OAKLAND ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION WHITE DIVISION TEAM CAPSULES
Team Capsules compiled by Dan Stickradt. Email dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or follow on twitter @LocalSportsFans
School: Bloomfield Hills
Nickname: Blackhawks
Coach: Dan Loria, 13th season (12 at Lahser)
2012 record: Lasher was 6-4, 6-2 in OAA Blue Division
Players lost: Nate Emery, Riley Manz, Zach Tornow, Andrew Gikas
Players returning: Spencer McCourt, sr. QB; Khalil Gracey, sr. WR; Marty Heppler, jr. C; Xavier Reynolds, sr. WR; Kyle Przblyski, jr. LB; Matt Almany, sr. FS; Morgan Cecillo, sr. CB; jr. C
Notes: This is the first season since the merger of Lahser and Andover. Andover finished 0-4 last year before cancelling its program due to low numbers. Lahser reached the postseason in 2012, losing to Auburn Hills Avondale in a D3 opener. Although this team will boast talent, it moves into the OAA-White from the OAA-Blue and must compete in one of the state’s premier leagues.
School: Farmington
Nickname: Falcons
Coach: John Bechtel, 15th season
2012 record: 6-4, 5-2 OAA White Division (tied-third)
Players lost: Ryan Caprathe, Connor Mohr, Isaiah Gourdine, Jordan Degreffenreed, Keenan White, John Perry, Antonio Dokic, Troy Mitchell, Ken Hammond
Players returning: Curtis Brunson, sr. WR-DB; Josh Craven, sr. SL-DB; David Reese, soph. OG; Justin Banks, jr. OT; Kyle Collins, jr. QB; Hu Lee, sr. DL; Xavier Baxter, sr. DL; Courteous Preston, jr.
Notes: The Falcons are coming off their fifth staight postseason berth and sixth in seven years. If they are to keep this trend going, they are going to need the replacements in the starting lineup to develop in a hurry. There’s no rest for the weary in the OAA-White, which might be the state’s deepest league in 2013.
School: Farmington Harrison
Nickname: Hawks
Coach: John Herrington, 43rd season
2012 record: 6-4, 4-3 OAA White Division (third)
Players lost: Jake Slobin, Darius Coleman, Ed Huckelby, Noah Downs, Doran Fields
Players returning: Lorenzo Collins, sr. RB-DB; Dorian Williams, sr. OL-DL; Devon Cook, sr. TE-LB; Iwarri Smith, sr. LB; Donavan Peterson, sr. DL; Jourdan Austin, sr. DL; Peyton Peterson, sr. DB; Jevon Shaw, sr. QB
Notes: Harrison has been one of the most successful programs in the state since the adoption of the postseason in 1975, making the playoffs an amazing 29 times and winning 13 state titles. Although the Hawks will still be good and will fight for a postseason berth once again, they are not the favorite in a loaded OAA-White.
School: Oak Park
Nickname: Knights
Coach: Greg Carter, third season
2012 record: 9-3, 6-1 OAA-White (first)
Players lost:.Bryan Williams, Malik Washington, Michael Clendlan, Harrison Shelby, Jalen Williams
Players returning: Storm Hudson, sr. SS-RB; John Kelly, jr. FS-RB; Drewe Jackson, sr. WR-SE; Shahhied Bellam,y jr. OT-DT; Ricardo Smith, jr. OL-DL; Jameer Butts, jr. C; Derrick Harris, jr. LB
School: Oxford
Nickname: Wildcats
Coach: Bud Rowley, 37th season
2012 record: 7-4, 5-2 OAA White Division (third)
Players lost: Nate Brubaker, Liam Logan, Kyle Anderson, Logan Money, Piper Thaler, Andrew Davis, Zach Hadron, Marty Giannola, Vinnie Griffith, Brennen Orr
Players returning: Glacier Wallington, jr. QB-DB; Scott Stubenrausch, jr. DB; Matt Strzelecki, sr. LB-TE; Kyle Reason, sr. RB-OLB; Joseph Regan, sr. RB-OLB; Richard Martin, sr. OL-DL: John Parker, soph. RB-DB; Jeremy White, sr. RB; Benjamin Line, sr. FB-LB
School: Rochester Adams
Nickname: Highlanders
Coach: Tony Patritto, 11th season
2012 record: 4-5, 3-4 OAA White (fifth)
Players lost: Kyle Niswonger, Ben Hart, Matt Cobb, Alex Lang, Jack Twitty, Avery Taylor
Players returning: Jordan Shive, sr. SL-DB; Matt Sokol, sr. QB-TE-LB; Clarence Broadnax, jr. RB; Paul Moceri, jr. OL; Lance Dunbar, jr. OL; Mark Sokol, jr. OG-DL; Derek Willis, sr. DL-OL; Andrew Lamkin, jr. DB-WR; Parker Monahan, sr. SL-DB
Coach’s comment: After 15 straight years of qualifying for the postseason, Adams failed to make the cut last year. “That was rough. I think the boys are really motivated this season. Last year, we just didn’t play Adams football. We made too many mistakes in every game. And when you play the OAA-White schedule, you can’t afford to that. You make mistakes, and you don’t win football games against those types of teams.”
School: Southfield
Nickname: Bluejays
Coach: Tim Conley
2012 record: 7-4, 4-3 OAA-White (fourth)
Players lost: Brandon Bean, Jeff Madison, Willie Duncan, Darius Danz
Players returning: Jordan Cry, sr. LB; Lawrence Marshall, sr. DE; Lion King-Conoway, sr. DE; Chris Williams, sr. DT; Jalen Brady, sr. QB; Chukes Okorafor, sr. OT; Jordan Billingslea, sr. SL; Chris Williams, sr. OT-DL; Devonte Alfred, sr. SE; Jacob Studdard, sr.SL; Londale Sanders, sr. C; Travis Debose, sr. OG; Carterris Carter, sr. TE-FB-LB; Jacob Studdard, sr. DB; Dior Johnson, jr. FS; Walter Love, sr. DB; Joe Clark, sr. SS.
Coach’s comment: “This could be one of our best seasons. We have a lot of talent back and a lot of guys being recruited. Plus, we have one of the state’s top players that moved into Southfield. We hope to put it together and win our league and make a run in the postseason.”
School: Southfield Lathrup
Nickname: Chargers
Coach: Keith Stephens, first season
2012 record: 1-8, 0-7 OAA-White (eighth)
Players lost: Antwan Herbert, Andre Adams, Alan Clark, Martell Moncrieff, Karlos Williams, Nick Timmins, Darryl Scofield
Players returning: Adrian Church, sr. WB-SE; Jared Singletary, sr. WR-DB; Jalil Holmor, sr. WR-WB; Julian McGee, sr. OL-DL; Tremario Bivens, sr. OL-DL; Wesley Butler, sr. OL-DL; Marcell Bonds, sr. WR-SE
Notes: For the first time in 15 seasons, the Chargers are under the direction of a new coach. They will have their challenges trying to climb from the bottom of the OAA-White, which is one of the state’s deepest leagues this season. The team will take a wait-and-see approach. The players have to learn a new system and collide with several potential state-ranked teams.