(Former MSAC North)
Conference: West Michigan D League
School: Brethren
Nickname: Bobcats
Coach: Alvin Rischel (First Year)
Last Season’s Record: 1-8
Players Lost: Devon Nelson (starting QB), Nate Costello (starting TB/LB), Cody Knight (starting FB/LB)
Players Returning: Lucas Richardson (Jr. QB), James Connolly (Soph. HB and last season’s Most Improved Player), Dylan Heberling (Jr. OL/DL), Tyler Dean (Soph. LB), John Grocholski (Jr. OL/DL)
Coach’s Comment: “We have a young but talented team and are very excited about the direction of our new program. Our motto for the 2012 season is ‘Commit to Improve.’ We feel that the success of this season relies greatly on our ability to restore the excitement of football back to this community. Once we have accomplished this, we believe that with this group of athletes, the sky is the limit.”
School: Baldwin
Nickname: Panthers
Coach: Doug Bolles
Last Season’s Record: 5-4
Players Lost: C.J. Sidock, Tyler Buck
Players Returning: Brandon Childress, Andre Ware, Devontae Sparks-Burrell
Coach’s Comment: “Nobody has missed a practice. The enthusiasm has been great.”
School: Crossroads Charter Academy
Nickname: Cougars
Coach: Fred Peacock
Last Season’s Record: 0-9
Players Lost: 10
Players Returning: 9 lettermen
Coach’s Comment: “We lack some depth, but speed is our greatest asset. Despite a poor year last year, we will be competitive this coming season.”
School: Onekama
Nickname: Portagers
Coach: Jim Hunter
Last Season’s Record: 4-5
Players Lost: RB/LB Tyler Fogarty, QB/FS Adrian Norman, WR/LB Drew Slavin, WR/CB Cody Graf, WR/CB Cordell Williams, OG/LB Nolan Miller, OT/DT Nick Osborn
Players Returning: RB/DB Quinn Matthews, QB/LB Tyler Johnson, WR/DB Austin Greiner, OG/LB Jake Florian, OT/DT Josh Santa, C/NG Josh Jacobs, OG/LB Nick Streeter, WR/DB Brandon Bohannon
Coach’s Comment; “This season, we are hoping to repeat as league champs, make the playoffs, and get farther in them than we have before. While we lost some good players to graduation, we are returning a number of players who performed well and will do a good job of leading us this year. A number of newcomers to the varsity off our JV program will need to step in and fill some key spots. We are confident that these young men will be able to do so.”