PREP FOOTBALL 2012
DETROIT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE TEAM CAPSULES
(Team capsules compiled by Dan Stickradt. He can be reached by email at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans)
CHSL-CENTRAL DIVISION
SCHOOL: Brother Rice
NICKNAME: Warriors
HEAD COACH: Al Fracassa, 53rd season (404-115-7 overall)
2011 RECORD: 10-4, 1-3 CHSL-Central Division (fourth); Postseason: def. North Farmington (34-8); def. Farmington Harrison (30-7); def. Southfield (16-6); def. Detroit King (27-26); def. Lowell (24-14)
RETURNING STARTERS: Jon Reschke, sr. TE/LB (6-3, 235) (committed to Michigan State University); Sergio Perkovic, sr. TE/DE (6-4, 225); Kevin Henry, sr. DE (6-5, 220); Jason Alessi, jr. SE/K (6-0, 170); Kyle Bindi, sr. DT (6-3, 265); Lucas Cherocci, sr. LB (6-1, 220); Cheyne LaCanaria, sr. QB (5-9, 160); Kyle Marsh, sr. OL (6-3, 230); Sage Baltrusaitis, jr. OL (6-1, 240); Greg Marzec, sr. FB (5-7, 200); Billy Pieroni, sr. OL (6-3, 240); Griffin Anderson, sr. OL (6-6, 270); Brian Walker, jr. RB (5-11, 220); Jon Forster, jr. P (6-1, 185)
KEY PROSPECTS: Joshua Flye, jr. WR/K (5-7, 155); Grant Perry, soph. WR/DB/K (5-11, 165); Chris Carter, jr. SE (5-11, 180); Jack Grisan, jr. FB/LB (6-2, 205)
Shaun Jones, jr. LB (5-11, 210); Grant Perry, soph. WR/DB (5-11, 165)
John Plaskey, sr. WR/LB (6-3, 205); Shon Powell, jr. RB (5-6, 175); Corey Lacanaria, jr. WR (5-7, 160)
NOTABLES: The Warriors are on the heels of 13 straight postseason appearances, including last year’s 5-4 regular season which turned into a 5-0 postseason run and a state championship in Division 2. This squad lost some talented players but has several returnees and a wave of potential standouts that will keep this tradition-rich program very relevant for another postseason berth.
SCHOOL: University of Detroit Jesuit
NICKNAME: Cubs
HEAD COACH: Paul DeLuge, second season (4-5)
2011 RECORD: 4-5, 0-4 CHSL-Central Division (fifth)
RETURNING STARTERS: Parris Bennett, jr. OLB (6-2, 215); Peter Wenderski, sr. OG (6-4, 330); Curtis Smith, sr. WR/SL/DB (5-9, 180); Mike Wroblewski, sr. FB/LB (6-2, 225); Jacquri Faulkner, jr. OT/DE (6-4, 260)
KEY PROSPECTS: Kenyetta Wells, jr. OG/DL (6-1, 250); Delshon Jeffries, sr. RB/DB (5-10, 190)
NOTABLES: The Cubs must replace four-year starting quarterback Brian Cleary (University of Michigan), OL Matthew Eleweke (Michigan State University), and WR Alex Ziedas (Indiana University). U-D must do so despite playing in the the loaded CHSL Central Division, which vaulted four teams into the Elite Eight last season, including three state finalists.
SCHOOL: Detroit Catholic Central
NICKNAME: Shamrocks
HEAD COACH: Tom Mach, 36th season (324-80-0)
2011 RECORD: 12-2, 3-1 CHSL Central Division (second); Postseason: def. Northville (56-6); def. Plymouth Canton (21-14); def. Ann Arbor Pioneer (21-0); def. Rockford (23-20); lost to Detroit Cass Tech in Division 1 state final (49-13)
RETURNING STARTERS: Wyatt Shallman, sr. DE (6-3, 245; committed to Michigan); Derek Edwards, sr. OL (6-5, 270; committed to Central Michigan); Dylan Roney, jr. DE; Anthony Darkangelo, sr. RB; David Houle, sr. LB; Brandon Malinowski, sr. LB; JT Ayotte, sr. LB
NOTABLES: The Shamrocks were stunned by Detroit Cass Tech in last year’s Division 1 state final. As a program that has reached the postseason 23 times in 33 seasons, CC has the talent to do at least that in 2012. With two prospects ranked among the top 30 in the state and a bevy of other rising stars, the Shamrocks will contend in the CHSL Central Division and be a team to watch come November.
SCHOOL: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
NICKNAME: Eaglets
HEAD COACH: George Porritt, 23rd season (206-57).
2011 RECORD: 12-2, 4-0 CHSL-Central Division (first); Postseason: Def. Detroit Pershing (56-6); def. Redford Thurston (62-20); def. Linden ((49-7); def. Battle Creek Harper Creek (14-10); def. Mt. Pleasant (45-7 in Division 3 state finals). lost to East Grand Rapids
RETURNING STARTERS: Matt Linehan, sr. QB (6-3, 185); Jalen Watts-Jackson, jr. WR-RB; Austin Johnson, sr. OL; Andrew Koterba, sr. OL; Grant Niemiec, sr. RB-DL.
KEY PROSPECTS: Ja’Mar Antwine, soph. RB-LB (5-10, 165); Garrett Edgell, soph. RB; Ross Moore, jr. LB.
NOTABLES: The Defending Division 3 state champs lost a lot of its size in the trenches and several key players at the skilled positions. Like all St. Mary’s teams, howeve3r, they reload and not rebuild. There is special talent coming up through the ranks and by no means will this team fall from grace. Expect the Eaglets to keep soaring in the loaded CHSL and be relevant again come postseason time. OLSM has also debuted its new red turf in recent weeks and will join over 40 other high schools in Oakland County with turf fields in its athletics complex.
SCHOOL: Warren DeLaSalle
NICKNAME: Pilots
HEAD COACH: Paul Verska
2011 RECORD: 9-3, 2-2 CHSL-Central Division (third); Postseason: Def. Roseville (48-14) def. Warren Mott (35-6); lost to Detroit Cass Tech (6-0) in Division 1 regional finals.
RETURNING STARTERS: Shane Morris, sr. QB (6-4, 205; committed to Michigan; considered state’s best player by some sources); Josh Cox, sr. RB-DB (6-0, 195); Andrew DiFranco, sr. OL-DL (6-0, 245); Cordell Crosby, sr. DB-WR (5-8, 165); Brent Morris, jr. WR (6-1,170); Mario Agosta, jr. WR (5-9, 175); Kyle Anderson, sr. OL-DL (6-5, 230); Chris DeSrosiers, sr. C (6-1, 180); Allan Jefferson, sr. OLB-TE (6-3, 195); Jordan Avgousti, sr. OLB-TE (6-0, 195); Sam Badalamenti, jr. OLB-WR (5-9, 180); Joe Fisher, sr. LB (6-1, 205).
KEY PROSPECTS: Carlos Meli, sr. OL-DL (6-0, 245); Stephan Wilkinson, sr. DL (6-1, 235); Stephen Garrity, jr. OL-DL (5-10, 215); Dammorria Lilly, sr. RB (5-9, 185); Jared Wrangler, jr. LB-WR; Jack Wangler, sr. WR-DB; Carter Wilson, sr. WR-DB; Ronald Johnson, sr. RB-DB.
NOTABLES: The Pilots soared to the Division 1 Elite Eight last season before stalling out against eventual state champion Detroit Cass Tech. With 65 players on the roster, eight starters back on offense, five back on defense, and the state’s top-ranked player, DeLaSalle may have enough to win the CHSL-Central Division and make another deep postseason run.