FLINT METRO LEAGUE
— Team capsules compiled by Daniel Stickradt. Email dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Follow on Twitter @HSSportsScene and @LocalSportsFans
SCHOOL: Clio Mustangs
LEAGUE: Flint Metro League
HEAD COACH: Jeffrey Klopf, second season
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 1-8, 0-7 FML (eighth)
KEY RETURNEES: Garrett McGraw, sr. OG; Dylan Davis, sr. RB; Kody Ryan, sr. RB
OUTLOOK: There’s ample opportunity at Clio, where only four returning starters are back from a 1-8 team. The Mustangs have had a revolving door of coaches in recent years, and Klopf has the duties task of rebuilding a program that has not enjoyed a winning seasons since 2001 and recorded only nine total wins in the previous 10 seasons.
SCHOOL: Fenton Tigers
LEAGUE: Flint Metro League
HEAD COACH: Jeffrey Setzke (141-73, 78-38 at Fenton)
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 9-3, 7-0 FML (first)
KEY RETURNEES: John Czarnota, sr. QB (All-State); Chanse Setzke, sr. WR/DB; Lance Mercord, soph. RB; Josh Mahar, sr. RB/DB; David Pietryga, sr. TE/FS; Tyler MacIntosh, sr. OL/DE; Grady Sonderoth, sr. C/LB; Trevor Edgar, sr. OL/DT; Logan Prater, jr. OT/DT; Devin Fuller, sr. DT; Hunter Chappell, sr. DE.
KEY NEWCOMERS: John Sage, sr. WR/DB; Spencer Rivera, jr. RB/SS; Ethan Fulton, jr. WR/FS; Jaden Lainessee, soph. RB/LB; Austin Henard, fr. DE; Zck Pierson, jr. WR; Logan Welch, jr. DB.
OUTLOOK: The always tough Tigers are coming off nine straight postseason appearances, including reaching the D-2 regional finals last season. Fenton has captured three straight FML titles and won 21 straight within the conference. Expect the Tigers to contend once again.
SCHOOL: Flint Kearsley Hornets
LEAGUE: Flint Metro League
HEAD COACH: Kaleb Forr, first season
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 2-7, 1-6 FML (tied-sixth)
KEY RETURNEES: Tommy Plunkey, sr. ATH/DB/KR; Bailey Douglas, sr. OG/DE; Gavin Etson, sr. WR/DB/KR; Marcelis Collins, sr. OT/DT; Jacob Kunkel, sr. QB/DB; Teven Thompson-Farrior, sr. OL/DL; Nathan Warren, sr. OL/DT; Malik Davis, sr. FE/DE; Dakotah Doman, sr. K
KEY NEWCOMERS: Braiden Mancour, sr. WR/DB; Mateo Booth, sr. OG/DT; Tavern Harris, sr. ATH/DB; Dylan Bescher, jr. TE/LB; Michael Laura, jr. ATH/OLB.
OUTLOOK: There’s a combined 11 returning starters back for the Hornets, who hope to climb into the upper echelon of the FML.
SCHOOL: Flushing Raiders
LEAGUE: Flint Metro League
HEAD COACH: Robert Oginsky, fifth season
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 4-5, 3-4 FML (fifth)
KEY RETURNEES: Cal Endicott, sr. QB/P; Aiden Harrison, jr. WR/KR; Tyler Morris, jr. WR/KR; Bradley Novess, sr. DL; Antonio Farero, sr. LB; Conner Melancon, sr. OL; Dan Shaheen, sr. OL; Nick Morrison, sr. K.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Grayson Makranyi, jr. DB; Raylon Roberts, jr. RB; Joe Jaruzel, soph. DB/KR; Donny Snyder, soph. LB.
OUTLOOK: Seven starters are back on offense and six on defense for the Raiders, who hope to crack the top trio of teams in the league.
SCHOOL: Holly Broncos
LEAGUE: Flint Metro League
HEAD COACH: Ryan Culloty, seventh season (74-64)
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 5-4, 4-3 FML (fourth)
KEY RETURNEES: Cade Dallwitz, jr. QB/LB; Collin Dallwitz, sr. RB/LB; Collin DeGriselles, sr. OL/LB; Paul Elsey, sr. OL/DL; Jacob Honstetter, jr. RB/LB; JD Lannon, sr. TE/DB/P; Zack Miller, sr. OL/DL; Wyatt Scribner, sr. RB/DB; DJ Tennis, sr. RB/DL; Grant Tooley, sr. TE/LB; Adam Welch, jr. DE/DB.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Marko Bullard, soph. RB/DL; Bennie Domrose, sr. OL/DL; Tanner Graveratte, jr. E/LB; Rico McDonough, soph. RB/DL; Joe O’Connor, jr. RB/LB; Blue Querio, jr. OL/DL; Sam Hild, sr. K.
OUTLOOK: There are eight returning starters back on both sides of the football for the Broncos, another team with eyes on cracking the top third of the FML and reaching the postseason. Holly has reached the playoffs four times in the past 11 years after being a cellar dweller for decades. This program is far more competitive in today’s arena.
SCHOOL: Linden Eagles
LEAGUE: OAA Blue Division
HEAD COACH: Nick Douglass and Dennis Hopkins
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 7-4, 5-2 FML (third)
KEY RETURNEES: Cade Dickson, sr. WR/LB (All-League); Corbin Sines, sr. WR; Seeger DeGayner, soph. WR/DB (All-League); Garrett Durkac, jr. OL; Eddie Grode, sr. OL; Avery Jacobs, sr. WR; Hunter Babcock, sr. WR/LB; Noah Giacomontonio, sr. WR/DB; George Walterhouse, jr. QB; Phoenix Dickson, soph. QB/RB/LB; Tyler Hart, jr. OL; Andrew Armstrong, jr. OL/DL; Travis Klocek, jr. WR; Josh Abernathy, sr. LB; Zck Brown, sr. DT (All-League); Avery Jacobs, sr. DB (All-League); Easton Giacomontoni, jr. LB.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Owen Wagnitz, sr. DL; Luke Kenney, jr. DB
OUTLOOK: Third in the FML last season, Linden brings back seven starters on defense and five on offense and will look to reach the postseason a 16th straight time.
SCHOOL: Ortonville Brandon Blackhawks
LEAGUE: Flint Metro League
HEAD COACH: Brad Zube, second season (8-2)
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 8-2, 6-1 FML (second)
KEY RETURNEES: Matt Hill, jr. OL; Ryan Beachapp, sr. OL; Ean Thompson, sr. C; Kevin Grigeriett, sr. QB; Bryce Chamberlain, sr. OLB (D-I recruit); Clay DeBoer, sr. FB; Josh Manfroni, sr. WR/DB; Mike Nicaj, jr. ILB.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Sincere Perkins, sr. WR (transfer from Waterford Mott); Matt Harrison, jr. WR.
OUTLOOK: In coach Zube’s first season with Brandon, the Blackhawks surged to second on the league and return 14 returning starters this season. Could this be the year Brandon unseats Fenton in the FML? The two meet in Week 1 at U-M.
SCHOOL: Owosso Trojans
LEAGUE: Flint Metro League
HEAD COACH: Devin Pringle, first season
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 0-9, 0-5 CAAC-Red (sixth)
KEY RETURNEES: Jhakab Hickey, sr. TE/DB; Carson Bornefeld, jr. RB/DB; .Damian Andrews, jr. RB/LB; Dakota Garrison, jr. G/LB; Preston Rowlison, jr. OL/DL; Hunter Blaha, soph. QB.
OUTLOOK: A former coach at Lansing Waverly and Carson City-Crystal, Coach Pringle has the task of rebuilding up the Trojans, who are coming off a 2-34 record the past four seasons.
SCHOOL: Swartz Creek Dragons
LEAGUE: Flint Metro League
HEAD COACH: Joe Spencer, second season
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 1-8, 1-6 FML (tied-sixth)
KEY RETURNEES: Myles Johnson, sr. LB; Nathan Kelley, sr. LB; Lance Clapp, sr. DL; Brandon Varner, sr. OL; Matt Smith, sr. RB; Justin Schlaack, jr. OL; Max Murphy, jr. DB
KEY NEWCOMERS: Jayln Price-Rose, jr. WR; Taquavius Humphries, jr. WR; Grant Taylor, jr. DB; Carson Gardner, jr. OL; Michael Smith, jr. QB; Thomas Marshall, jr. RB; Michael Vieau, jr. DB; Joe Older, jr. DE.
OUTLOOK: After reaching the postseason for the first and only time in 2012, the Dragons have sputtered to a 14-22 record ever since that campaign. Joe Spencer has his system in place and a talented group of underclassmen to ride back to the top half of the league and back into playoff contention.