Alma
Nickname: Panthers
Coach: Dan Falor (1st year)
2013 record: 1-7
Players lost: Curtis Doyle
Players returning: Boyd Hubbard, Damian Castillo, Chase Austin, Slade Martin, Jared Peterman, Michael Panni, Aidan Kunkel
Outlook: Falor takes over a program that has fallen on some hard times as of late, but expect Alma to improve on last year’s win total this season.
Chesaning
Nickname: Indians
Coach: Jason Gray
2013 record: 4-5
Players lost: Alex Forsyth, Jake Sadilek
Players returning: Travis Young (rb), Colton Vrable (ol/de), Justin Sloan (lb), Adam Guzinski (og), Isaac Drexler (og)
Outlook: The Indians enjoyed a bounce-back season last year behind a strong ground game. Young returns to pace the ground attack this year with some talented linemen returning as well.
Freeland
Nickname: Falcons
Coach: Kevin Townsend (9th year)
2013 record: 6-4
Players lost: Ryan Richter, Charlie Ferenf, Dustin Leslie, Josh Schlack
Players returning: Jarett Riffel, Blake Desanders, Ryan Schaumann, Josh Beltz, Matt Formsma, Jake Jankoska
Coach’s comment: “We have a lot of returning seniors that started lats year. Our whole offensive line, with the exception of one kid is returning from last year. Our quarterback (Riffel) was All Conference First Team last year before (getting sick). Just a lot of key returning kids on both sides of the ball, they didn’t all necessarily start but they all had a significant number of reps.”
Hemlock
Nickname: Huskies
Coach: Bruce Bendix (5th year)
2013 record: 2-7
Players lost: 12
Players returning: Adam Schoen, Austin Keyser, Logan Mulvaney, Dylan Smith, Cody Oczepek
Coach’s comment: “Last year we lost several close games. If we can win the close games this year we cold have a winning season and be back in the playoff picture. We’ll have to stay healthy though as we only have 20 players. Injuries impacted our record someone in 2013.”
Bullock Creek
Nickname: Lancers
Coach: Steve Miller
2013 record: 4-5
Players lost: Keegan Begley, Christian Terwilliger, Tim Sensabaugh
Players returning: Jaylian Henderson (rb), Caleb Sommerville (rb/db), Z Westley (lb/wr), Cole Osmond (ol), Caleb Peterson (te)
Outlook: The Lancers have a dynamic pair of running backs in Henderson (5-6, 170) and Sommerville (6-0, 195) to build around with the playoffs a reachable goal this season.
Ovid Elsie
Nickname: Marauders
Coach: Travis Long (7th year)
2013 record: 7-3
Players lost: Austin Loynes, Luke Alexnder, Travis Delaney, Skyler Cramer
Players returning: Chris Luckhurst, Hunter Alexander, Tyler Skriba, Brandon Meisel, Aaron Bush, Keaghan Sutliff, Ben Stilwell, Devon Kelley
Outlook:
Swan Valley
Nickname: Vikings
Coach: Ken Bourbina
2013 record: 11-1
Players lost: Alex Dils, Matt Mendoza, Ben Finzel
Players returning: Alex Grace, Taylor Reaume, Brock Notter, Casey Stadler, Nick Call
Outlook: Coach Bourbina intends to mix things up offensively this season to help ease the pressure away from Alex Grace. If Swan Valley can get production from a cast of players this year the Vikings will be tough to be in 2014.
Shepherd
Nickname: Blue Jays
Coach: Nate Ferency (2nd year)
2013 record: 1-8
Players lost: Brenden Stressman, Justin Shufelt, Harrison LaLone, Clayton Hildebrand, Jalen Zavala
Players returning: Nick Sponseller, Tim Kirby, Tristian Foster, Clayong Long, Skyler Neyome, Ben Carney.
Coach’s comment: “We have made some big improvements from last season. The guys understand our expectations, which are very high. We are much more athletic, especially up front than last year and I think that will show well defensively, an area we need vast improvement in.”