OAA WHITE DIVISION
SCHOOL: Farmington
NICKNAME: Falcons
HEAD COACH: John Bechtel, 14th season (75-65)
2011 RECORD: 6-5, 4-3 OAA White Division (tied-fourth); Postseason: Def. Detroit Henry Ford (49-19); lost to Southfield (27-9) in Division 2 district finals.
RETURNING STARTERS: Ryan Caprathe, sr. OT/DT (6-5, 305); Connor Mohr, sr. FB/LB (6-0, 205); Isaiah Gourdine, sr. TE/FS (6-3, 200); Jordan Degreffenreed, sr. RB/DB (5-9, 185); Keenan White, sr. OT/DT (6-3, 275); John Perry, sr. TE (6-1, 195); Curtis Brunson, jr, WR/DB (5-11, 175)
KEY PROSPECTS: Josh Craven, jr. WR (6-3, 195); Antonio Dokic, jr. OG (6-2, 230)
Troy Mitchell, sr. QB (5-11, 185); Ken Hammond, sr. SS (5-11, 180); Mike Purry, sr. DT (6-3, 1645); Luke Dennis, sr. K/P
NOTABLES: Farmington has made the postseason in seven of the past 14 years and seems to have the right type of personnel to keep the Falcons competitive this season. The problem in the OAA-White is that every team is talented and with newcomer North Farmington aboard, 6 of 8 teams in the league reached the postseason last year. Farmington should be one of many teams engaged in a heated dogfight this autumn.
SCHOOL: Farmington Harrison
NICKNAME: Hawks
HEAD COACH: John Herrington, 43rd season at Harrison; 51st overall (385-88-1)
2011 RECORD: 10-1, 7-0 OAA White Division (first); Postseason: Def. Birmingham Seaholm (35-0); lost to Brother Rice (30-7) in Division 2 district finals.
RETURNING STARTERS: Lorenzo Collins, jr. TB (6-0, 200); Jake Slobin, sr. OG/NT (5-11, 235); Darius Coleman, sr. SE/CB (5-9, 180); Ed Huckelby, sr. FB/LB (5-11, 190); Noah Downs, sr. RT (6-4, 315)
KEY PROSPECTS: Doran Fields, sr. SE (6-0, 200)
NOTABLES: The Hawks were ranked nationally last season, only to see their season ended quickly in the district finals by eventual state champion Brother Rice. Most of the starting lineup has departed, yet many coaches in the league feel Harrison will again contend based on its tradition of 37 winning seasons and only five losing seasons under Herrington.
SCHOOL: North Farmington
HEAD COACH: Todd Schultz, fifth season
NICKNAME: Raiders
2011 RECORD: 7-3, 6-2 OAA Blue Division (tied-first); Postseason: Lost to Brother Rice (34-8) in Division 2 pre-districts.
RETURNING STARTERS: James Ward, sr. RB/CB; Itoh Buley, sr.; Jordan Blaylock, sr. QB; Jason Ervin, sr. WR; John Wilson, sr. WR; Drew Correll, sr. C/DT; Justin Shelton, sr. OG/LB; Alec Londal, sr. OG/LB; Josh Kayster, sr. OT/DT; Yanni Bills, sr. DT; Kameron MacNear, sr. NT.
KEY PROSPECTS: Chauncey Bridges, jr. TB/FS; Malik Fuller, soph. TB/CB; Shamare McCorvey, sr. FB; Bobby Williams, sr. QB; Chris Townes, sr. OT; Jordan Brown, sr. OT; Wesley Heidkamp, jr. OT; Deshawn Myers, jr. DT; Alonte Mayweather, jr. CB.
NOTABLES: North Farmington won its final seven regular season games last season to earn a share of the OAA Blue Division title with Birmingham Groves and reach the Division 2 postseason. The good news is that there are plenty of starters or reserves back from last season. The bad news is that the Raiders have been promoted to the OAA White Division, which produced five playoff teams last season. Where North Farmington falls into the mix this season is anyone’s guess.
SCHOOL: Oak Park
HEAD COACH: Greg Carter, second season (3-6 at Oak Park); 16th overall as head coach.
NICKNAME: Knights
2011 RECORD: 3-6, 2-5 OAA White Division (sixth)
RETURNING STARTERS: Bryan Williams, sr. WR/SE (6-2, 180); Malik Washington, sr. TB/DB (5-9, 185); Michael Clendlan, sr. CB (5-10, 170); Harrison Shelby, sr. OG/DT (6-4, 350); Jalen Williams, sr. RT/DT (6-4, 280)
KEY PROSPECTS: Storm Hudson, jr. RB/SS (6-0, 190; transfer from Eisenhower); John Kelly, soph. RB/FS (5-10, 180)
NOTABLES: Last season was a transition year for Carter and the Knights, as the team was a mix of holdovers and transfers from a variety of schools. Oak Park was competitive in several games but lost four games by 10 points or fewer. This could be the wild card of a very competitive OAA-White. There is plenty of talent and a great coaching staff. If the Knights put it all together, some of those close losses will turn into wins.
SCHOOL: Oxford
HEAD COACH: Bud Rowley, 36th season (38th overall) (228-110-1)
NICKNAME: Wildcats
2011 RECORD: 7-3, 5-2 OAA White Division (tied-second); Postseason: Lost to Rochester Adams (26-20) in Division 2 pre-district.
RETURNING STARTERS: Glacier Wallington, soph. QB/DB (5-9, 175); Logan Money, sr. OL (6-4, 270); Piper Thaler, sr. DL (6-2, 210); Andrew Davis, sr. OL/DL (5-10, 180); Zach Hadorn, sr. OL/DT (6-2, 230); Marty Giannola, sr. LB (6-0, 180)
KEY PROSPECTS: Chase Lalla, soph. FB/OLB (5-9, 170); Scott Stubenrausch, soph RB/DB (5-6, 160); Nathaniel Brubaker, sr. WR/SE (6-4, 185); Liam Logan, sr. RB (6-0, 170); Kyle Anderson, sr. TE/OLB (6-4, 210; injured last season); Matt Strzelecki, jr.TE/LB (6-1, 190); Vinnie Griffith, sr. FB/LB (5-10, 190); Brennen Orr, sr. WR/SE (5-10, 180); Kyle Reason,jr. RB/OLB (5-10, 175); Joseph Regan, jr. RB/OLB (5-10, 180). Richard Martin, jr. OL/-DL (6-3, 230)
NOTABLES: Gone are four standout players who are now on college rosters, including Mr. Football Prescott Line (Southern Methodist University) and lineman Collin Goetz (Central Michigan University). The Wildcats do welcome back Glacier Wallington, who was a rare all-league quarterback as a freshman, and a host of experienced players. Oxford has several multi-sport athletes coming from basketball, lacrosse, and wrestling. They likely won’t put up the gaudy numbers of last season, but they should have enough to stay in the upper echelon of the OAA-White.
SCHOOL: Rochester Adams
NICKNAME: Highlanders
HEAD COACH: Tony Patritto, 10th season (84-22); 15th overall.
2011 RECORD: 7-4, 4-3 OAA White Division (tied-fourth); Postseason: Def. Oxford (26-20); lost to Port Huron (27-21) in Division 2 district finals.
RETURNING STARTERS: Kyle Niswonger, sr. RB/LB (6-2, 210); Ben Hart, sr. FB/LB/KR (5-10, 185); Matt Cobb, sr. OT/DE (6-2, 270); Alex Lang, sr. OT/DE (6-1, 210); Jack Twitty, sr. WR/SE (6-1, 180); Avery Taylor, sr. RB (5-9, 160); Jordan Shive, jr. WR/DB (5-10, 170; currently injured)
KEY PROSPECTS: Matt Sokol, jr QB (6-5, 215)
NOTABLES: The Highlanders have reached the postseason 15 straight seasons, the longest streak of the 25 programs in the OAA and longest of the 53 programs inside Oakland County. Can the Highlanders find a way to make it 16 straight? There are some question marks but plenty of holdover talent.
SCHOOL: Southfield
NICKNAME: Bluejays
HEAD COACH: Tim Conley, eighth season (45-28)
2011 RECORD: 8-3, 5-2 OAA White Division (tied-second); Postseason: Def. Birmingham Groves (53-7); Farmington (27-9); lost to Brother Rice (16-6) in Division 2 regional finals.
RETURNING STARTERS: Brandon Bean, sr. SS (6-0, 180); Jeff Madison, sr. WLB (6-1, 205); Willie Duncan, sr. MBL (5-11, 230); Carterris Carter, jr. SS (5-11, 190)
KEY PROSPECTS: Darius Danz, sr. RB/LB (5-10, 170; transfer from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s); Chukes Okorafor, sr. DE (6-0, 220); Jordan Cry, jr. SLB (6-1, 200); Lawrence Marshall, jr. DE (6-5, 225); Lion King Conoway, jr. DE (6-5 205); Chris Williams, jr. DT (5-11, 210)
NOTABLES: The Bluejays lost plenty of talent from their Elite Eight team. There is still plenty of team speed and depth at the skilled positions with several quality players who were waiting in the wings last season. There are also seven players who are being recruited by Division I and Division II coaches, so the components are here for another successful season. Southfield will play a very tough non-league schedule to go along with a stiff OAA-White schedule. If the line play develops in a hurry, this team will be in the hunt for a league crown and more.
SCHOOL: Southfield-Lathrup
NICKNAME: Chargers
HEAD COACH: Stephon Thompson, 14th season (56-68)
2011 RECORD: 2-7, 1-6 OAA White Division (seventh)
RETURNING STARTERS: Antwan Herbert, sr. WR/LB (6-2, 195); Andre Adams, sr. RB (5-11, 225); Alan Clark, sr. WR (5-11, 170); Martell Moncrieff, sr. LB (6-0, 200); Karlos Williams, sr. ILB (6-0, 230); Nick Timmins, sr. ILB (6-0, 205); Darryl Scofield, sr. DL (6-0, 210)
NOTABLES: The Chargers are coming off back-to-back 2-7 seasons and may be victim of being in a very deep conference in last few years. The OAA-White produced five playoff teams last season and could do the same this year. Lathrup will simply have to improve in order to climb a few notches this season. The Chargers were outscored 269-131 last season and 270-169 in 2010.