Huron Shores Conference
School: Tawas Area
Nickname: Braves
2011 record: 7-3
Head coach: Tim Webb (7th year, 35-24 record)
Key losses: Spencer Ellis, Tyler Samuels, Lyman Freeman,Nick Kolnitys
Key returnees: Paul Jones, Cameron Osborn, Matt Krumm, Logan Pittsley, Hunter Walker, Dan Howell
Coach’s Comment: “We need to replace 18 starting positions. We just have a lot of inexperience. It will be interesting to see if we can reload and make another playoff run and compete for a conference championship.”
School: Whittemore-Prescott
Nickname: Cardinals
2011 record: 8-2
Head Coach: Kevin Frederick (5th year, 32-10 record)
Key losses: Cody Freeman, Anthony Bell, Nathan Scoles, Dakota Harrington
Key returnees: Tyler Janish, Jens Gillings, Jordon Runyon, Clay Loomis, Zach Baker, Ryan Prescott
Key newcomers: Tyler Kile (Sr., C), Austin Edmonds (Soph., LB, G), Travis MacDonald (Soph., RB).
Coach’s Comment: “Expectations have always been high. This is the third year of our conference and we’ve been fortunate enough to win it the first two years. We hope to win it again. Our weightroom attendance has been good, and we’re hoping that drives us right into the season.”
School: Alcona
Nickname: Tigers
Head coach: Dave Schnieder (3rd year)
2011 record: 5-4
Key losses: Nick Garner (leading tackler), Brock LaVergne, Andy Chamberlin
Key returnees: Cody Franklin, Nathan Fettes, Garret Norling, Tony Dubay, Chad Haneckow, Josh Meade
Coach’s Comment: “We feel like we’re right on the cusp of [the playoffs.] The big question mark is how physical are we going to be. That’s going to cause us to have to have to change how we do some things. Our strength is our speed and our skill positions. We have an eight-game schedule this year; we feel like we can win six or seven. Though on the other hand, if the wheels fall off, we could only win four.”
School: Oscoda
Nickname: Owls
Head coach: Dave LeVasseur (1st season)
2011 record: 2-6
Key losses: Andrew Franks, Kieran Clarke
Key returnees: Dustin Long, Jacob Wood, Calub Hopkins, Donavan Fouchey
Coach’s Comment: “We’re a very physically strong team. There’s lots of senior leadership and a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for the game amongst all of our players. We’re learning an entirely new system on offense and a variation of the same defense they ran last year, which will take some learning as well. Overall, the response from our players to the new-look program has been overwhelmingly positive, as interest in football has doubled our numbers in all grades, nine through 12.”