Flint Metro League
School: Brandon
Nickname: Black Bears
Last year’s record: 5-5
Coach: Tim Pizzala, sixth year
Coach’s record: 21-24 (.467)
Key losses: Shane Mahaffy, Matt Selak, Justin Mezsets, Matt Smith, Dylan Everett, Ryan Barnes, Derek Darling, Cody Feltner, Zack Fernandez, Brandon Lee
Key returnees: Blake Nivelt (LB/RB), Blake Rehahn (LB/RB), Andrew Derry (DB), Larry Bland (OL), Nick Wummel (WR), Derek Klank (WR)
School: Clio
Nickname: Mustangs
Last year’s record: 0-9
Coach: Nate Taylor, 3rd year
Coach’s record: 0-18
Key losses: Alec Bachman (DT), Cody Horner (DL), Aaron Alexander (OT), Vinnie Parks (RB)
Key returnees: Aaron Huff (QB), Chris Lanyi (MLB), Tyler Eible (OT), Trevor Hagy (DE), Luke Wesolowski (OLB)
Coach’s comment: “I want my kids to work hard and compete every day. Hopefully, the third year we’ll be able to get something going here.”
School: Fenton
Nickname: Tigers
Last year’s record: 9-3
Coach: Jeff Setzke, seventh year at Fenton, 17th year overall.
Coach’s Record: 97-63 (.606)
Key losses: Houston Shaw (QB), Quinton Mandle (WR), Gerad Wegener (RB), Tyler Kippee (C), Joe DeLavergne (LB), Connor Muntin (LB), Layton Mandle (FS), Justin Mott (CB), Cam Kostka (DE), Jack Lucas (DE), Gannon Teal (OLB)
Key returnees: Cody Hocevar (G), Nick Chappell (T), Joe Diller (G), Damon Thomas (WR), Mitch Shegos (WR), Trent Grimes (WR), Alex Okopien (DT), Brennan Clarke (SS), Connor Davidson (QB), Isaiah Miller (LB), Mike Czarnota (LB), Jacob Keesee (DT), Alex Branoff (T)
Coach’s comment: “We have a number of returning starters and key contributors from last year’s district championship team, including five starters who will be starting for the third consecutive year at the varsity level. Additionally, our incoming junior class has not lost a game while in high school. If we stay healthy and get some luck, we could have a very good season. We have a very difficult start to our season, as will be playing three playoff teams, two of which won district championships, and two are our most bitter rivals.”
School: Kearsley
Nickname: Hornets
Last year’s record: 1-8
Coach: Rod Schuch, 3rd year
Coach’s record: 2-16
Key losses: Kyle Cornelison (C), Sevin Dennis (OG), Dakota Card (OT), Julian Jarrett (WR), Jared Gabriel (S), Tylor Ford (WR), Jordon Gabriel (CB), Justin Carl (LB)
Key returnees: Lance Mucha (LB), Vinnie Brandt (DT/OG), Zack Link (TE/S), Matt Weine (RB), Anthony McMasters (FB/LB), Caleb Pyscher (QB), Nate Klamert (OT), Richard Conrad (C)
Coach’s comment: “We have some inexperienced players on our offensive line that will have to step up and fill the voids left by our seniors. Defense will be our strong point this season. We are returning two honorable mention players and two returning sophomores from a season ago.”
School: Holly
Nickname: Bronchos
Last year’s record: 7-3
Coach: Ryan Culloty, fifth year at Holly, 10th year overall
Coach’s record: 17-21 (.447) at Holly, 55-37 (.598) overall
Key losses: Ryan Houldsworth (DE/LB), Allan Strode (DE), Austin Hopkin (WR/DB), Shawn Scott (LB/WR)
Key returnees: John Williams (QB/DB), Evan Papuga (LB/RB), Kyle Vandell (OL)
Coach’s comment: “We’re looking forward to the season. We’ve had a nice run the last couple of years, and we would like to see it continue.”
School: Lapeer East
Nickname: Eagles
Last year’s record: 8-3
Coach: Jake Weingartz
Coach’s record: 26-15 (.634)
Key losses: Gary Bulzan (QB), JT Pillars (OT), Colin McCallum (OL/DL), Aaron Hirsch (WR/DB), Brad Labrie (WR/DB), Mike Steinhaus (WR/DB), Paul Wolosyzk (WR/DB), Alex Shultz (OL), Nick Burgess (FB/LB)
Key returnees: Joe Perry, Ben Muir, Kyle Rachwal, Anthony Herbert, Nate Yaks, Austin Greenleaf, Garrett Schaller
Coach’s comment: “We are going to be a very young team, with two sophomores and a freshman starting on the offensive line. With 16 new starters on offense and defense, we will have to grow up very quickly. The kids have been doing a great job this summer with our camps and lifting, which I think is really going to help with the learning curve for the young kids. Depth at the offensive and defensive lines will be an issue, so we must stay healthy.”
School: Lapeer West
Nickname: Panthers
Last year;s record: 6-4
Coach: Mike Smith, 15th season
Coach’s record: 97-48 (.668)
Key losses: David Price (QB/LB), Kyle Swailes (WR/DB), Nate Page (DL)
Key returnees: Zeshawn Jones Parker (WR/LB), Michael Ledington (WR/DB), Brandon Welling (OL), Monta Stangler (RB) (transferred from Lapeer East), Cody Perkins (WR/LB), Hunter Sharrard (QB), Cullen Turczyn (WR), Kevin Essenmacher (OL/DL), Adam Fisher (OG), C.J. Melton (RB/LB), Vann Spinney (LB)
Coach’s comment: “We felt we were in a position to win the conference last year, and we didn’t finish. Hopefully, we can build on what we did a year ago and get over the hump.”
School: Linden
Nickname: Eagles
Last year’s record: 7-5
Coach: Dennis Hopkins, 15th season
Coach’s record: 99-43 (.697)
Key losses: Kevin Baker, Tyler Keeble, Chris Bond; Tyler Voller, Gareth Elliott, Tyler Kraus
Key returnees: Ben Armstrong, Nick Carlson, Matt Werienga, Ed Walterhouse, Shaye Brown, Mitch Juhl
Coach’s comment: “We have a good group returning, excellent leaders and hard workers. If we stay healthy, we could be in the mix.”
School: Swartz Creek
Nickname: Dragons
Last year’s record: 4-5
Coach: Brad Brown, first year at Swartz Creek, sixth year overall
Coach’s record: 26-22 (.542)
Key losses: Cody Clontz (FB), David Withey (RB)
Key returnees: Clay Brack (DE), Travis Campbell (OT/DT), Kevin Weiler (OT/DT), Jake Campbell (OG/DE), Devin Moshollder (OG/DE), Max Cummings (WR), Jaylen Schoenfield (QB), James Richard, Joey Granger (WR/LB)
Coach’s comment: “We can’t wait to get the season started. We want to improve each day at practice and in every game. We want to give ourselves an opportunity to make the playoffs.”