two players who saw action last season, senior Colby Kohlmaisher and junior Gavin Wilderman, will compete for the quarterback spot this season. Kohlmaisher started on defense last year and got his chance to play quarterback due to 10/18 injury. Wilderman got his shot when Kohlmaisher suffered a broken hand that ended his season. Samere Johnson, a VS FML CROSSOVER senior, and sophomores Wyatt Gocha and Seth Schuyler all saw time at running back last year. Schuyler, who started at defensive back the last five games will move to wide receiver this season. He joins a corps that includes senior 10/25 LAKE FENTON Seeger DeGaynor, a two-time all-Flint Metro League first team selection who missed last year due to a torn ACL, and Brendan Miller, a senior who also played defensive back last year. The challenge for Hopkins is rebuilding an offensive line that has one returning starter, guard Dominic Bushon, returning. “We have a lot of kids to work with,” he said. “We don’t lack in size, but we do lack experience.” Senior linebacker Sam Dunkley and kicker Carson Kelly, a junior, also return. “He’s the kind of kicker who, when he kicks the ball, it has a different sound,” Hopkins said of Kelly. “He has a chance to be pretty good.”

The Eagles will have their traditional rivals in Fenton and Holly during division play, and picked up another longtime rival, nearby Lake Fenton, for week nine. Lake Fenton and Linden will meet for the first time since 1983, when they were members of the Genesee B Conference. “They used to be a big rival, too,” Hopkins said. “It should be interesting.”

As for this season, staying healthy isn’t one of those goals Hopkins pays lip service to. “I really mean it,” he says, laughing. “We have to develop our offensive and defensive lines, and I’m happy with the effort we’ve put in the weight room. “In our league (the Flint Metro League Stripes Division), Fenton’s our biggest rival. Flint Kearsley will be as good as they have been in a long time. Holly has a new coach, and we’ll have to see what goes on there. We start with Pontiac Notre Dame and Goodrich, and we’ll see where we’re at right away.”

2019 Team Schedules 23 24 Fall Football Guide Milford Mavericks

Head Coach: Garfrey Smith 2018/1-8 8/29 AT WALLED LK NORTHERN 9/6 WALLED LK CENTRAL 9/13 WALLED LK WESTERN 9/20 Milford Mavericks AT WATERFORD MOTT For the first time in three years, the Milford football team is not learning a new offense or defense under a new 9/27 coach. And that, second-year coach Garfrey Smith says, gives this Mavericks team an advantage over its two AT WATERFORD most recent predecessors. “Our seniors last year were good kids and worked hard,” Smith said. “But I was their KETTERING third coach in three years, and it’s kind of tough on a team when you have to learn everything new every year.” With Smith and his staff in place throughout the school year, things began to look up in the offseason almost 10/4 SOUTH LYON EAST immediately.” “Guys are picking things up faster,” Smith said. “The energy is strong, and we have the entire coaching staff coming back and adding a couple of key coaches. The kids are pumped to have the same offense and 10/11 defense coming in this season.” AT PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP Smith is coaching the offensive line this season after hiring a defensive coordinator to take his place with the defense. His job is to rebuild an offensive line that has just one player, tackle Trevor Leigh, who started all nine 10/18 games last year. “We’ll have four juniors and two sophomores competing for spots,” Smith said. “We’ll be busy.” SOUTH LYON The Mavericks have a three-way battle at quarterback, with senior Hunter Pillera, junior Connor Hgitman and sophomore Billy Sternberg competing. “I love it, man,” Smith said of the competition. “It’s one of the hardest 10/25 positions to fill, and it’s nice to have three guys of their caliber battling at this point.” Senior Blake Kerwin and junior AT LAKELAND Victor Smith figure to carry the ball early and often for a Milford offense that will feature a mix of the Wing-T and the Veer. “It’s a hybrid of both,” Smith said. Junior Sebastian Naughton and junior Ben Colosky will be among the receivers in the Milford attack. On defense, Naughton, at safety, and Colosky, at defensive back, will play key roles, as will sophomore Dante Taylor, a nose guard; senior Cam Matthews, who will move between defensive end and nose guard; Hgitman, at linebacker; and junior linebacker Ales Hiipakka. Part of the challenge for a young team (Milford has just 12 seniors) is learning to win in a program that has won eight games in the last six seasons. “We competed in the first two quarters of games last season, but then we would struggle in the third and fourth quarters,” Smith said. “We have to be competitive in all four quarters.” He’s seen progress in that direction in the offseason. “A lot of guys took the time to get better,” Smith said. “They focused in and learned the system with good energy and good attitudes. This group is really hungry to change things, and that’s nice to see. This group has bought into the system and what we want to do. “We plan on getting more wins on the board,” he added, “but this year we plan on being a competitive team and winning. We feel pretty positive this year, but we’ll take it one game at a time, starting (the opener) at Walled Lake Northern.” 2019 Team Schedules 25 26 Fall Football Guide Morrice Orioles

Head Coach: Kendall Crockett 2018/13-0 8/29 AT KINGSTON 9/6 MAYVILLE 9/13 AT BURTON ATHERTON 9/20 AT ASHLEY Morrice Orioles 9/27 The Orioles had a dream season in 2018, rolling to the 8-Man Division 1 football title by rolling past Pickford for GENESEE the state title at the Superior Dome in Marquette. Coach Kendall Crockett has been reminding his players they 10/5 NOON will have targets on their backs this season, but he’s been pleased with his players’ response. “So far, I’ve been AT BURTON MADISON pleasantly surprised,” he said in July. “Of the 26 kids we have right now, 22 have been coming in 3-5 days a week for lifting and passing camps. The kids are excited about having the chance to defend the crown and see 10/11 where the season takes us.” AT FLINT INTERNATIONAL The Orioles lost 15 seniors, seven of them starters, to graduation. Six of the seven played both ways, and the seventh, Hunter Nowak, was the Orioles’ leading rusher, scorer, and quarterback. 10/18 MT PLEASANT One of Morrice’s projected starters, Jack Nanasy, won’t be available until later in the season, as he rehabs a SACRED HEART broken leg sustained during the baseball season. Another projected starter, Caden Mortinsen, missed last season due to injury. He’ll play at fullback on offense as well as linebacker and defensive line on the other side of the 10/25 ball. Garrett Belau, who was Morrice’s JV quarterback last year, figures to add another dimension to Morrice’s WEBBERVILLE offense with his passing ability. “He had a great year last year throwing the football,” he said. “He’s a good runner. Not the speedster that Hunter was, but you don’t get that kind of speed from many kids.” Crockett figures to have several candidates to run the ball along with Belau and Mortinsen. Jarrett Wood should also contribute at wingback. Nanasy was the only returning starter on the offensive line last season. The Orioles will be very young up front, with four sophomores and a senior looking to get playing time. “It’s kind of odd, but this is one of the biggest offensive lines we’ve had here in my five years of 8-Man,” Crockett said. “They work hard. It will be interesting to see their development.” On defense, Wyatt Wesley, Peyton Smith, Shane Cole and Johnny Carpenter are among those returning to a defense that allowed in only six decisions last year.

After going 13-0 last year, outscoring opponents 565-78 in 12 games after winning its opener by forfeit and having a streak of six consecutive shutouts, Crockett says his team is ready for a new season. “Any time a team wins a state championship, everyone who plays them wants to knock them off,” Crockett said “We’ve been preaching that all summer. We have a good team. We’re up to the challenge and we’ll see where the chips fall. We’re not going to back down. We’ll have a solid defense like we did last year. We’ll see what happens.”

2019 Team Schedules 27 28 Fall Football Guide Pinckney Pirates

Head Coach: Rod Beaton 2018/3-6 8/30 TECUMSEH 9/6 AT CHELSEA 9/13 AT ANN ARBOR SKYLINE 9/20 YPSILANTI Pinckney Pirates After winning the Southeastern Conference White Division title in their first season in 2017, graduation hit the 9/27 AT YPSILANTI LINCOLN Pinckney football team hard, and the Pirates had their growing pains last season, but coach Rod Beaton took it in stride. “When you replace 20 of 22 starters, there’s bound to be some troubles in transition,” he said. “Last 10/4 year’s group gave it all they had, but at times they couldn’t finish,” Beaton said. “That’s what we talked about in AT ADRIAN the offseason.” 10/11 Joe Bona, who took every at quarterback last season, returns for his senior season. “Joe had a learning DEXTER curve last year,” Beaton said. “There were times he played well, and times not as well. But he’s got that season under his belt and has taken it up a level in the offseason. We’re looking for big things out of him.” Bona is the 10/18 JACKSON second of his family to play quarterback for the Pirates. His brother, Dominic, was a starter for Pinckney before a standout career at Albion College. Younger brother Jimmy will be the Pirates’ JV quarterback. Sal Patierno is 10/25 a three-year starter at running back, a versatile runner who also plays a big role in the Pirates’ passing attack. AT FOWLERVILLE “He’s the hardest worker on the team,” Beaton said. “He’s a tremendous all-around kid and super positive. We’re looking for big things out of him.” Griffin Thompson returns at left guard, a 300-pounder who moves well in addition to being tough. “We have to be able to get a push up front for our run game to work, and he has to set the tone,” Beaton said. Drew Pilley rounds out the foursome, a two-year starter at inside linebacker. “He’s an extremely smart football player who puts himself in great position to make plays,” Beaton said. The four have already been named captains, a somewhat unusual move. “We picked captains early this year to help provide leadership in the offseason,” Beaton said. “Those guys have done a great job doing that.” Other returners who should contribute include senior Cam Gaden, a receiver/defensive back, and juniors Jack Trachett, at free safety and receiver, and Hunter Hendricks, at inside linebacker and running back.

The Pirates are back in the SEC White, where league champion Chelsea got to the state finals last season and Dexter earned its first playoff berth ever after snapping a long losing streak. “This league is as tough as nails, but we love it,” Beaton said. “We think being in the SEC fits us so well, playing schools our size. It’s been a real blessing for us. A play here or there and you could be 6-3 or 7-2 or 4-5,” he said. “The key for us is finishing games and playing with energy and juice and playing Pinckney football,” he said. “If our players form a brotherhood, which we always emphasize, we’ll get the goals we want to attain. Good things will happen for us.”

2019 Team Schedules 29 30 Fall Football Guide South Lyon East Cougars

Head Coach: Joe Pesci 2018/6-4 8/29 AT WATERFORD MOTT 9/6 WALLED LK WESTERN 9/13 AT TRAVERSE CITY CENTRAL 9/20 South Lyon East Cougars WALLED LK CENTRAL The Cougars had their second playoff season in 2018 and won their first playoff game ever, and coach Joe Pesci hopes that momentum carries through this season. “Absolutely,” he said. “We’re going to keep building 9/27 LAKELAND on it moving forward. The Lions will be led, in part, by junior Ayden Oliver, a two-year starter who took over as quarterback at midseason and also started on defense. He’s moving to safety on defense this season to help 10/4 ease two of Pesci’s concerns. “We lost our entire secondary to graduation, so it’s nice to get a guy with game AT MILFORD experience back there,” he said. “It also will take away some of the pounding he would get at linebacker.” Oliver has a linebacker’s mentality when running the ball, being a hard-nosed ball carrier who sometimes has to be 10/11 reminded to avoid hits. Donovan Wright, a three-year starter in the and at linebacker, also WALLED LK NORTHERN returns. He moves from fullback to tailback this season. “Donovan has a wealth of experience,” Pesci said. “He’s 10/18 a big, physical kid who has gotten better every year. His leadership in the offseason was a key for us as well.” AT WATERFORD Jonah Westlund also returns as a two-way player. The junior plays guard on offense and defensive tackle. “He KETTERING had injuries last season that kept him out of the lineup toward the end of the year,” Pesci said. “We’re excited to have a kid like that who’s very fundamentally sound and will anchor both of our lines the next two seasons.” 10/25 Other returners include Cian McGill, a senior who earned a starting spot at midseason at left tackle, but could play AT SOUTH LYON anywhere on the line. “He’s a very athletic kid for his size, and we might see him some at tight end,” Pesci said. On defense, Drew Ranson returns at outside linebacker. “He always seems to be wherever the ball is at the end of the play,” Pesci said. “With Donovan and Drew at outside linebacker, it’s nice to have experience up front like that.” C.J. Hoke returns at defensive tackle. “He’s a big, strong kid who did a nice job for us taking on double teams and being able to hold fast at the ,” Pesci said. “We expect him to play a bigger role on our defensive line this season.” It figures to be another tough season in the Lakes Valley Conference, but the Cougars welcome the challenge. “Our kids are excited about it, with last year’s success,” Pesci said. “They know they can play with anyone, but we’ll have our work cut out for us.” Numbers are still an issue; the Cougars won’t have a JV team this season, meaning the sophomores will play on the varsity. But nearly three dozen players are expected on the freshman team, and more success this season might solve the numbers problem. In the meantime, Pesci is ready for the upcoming season. “We have to stay healthy,” he said. “We like the kids we’ll have starting on offense and defense and the kids coming up. We’ll be inexperienced. The first couple of weeks will be a learning curve for our young kids, but once we get our feet under us we think we can play with anyone.”

2019 Team Schedules 31 32 Fall Football Guide South Lyon Lions

Head Coach: Jeff Henson

2018/10-1 8/29 AT WALLED LK CENTRAL 9/6 TRENTON 9/13 AT LAKELAND 9/20 South Lyon Lions WATERFORD KETTERING What a difference a year has made for the Lions. Last season, they were coming off a 1-8 season which saw a 9/27 lot of underclassmen learn while playing varsity football. Then the regular season began, and the Lions went WALLED LK NORTHERN undefeated during the regular season and the first round of the playoffs before losing their second meeting of 10/4 the season against Walled Lake Western. “We were underdogs last year,” South Lyon coach Jeff Henson says. WATERFORD MOTT “We’re not going to surprise anyone this year. We’re dealing with a bull’s-eye on our backs, and the teams we beat want some revenge.” But the Lions are loaded again this season, with 18 players returning or who saw 10/11 significant playing time last year. They will be led by senior quarterback Connor Fracassi, who took his lumps as AT WALLED LK WESTERN a sophomore starting quarterback in 2017 and threw for 1,700 yards with just three as a junior. He also ran for more than 600 yards. “Connor really turned it around last year,” Henson said. “He had a great 10/18 AT MILFORD summer this year going to combines and camps.” The Lions will be returning 10 starters on defense, with a lot of players going both ways. They include Mitch 10/25 Komorous, who played linebacker and tight end; DE-TE Jesse Powell, WR-DB Jake Newman, WR Brendan Lach, SOUTH LYON EAST WR-DB Steve Shelton, S Brendan Dancer, OG Jacob Klingler, CB Isaac Nooe, and DT Gus Taylor. All are seniors except Taylor. Evan DeFrank, who started the season as the JV quarterback, finished it as a starter at outside linebacker and will also play safety. Keegan McGrath, a reserve last year, is expected to be a major contributor at wide receiver, and junior Jordan Singleton is expected to be the starter at tailback. “It’s nice that all those kids are back,” Henson said. “We have 29 seniors, and they’ve been a great group of kids ever since they showed up for high school. It’s exciting. We’ve had the best offseason we’ve ever had in the weight room and overall. It’s a great group of kids who love being around each other, and that was evident in last year’s record.” But, Henson says, he doesn’t sense any complacency with his team. “We don’t want to rest on what we did last year, and I don’t think they have,” Henson said. “They’ve worked their butts off, and they’re still a little bitter over that playoff loss to Walled Lake Western.” The Lakes Valley Conference figures to be another gauntlet, only with the added pressure of being the focus of opponents this year, rather than the other way around. “It’s going to be pretty tough,” Henson said of the LVC. “A lot of other teams are returning a lot of kids. Walled Lake Western and Walled Lake Northern. Northern has a lot of returning guys and a couple of Division 1 prospects on their team. “We have to keep our heads on straight and take it one game at a time,” he said. “Hopefully the younger guys blend in well. Our success last year was because we were a good team. The seniors and juniors liked being around each other and fought for each other every game.”

2019 Team Schedules 33 34 Fall Football Guide Stockbridge Panthers

Head Coach: Jeremy Killinger 2018/1-8 8/29 AT GRASS LAKE 9/6 AT DUNDEE 9/13 OLIVET 9/20 SUMMERFIELD Stockbridge Panthers After a couple of lean seasons, the Panthers look to put the experience gained to good use in 2019. “Last year, 9/27 AT LESLIE we were in the middle of hiring and staffing, and I had to coach both sides of the ball, which is a bear,” coach Jeremy Killinger said. “I’ve hired a defensive coordinator and we’re still working on installing a scheme, but it’s 10/4 exciting.” That the Panthers finished 1-8 for the second year in a row, he said, wasn’t entirely due to a lack of LAKEWOOD effort. “We were right there, but we didn’t finish,” Killinger said. “If you get in the right position and don’t make the play, it doesn’t matter. We’d come in too hard on defense and whiff on the tackle.” But a year’s experience, 10/11 he hopes, will be a difference. “We were young last year, and a lot of those guys are back,” he said. The AT PERRY Panthers’ first priority is to find offensive linemen to join returning senior guard Tylin Ayers, who played guard 10/18 and tackle most of the season and center in the finale. Will Porter, who took over at center at midseason before AT WYOMING LEE an injury, returns at center. The line will be tasked with helping create openings for an experienced corps of skill players. They’re led by senior quarterback Brandon Nelson, a three-year starter. “He understands the offense 10/25 and led us throughout the offseason,” Killinger said. “We gave him a bag of balls and threw a lot on his own.” OWOSSO Josh Lewis and Cody Freiermuth join him in the backfield. Both are seniors who will be two-year starters. Brad Niece is expected to move into a receiver spot while also playing on defense. “He’s the quietest, do-it kind of guy,” Killinger says. “He sets a great example and does a great job mentoring and recruiting players. We expect he’ll earn a two-way spot.” On defense, Ayers is a three-year starter at defensive end who earned all-state honors last year. “We’re going to have a couple of sophomores who will probably come up and play some spots for us. We’ll see who shows up on day 1.” The Panthers expect to have about two dozen players on their roster this season. Of those, 14 are seniors. “Our participation numbers are up, but our school numbers are down,” Killinger said. “We have 200 less kids then we had 20 years ago, which means we don’t have as many kids to put on a roster.” The Panthers had to scramble to find a ninth opponent when Vermontville Maple Valley dropped out of the Greater Lansing Athletic Conference to play 8-man football. The replacement, Petersburg Summerfield, had an opening, adding another strong team to an already tough schedule. “It’s a tough schedule, start to finish,” Killinger said. That goes for the GLAC, where Olivet and Lakewood are the favorites. The Panthers will need to gel early on offense and on defense, where they gave up 54 points in each of their first two games and 441 on the season. We have to complete the play. We have to finish our drives. Attention to detail and finishing will be keys for us. Our league goes through Olivet and Lakewood. I’m not saying we can’t compete with them, but that’s what we need to aspire to, and the rest of the games we need to win.”

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36 Fall Football Guide Webberville Spartans

Head Coach: Todd Coe, Jr. 2018/4-6 8/29 VESTABURG 9/6 AT BELLEVUE 9/13 CROSSROADS CHARTER ACADEMY 9/20 Webberville Spartans PORTLAND ST. PATRICK The Spartans were an anomaly last season, becoming one of the few teams to get into the playoffs despite 9/27 WYOMING TRI-UNITY a losing record. Losing nine seniors from last year’s team will make a return to the playoffs a challenge. CHRISTIAN “We’ve definitely gotten a taste for it,” Webberville coach Todd Coe says. “We’ve lost in the first round the last three years. The kids who remember going to the playoffs know what it’s like to get there. Now we have 10/4 to get to that next level.” AT VESTABURG First, they have to get through a schedule that includes 8-Man Division 1 champion Morrice in the season 10/11 finale, perennial playoff teams Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian and Portland St. Patrick, and two schools who DETROIT ACADEMY are moving down from 11-man football in Vestaburg (home and away) and Vermontville Maple Valley. OF AMERICAS The Spartans will be rebuilding on the fly, with three starters returning. Senior Oscar Fuller returns at quarterback. “He’s a good scrambler,” Coe said. “He doesn’t seem to get tired.” The Spartans are looking 10/18 VERMONTVILLE not to test that theory, but after all of last year’s linemen graduated, seniors Zach Taylor and Gavin Norton MAPLE VALLEY are part of a crew looking to gain experience quickly. Running back TJ Coe takes over the lead running back spot after Caleb Friddle graduated. “This will be his year,” Todd Coe said. “He’s been a starting 10/25 linebacker the last two years. Hopefully he’ll be able to step into this role.” Gavin Kubiak returns in what’s AT MORRICE best described as a utility role. “He can play everything from offensive line to running back to receiver as well as linebacker and defensive line,” Coe said. “He’s one of those kids who is real coachable, too. It makes it nice.”

They’ll all get their chance against that schedule, a slate of games Coe doesn’t mind attacking. “I like to play good teams,” he said. “Every team we lost to last year was in the top 10 (in the polls), but to be the best you have to beat the best. “It’s going to come to if this year’s seniors can step up and be leaders after losing a senior class that led everything,” he added. “The biggest thing I like to see is growth week to week. I tell the kids we don’t have to be the best, but I expect you to be your best. If we leave everything on the field, then we’ll have nothing to hang our heads about.”

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38 Fall Football Guide White Lk Lakeland Eagles

Head Coach: Joe Woodruff 2018/7-4 8/28 AT WALLED LK WESTERN 9/6 WATERFORD MOTT 9/13 SOUTH LYON 9/20 AT WALLED LK NORTHERN White Lake Lakeland Eagles 9/27 The Eagles have been considered contenders for the Lakes Valley Conference the last couple of seasons, AT SOUTH LYON EAST which coach Joe Woodruff doesn’t consider a good thing these days. “Last year, everyone thought we were the team to beat, and the kids believed it a little bit,” he said. “After three games, we were 1-2 and we had to 10/4 backtrack a little bit.” The Eagles recovered, winning five of their next six regular season games and beating DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD Rochester Adams in the first round of the playoffs before losing to Division 1 runner-up Clarkston in the next round. “I don’t know if we’ll sneak up on anyone,” Woodruff says. “But I’ll be a typical coach and say we have 10/11 WATERFORD KETTERING a lot of work to do. But we also do have some pieces in place.” Those pieces include senior running back Dakota Meyers, a three-year starter who has been an all-Lakes Valley Conference selection the last two years. 10/18 He’s averaged more than 1,000 yards rushing in each of the last two seasons while also playing linebacker on AT WALLED LK CENTRAL defense. Leo Skupin, another three-year starter, returns at defensive back while also doing the Eagles punting and kicking. He’s Lakeland’s shutdown corner, covering the opponent’s best receiver. Austin Boughton, an all 10/25 MILFORD LVC safety last year, helps anchor the Eagles’ defensive backfield, Lakeland has five starters returning on both sides of the ball. At quarterback, Woodruff plans to use a pair of players, both of whom saw action last season. Senior Jordan Shaw saw time until he was injured last season, necessitating the call up of Tate Farquhar, who as a freshman played against Milford and threw a pass. “I can’t remember the last time a freshman quarterback threw a ,” Woodruff said. “We’re expecting good things from that position.” The Eagles have tackle Noah Reed and center Colin Carlson returning on the offensive line. “We’ve got a bunch of young kids there,” Woodruff said. “Our biggest concern is we have 10 or 11 offensive linemen we think can play, but it’s going to be a challenge to find out who. Lakeland runs the Wing-T, a run-heavy attack, but might open things up this season to take advantage of players like Ryan Castellon, who heads up a position of depth for the Eagles. On defense, besides the two-way players already mentioned, Lakeland returns Drake Schultz, an all-LVC selection at linebacker, and defensive backs Mike Sherril and Nate Dostil. As for the LVC, Woodruff is already wary. “Our schedule doesn’t favor us well,” he said. “The first four games (Walled Lake Western, Waterford Mott, South Lyon, and Walled Lake Northern) are the kind of schedule that keeps you up at night. You have a chance to lose a lot of games early.” The Eagles will do their part by keeping the ball on the ground as much as possible and grinding out the clock on offense. “Both of our lines, on offense and defense, have to gel sooner or later,” Woodruff said. “They had a great offseason, but they have to grow. We have to stay injury-free and we’ll have to put a lot of work in real quick. A fast start will be vital for us.”

2019 Team Schedules 39 40 Fall Football Guide Whitmore Lk Trojans

Head Coach: Brian Boron 2018/4-5 8/29 AT ROYAL OAK SHRINE 9/6 AT DEARBORN HEIGHTS STAR INTERNATIONAL 9/13 AT LUTHERAN WESTLAND 9/20 STERLING HEIGHTS Whitmore Lake Trojans PARKWAY CHRISTIAN The 2019 season starts the same way last year did, with a game against Royal Oak Shrine. 9/27 That’s about the only thing that stays the same for Whitmore Lake, which left the Tri-County Conference this ANN ARBOR RICHARD summer after 45 years to join the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference.

“We’re excited,” Trojans coach Brian Boron says of Whitmore Lake’s new home. “It’s a fresh start, a new 10/4 AUBURN HILLS conference and a lot of unknowns.” The Trojans also will have a co-op with Charyl Stockwell Academy, adding OAKLAND CHRISTIAN nearly a dozen players to the roster for this season. “It allows us to have a junior varsity program for the first time in six or seven years,” Boron said. “It will give our young kids a chance to play, instead of being on 10/11 the varsity and getting in only during blowouts.” Whitmore Lake will have 10 starters, most of them two-way SOUTHFIELD CHRISTIAN players. The Trojans will run their standard T-formation, with two tight ends and three running backs that 10/18 leans heavily toward running the ball. Zach Brady returns at quarterback for a second year. He’ll be handing AT ROCHESTER HILLS off to Evan Romeo, who rushed for 500 yards before getting injured in week 4, and Logan Kurth, a junior LUTHERAN NORTHWEST who rushed for 600 yards when Romeo went out. Cole Henning and Evan Vaughan will compete for the third running back slot. “This year we’ll have (Romeo and Kurth) together,” Boron said. “For the first time in my 10/25 LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE tenure, we’ll have strength as well as flexibility in the backfield.” They’ll run behind a young but experienced line. It includes Alex Williams, a four-year starter at tackle, Josh Fraga, who started at center and moved to tackle during the season, center Zach Kobeck, sophomore guard Alex Tanner and junior Michael Corrie. “We have young kids who have been playing,” Boron said, “They’ve got a lot of starts under their belts. I like the mix right now.” The Trojans had to switch from the T to the I-formation after Romeo’s injury last year, which Boron believes cost his team a shot at the playoffs.

The Michigan Independent Athletic Conference has 14 schools, including Charyl Stockwell, with seven playing football. Parkway Christian, Oakland Christian and Lutheran Northwest figure to be contenders, with the Trojans hoping to crash the party this season. “Our emphasis is to worry about us,” Boron said. “If we focus on ourselves and know our stuff, the rest will sort itself out. Our kids think they are good and they know we were really close (to a playoff spot) last year. But we have to guard against complacency. We’ve had to remind them that they haven’t won anything and an injury changes everything.”

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Central Michigan Eastern Michigan Western Michigan Chippewas Eagles Broncos Head Coach: Jim McElwain Head Coach: Chris Creighton Head Coach: Tim Lester 2018 Record: 1-11 2018 Record: 7-6 2018 Record: 7-6 Aug. 29 Albany Aug. 31 at Coastal Carolina Aug. 31 Monmouth Sept 7 at Wisconsin Sept. 7 at Kentucky Sept. 7 at Michigan State Sept. 14 Akron Sept. 14 at Illinois Sept. 14 Georgia State Sept. 21 at Miami (Fla.) Sept. 21 Central Connecticut State Sept. 21 at Syracuse Sept. 28 at Western Michigan Oct. 5 at Central Michigan Sept. 28 Central Michigan Oct, 5 Eastern Michigan Oct. 12 Ball State Oct. 5 at Toledo Oct. 12 New Mexico State Oct. 19 Western Michigan Oct. 12 Miami (Ohio) Oct. 19 at Bowling Green Oct. 26 at Toledo Oct. 19 at Eastern Michigan Oct. 26 at Buffalo Nov. 2 Buffalo Oct. 26 Bowling Green Nov. 2 Northern Illinois Nov. 12 at Akron Nov. 5 Ball State Nov. 16 at Ball State Nov. 19 at Northern Illinois Nov. 12 at Ohio Nov. 29 Toledo Nov. 29 Kent State Nov. 26 at Northern Illinois

42 Fall Football Guide Williamston Hornets

Head Coach: Steve Kersten 8/29 2018/10-3 AT BYRON 9/6 WYOMING KELLOGGSVILLE 9/13 FOWLERVILLE 9/20 AT ST. JOHNS Williamston Hornets 9/27 After an improbable playoff run following a 5-4 season in 2017, followed up by a run to the Division 4 AT HASLETT semifinals last season, the Hornets are now in rebuilding mode for 2019. “We graduated a lot of kids,” coach Steve Kersten said. “We had a lot of great seniors who were a big part of the last two years. It’s an 10/4 opportunity for a lot of kids to get playing time.” LANSING EASTERN Among the returners is defensive lineman Eston Miles, a 6-3, 305-pounder who has committed to Western 10/11 Michigan but had offers from 10 other schools, including Rutgers of the Big Ten; Sullivan Sparks, a safety AT MASON who also will see some time on offense, and Jacob Jones, and inside linebacker who also will play on the offensive line this year. At quarterback, last year’s JV quarterback, Luke Mahaney is in the mix, as well as 10/18 OLIVET sophomores Logan Steele and Spencer Feig, whose fathers both played at Fowlerville. Logan’s father Steve played under Kersten when he was an assistant there two decades ago. “They’re all great athletes,” Kersten 10/25 said of his quarterbacks. “It will be interesting to see how it shakes out.” Mason Allman, a backup last year, PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA figures to move into the lineup at running back along with junior Braden Cline. Gabe Lounsbury returns as a starter at cornerback. Caden Plaxton, a junior will see time on both sides of the ball but had a major impact last year as a kicker. “From 30 yards in, he’s guaranteed,” Kersten said. “I don’t know if he can kick it 50 yards, but if we get to the 42-yard line (which would be a 50-yard ), we’ll put him in. He’s a very consistent kicker.

“Every other position will have a kid on the JV last year or juniors from last year’s team,” he added. The Hornets were 7-2 during the regular season, one of the losses to then-defending champion Pewamo- Westphalia 28-27. “We went for two,” Kersten said of the loss in the final regular-season game. Williamston finished in a three-way tie for first in the CAAC Red Division with Haslett and St. Johns. “St. Johns is the front- runner,” Kersten said. “They have four running backs and a new coach. Haslett graduated a lot of kids, and so did we. I think it’s going to be a very good battle for the league title.” The key? “With our youth, it’s about growing up fast and winning close games,” he said. “I think there will be a lot of close games this season.”

2019 Team Schedules 43 Michigan State University

Head Coach: Mark Dantonio 2018/7-6 8/30 TULSA 9/7 WESTERN MICHIGAN 9/14 ARIZONA STATE 9/21 AT NORTHWESTERN 9/28 INDIANA Michigan State University 10/5 Michigan State’s 2018 season could be summed up in two sentences: Its defense was very good. Its offense AT OHIO STATE was not. Injuries were a major problem. The team lost one wide receiver, Felton Davis, at midseason, 10/12 Quarterback Brian Lewerke missed time with a shoulder injury, and running back LJ Scott couldn’t bounce AT WISCONSIN back from an early season ankle sprain. That was the offense. The Spartans also lost pass rusher Kenny 10/26 Willekes to a broken leg in the Redbox Bowl, a 7-6 loss that highlighted the problems in the MSU offense. PENN STATE But Willekes is back, and so is Lewerke as the Spartans try to shake off a 7-6 campaign. “We return 20 11/9 starters this year and 50 lettermen. Very exciting,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said at the Big Ten’s media ILLINOIS day in Chicago. “I’ve been very, very impressed with how we’ve gone about our business since the bowl 11/16 game.” Not everyone else was though as the Spartans were picked to finish third in the Big Ten East this AT MICHIGAN season. That doesn’t mean a thing to Kenny Willekes. “We don’t care about the hype,” he said. “We don’t 11/23 care about whatever is said in the preseason. What happens on the field on Saturday is what we’re worried AT RUTGERS about, the finished product. When Saturday comes, we’ll be ready to go.” Fans aren’t likely to learn much about changes in the offense until the season opener. Dantonio’s only statement on the offense at the Big 11/30 MARYLAND Ten media days was to say Lewerke was the starter and Rocky Lombardi, who started three games last year, will be his backup. Brad Salem was moved into the offensive coordinator position, but the Spartans have said little since.

The Spartans were in a similar situation six years ago, coming off a 7-6 season with a strong defense and a suspect offense, then won the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl with a 13-1 record.

Dantonio has proven to be a resourceful coach in his 12 seasons, and the Spartans are hoping for a repeat in his 13th.

44 Fall Football Guide University of Michigan

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh 2018/10-3 8/31 MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE 9/7 ARMY 9/21 AT WISCONSIN 9/28 RUTGERS University of Michigan 10/5 For the first time, all of the players on the Wolverines roster are Jim Harbaugh recruits. IOWA “Everyone knows what’s expected now,” senior guard and co-captain Ben Bredeson told MLive.com. “There 10/12 AT ILLINOIS are no excuses, no different ways, no old ways. Everyone knows what we were brought in to do, and I think we’re ready for it.” So does Harbaugh. “I’m really feeling like 2019 is special for a lot of reasons,” he told 10/19 MLive. “I really like the players we have. I think they really want to make Michigan great and make themselves AT PENN STATE great.” To do that, the Wolverines will have to prove themselves against Ohio State. The Buckeyes have proven 10/26 a nemesis for the Wolverines, having won 14 of the last 15 meetings between the teams. Last year’s loss, NOTRE DAME a 62-39 drubbing in Columbus, took a lot of the luster out of a 10-2 season that ended with another rout, a 11/2 41-15 drubbing in the Peach Bowl. Quarterback Shea Patterson returns, although Harbaugh has said backup AT MARYLAND Dylan McCafferty will see game action this season. Harbaugh has new offensive and defensive coordinators this 11/16 season. Josh Gattis comes to Ann Arbor from Alabama, where he had shared the offensive coordinator duties MICHIGAN STATE with Mike Locksley, now the coach at Maryland. 11/23 He started his career at Western Michigan before quickly moving to Vanderbilt and Penn State before landing at AT INDIANA Alabama last season. Calling his attack “a mutt of an offense,’ Gattis says he’s incorporated parts of offenses 11/30 from each of his previous stops as well as what Michigan did last year. The offense will be under a spotlight, but OHIO STATE so too was the defense, which was overwhelmed by the speed of Ohio State and Florida down the stretch. That’s where Don Brown, in his fourth year as defensive coordinator, has to find ways to get the Wolverines over the hump. Among the solutions: A little bit of zone defense while maintaining the aggressiveness that worked so well most of the season. He plans to use up to 18 players regularly on defense while adding new formations to take advantage of the talent available, Michigan was picked by football writers to win the Big Ten this season, an assessment Harbaugh embraces. But expectations are such that the Wolverines are in a position where 10 wins won’t be nearly enough this season without a victory against Ohio State at Michigan on Thanksgiving weekend. Or a national title. How Michigan reacts on a weekly basis will determine its success in 2019,

2019 Team Schedules 45 Detroit Lions

Head Coach: Matt Patricia

9/8 2018/6-10 AT ARIZONA 9/15 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 9/22 AT PHILADELPHIA 9/29 KANSAS CITY 10/14 AT GREEN BAY Detroit Lions 10/20 The first game of the Matt Patricia era at Ford Field was a dud, to be sure, as the Lions were routed by the New MINNESOTA York Jets and were serenaded with boos. Things got better after that until an injury to running back Kerryon 10/27 Johnson, a trade of Golden Tate and an injury to Marvin Jones essentially stripped the Lions of offensive NEW YORK GIANTS weapons. Johnson and Jones are back this season, and quarterback Matthew Stafford has an array of weapons, 11/3 including significant upgrades at tight end, as the Lions aim to improve on last year’s 6-10 mark. Not everyone AT OAKLAND is convinced; USA Today projected the Lions as finishing with a 3-13 record this season, tying them for last in 11/10 the NFL. That might be a tad too pessimistic. The Lions upgraded their defense during the season by getting AT CHICAGO defensive lineman Damon Harrison in a trade with the New York Giants and signing another lineman, Trey 11/17 Flowers, in free agency. Patricia and his players have had a year together and should be on the same page this DALLAS season.

11/24 A new offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, becomes the latest to try and get the most possible out of Stafford, WASHINGTON who for many reasons, not all of them his fault, has yet to show the ability that has made him one of the 11/28 highest paid players in the NFL. The kicking game is solid with kicker Matt Prater and punter Sam Martin. CHICAGO Johnson, the team’s leading rusher last season, missed the final six games with a knee injury that required 12/8 surgery. C.J. Anderson, who keyed the Los Angeles Rams’ surge to the Super Bowl last season, AT MINNESOTA is in reserve, along with fan favorite Zach Zenner. Theo Reddick remains as a receiving option 12/15 out of the backfield. Jones, Kenny Golladay and ex-Patriot Danny Amendola provide options TAMPA BAY in the passing attack, as do tight ends T.J. Hockenson, the top draft choice out of Iowa, and 12/21 veterans Jesse James and Logan Thomas, who signed in the offseason. The Lions defense OR 12/22 figures to be solid, but for the Lions to do anything this season, they have to possess AT DENVER the football and score, two things they struggled on at the end of the season. The Lions 12/29 made a lot of moves to improve this season. Now it’s up to them to produce before fans GREEN BAY turn their attention to college basketball in late November.

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