PREP FOOTBALL 2012
OAKLAND ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION TEAM CAPSULES
OAA BLUE DIVISION
SCHOOL: Avondale
HEAD COACH: Steve Deutsch, 11th season at Avondale (50-46), 28th overall
NICKNAME: Yellowjackets
2011 RECORD: 5-5, 4-4 OAA Blue Division (tied-fourth); Postseason: Lost to Lapeer East (48-13) in Division 3 pre-district.
RETURNING STARTERS: Clark Clancy, sr. OT (6’5″, 280 pounds, committed to Bowling Green); Michael Johnson, sr. RB (5’9″, 195 pounds); Eric Stubbs, sr. WR (6’0″, 180 pounds); Treyvon Munson, sr. WR (6’6″, 180 pounds); Mitch Williams, jr. DT(5’11”, 275 pounds); Chris Bracewell, sr. LB (6’0″, 180 pounds); Paul Czartorski, jr. DT (6’1″, 265 pounds); Dillon Brancheau, sr. OLB (6’2″, 190 pounds); Kyle Siroka, sr. K (5’9″, 155 pounds)
KEY PROSPECTS: Tiroca Battle, soph. DE (6’2″, 185); J.T. Ozerities, jr. QB/DB (5’10”, 170); Joshuwa Holloman, soph. RB/WR (5’11”, 170); Spencer Smith, jr. QB/DB (6’0″, 170)
NOTABLES: The Yellowjackets have their biggest offensive and defensive lines in over a decade, a roster of three-year starters, great team speed with some members of their state champion track team aboard, and a team hungry to win its first league crown since 2004.
SCHOOL: Birmingham Groves
HEAD COACH: Brenden Flaherty, 12th season (48-58)
NICKNAME: Falcons
2011 RECORD: 6-4, 6-2 OAA Blue Division (tied-first). Postseason: Lost to Southfield (53-7) in Division 2 pre-districts.
RETURNING STARTERS: Devan Moosherr, sr. OL/DL (6’1″, 205); Drew Hendrickson, sr. DE/LB (6′-2, 215); Tom Ndrejaj, sr. OL/DL (5’10”, 210); Nick Valentine, sr. OL (6’3″, 230); Jacob Snead, sr. WR/DB (5’9″, 170); Nick Kizy, sr. QB (5’9″, 190)
KEY PROSPECTS: Ross Williams, jr. RB/DB (5’10”, 165) (All-State track runner)
NOTABLES: After finishing as co-champions in the OAA-Blue, the Falcons have plenty of talent returning to the trenches on both sides of the football to keep them in a hunt. If new players at the skilled positions can fill in the gaps, then Groves could very well be a challenger this season.
SCHOOL: Birmingham Seaholm
NICKNAME: Maples
HEAD COACH: Jim DeWald, first season.
2011 RECORD: 6-4, 5-3 OAA Blue Division (tied-third); Postseason: Lost to Farmington Harrison (35-0) in Division 2 pre-districts.
RETURNING STARTERS: Dan Simon, sr. LB (6’0″, 195); Stephen Guenther, sr. QB (5’11”, 175); Chris Hill, jr. RB/LB (6’3″, 220); Sam Wilson, sr. OL (6’1″, 245); Austen Park, sr. WR/DB (5’11”, 165); Dante Capicchioni, sr. OL (5’11”, 245)
NOTABLES: A new coaching staff comes aboard, but with plenty of experience on defense and a large and talented offensive line, this team should remain in the top half of the league this season. Does Seaholm have enough to emerge from the pack in a wide open race?
SCHOOL: Bloomfield Hills Andover
HEAD COACH: Mike Boyd and Nate Coleman, co-coaches in first season.
NICKNAME: Barons
2011 RECORD: 0-9, 0-8 OAA Blue Division (ninth)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 6 – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
RETURNING STARTERS: Sean Wilson, sr. RB/DB (5-8, 185); Nick Rabah, sr. LB (6-4, 210); Alec Mares, sr. WR/DB (6-1, 180); Perry Klamanski, soph. LB (6-1, 170); Jayvon Stringer, jr. RG/DT (5-10, 260); Matt Coleman, jr. OLB (6-0, 210); Daniel Welsch, jr. DE (6-1, 190); Steve Firoz, soph. QB (5-10, 160).
NOTABLES: This is the last season before the merger of Andover and Lahser and the Barons are coming off a winless season. There are only 30 players in the program and the junior varsity and freshman programs have already been merged. There are no unrealistic expectations for this program, only to try to win a couple of games after being held winless in 2011. The Barons want to walk off the field in their final season with their heads held high.
SCHOOL: Bloomfield Hills Lahser
HEAD COACH: Dan Loria, 12th season (77-41)
2011 RECORD: 6-4, 5-3 OAA Blue Division (tied-third); Postseason: Lost to Redford Thurston (28-7) in Division 3 pre-districts.
NICKNAME: Knights
RETURNING STARTERS: Riley Manz, sr. TE/LB (6-2, 210); Zach Tornow, sr. WR (5-11, 170); Andrew Gikas, sr. OT/DE (6-4, 245); Spencer McCourt, jr. RB/DB (5-11, 165); Nate Emery, soph. RB/DB (5-11, 175)
NOTABLES: The final year before the Andover and Lahser merger gives the Knights one more chance to shine and this team could be one of the better teams in the OAA Blue Division this season. The Knights have the size and speed to match some of the other teams in the league, which again will be a multi-team race. Could Lahser go out with a swan story or a middle-of-the-pack exit?
SCHOOL: Berkley
HEAD COACH: Jeff Burnside, second season (4-5)
NICKNAME: Bears
2011 RECORD: 4-5, 4-4 OAA Blue Division (tied-fifth)
RETURNING STARTERS: Eric Hudson, sr. RB/WR/KR (6-0, 170); Matt Koerner, sr. LB (6-1, 200); Dennis Bevza, jr. OL (6-4, 240); Armen Brus, sr. OL (5-11, 225); Jeremy Shephard, sr. DB (5-10, 170); Manny Bellamy, sr. LB (6-1, 195); Veldo Funwie, sr. DL (6-2, 210); Nick Borden, sr. P/K
KEY PROSPECTS: Alex Agbay, sr. QB (6-2, 185; injured last season); Alec Sanom, jr. RB/KR (5-9, 185); Josh Coleman, jr. WR (6-0, 185); Jake Cummings, jr. RB/KR (5-11, 165)
NOTABLES: The Bears return half of the players that saw significant time last season. Berkley may not be one of the top teams in the league this season, but it has enough talent to knock off some teams and make this league again as wide open as any in Metro Detroit.
SCHOOL: Hazel Park
HEAD COACH: Scott Guthrie, ninth season (44-33)
NICKNAME: Vikings
RETURNING STARTERS: Cas Henzel, sr. TE (6-0, 175); Keith Bucholtz, sr. OL/LB (5-10, 170); Andrew McClellan, sr. QB (5-11, 190)
KEY PROSPECTS: There are several players vying for starting spots.
NOTABLES: The Vikings have proven in recent years that they are capable of putting up points and will again have plenty of speed at the skilled positions. The difficulty will be depth, as there are fewer than 30 players on the varsity to start. There are some items on an upcoming millage proposal in Hazel Park, which is the only school in the OAA that does not have a turf game field. If passed, such an item could perhaps help this team attract some numbers.
SCHOOL: Ferndale
HEAD COACH: Ryan Dunlap, seventh season (33-24)
NICKNAME: Eagles
2011 RECORD: 4-5, 4-4 OAA Blue Division (tied-fifth)
RETURNING STARTERS: Nate Brisson, jr. TE/DE (6-7, 220); Eric Ellis, sr. QB/FS (6-1, 190); Marcus Quarker, sr. WR/CB (6-0, 170); Johnny Coopwood, sr. OT/DL (5-11, 255); Shane Sandlin, jr. C/NT (6-0, 215); Shaquan McGriff, jr. SLB (6-0, 225; 78 tackles, nine for loss); Tyree Bell, jr. MLB (5-10, 215; 42 tackles, four for loss); Chris Edwards, sr. OL/DE (6-2, 205); Desmond Paige, sr. SS (6-0, 190); Collin McLaughlin, sr. P/K (6-1, 170)
KEY PROSPECTS: Termichael Brown, jr. RB/WR/TE/QB/OLB (6-0, 190; transfer who sat out last season per MHSAA rules); Jordan Banks, sr. CB (5-10, 175); Delante Dorris, jr. DT (5-10, 325).
NOTABLES:
SCHOOL: Royal Oak
HEAD COACH: Ryan Irish, first season at Royal Oak (24-23 at Livonia Clarenceville)
2011 RECORD: 1-8, 0-7 OAA Red Division (eighth)
NICKNAME: Ravens
RETURNING STARTERS: Tyler Beerer, sr. OL (6-0, 220); Jacob Gastioux, jr. SL (6-0, 175); Andrew Glenn, sr. WR (5-9, 165); Alex Sim, sr. LB (6-2, 225); Justin Unger, sr. CB (5-10, 175); John Lewins, jr. LB (5-10, 200); Andrew Glenn, sr. WR (5-9, 165)
KEY PROSPECTS: Evan Fall, jr. SL (5-7, 145); Blake Hairston, sr. SL (5-7, 145); Blake Coleman, sr. TB (5-6, 170); Tyler Bloohm, jr. QB (6-0, 185); Preston Binkley, jr. DL (5-10, 235); Sam Simon, jr. LB (5-10, 185).
NOTABLES: Coach Irish, who moved over from Livonia Clarenceville, has some major work to do with a program that has gone through multiple coaching changes since Kimball and Dondero merged in 2006. Royal Oak has won just one game in the last four seasons and is 14-42 in six the seasons since the merger, including 6-39 in the last five years. The Ravens have been dropped down to the OAA Blue Division this season to compete against smaller schools, but it might take a few years until Royal Oak is relevant again in football. Do Irish and his staff have the patience to build this program back up?