Big North Conference
School: Alpena
Nickname:Wildcats
Coach Mel Skillman (first year, 46th season as head coach)
2012 record: 1-8
Players returning: Brady Marwede, Kaleb Smith, Tim Atkinson, Cade MacArthur, Dylan Thrasher, Tyler Pintar
Coach’s comment: “Our quarterback situation is still up in the air. We’ve got pretty much everything we’ll do all year in already. We’ve got 37 players on the varsity, so that’s pretty good.”
School: Cadillac
Nickname: Vikings
Coach: Jim Webb
2012 record: 6-4
Players lost: Jack Ford, Riley Norman, Ted Oliver
Players returning: Tanner Derror, Connor Kassuba, Jalen Brooks, Lewis Finch, Trevor Oliver
School: Gaylord
Nickname: Blue Devils
Coach: Will Cleaver (first year- was also head coach at Gaylord from 2000-2008)
2012 record: 0-9
Players lost: Dan Miller, Trevor Adams
Players returning: Steven Fitzek, Collin Watters, Cotton Neff
Noteworthy: Cleaver relies on the junior triad of quarterback Steven Fitzek, receiver Collin Watters, and talented back-of-all-trades Cotton Neff. Fitzek had only one BNC start last year, and it was in week eight against the conference’s best defensive team,Traverse City Central. In that game, Fitzek hit on 10 of 20 for 189 yards.
School: Ogemaw Heights
Nickname: Falcons
Coach: Bill Foster (first year)
2012 record: 8-4
Players lost: Brandon Benac, Cody Fields, Timmy Howard
Players returning: Ben Hartley, Devin Griffus, Josh Awrey, Alec Stevens, Michael ZonKronenberger, Tommy DeMatio, Shane Benjamin, Shawn Benjamin
School: Petoskey
Nickname: Northmen
Coach: Kerry VanOrman
2012 record: 5-4
Players lost: Quinn Ameel, David Grindell, Tony Deagostino
Players returning: Chase Lendingham, Kurt Boucher, Shea Whitmore, Trevor Denoyer, Brandon Delph
School: Traverse City Central
Nickname: Trojans
Coach: Tom Passinault
2012 record: 9-2
Players lost: Kenneth Merica, Tyler Gildersleeve, TJ Shepperly, TJ Schwannecke
Players returning: Ethan Campbell, Jake Gorter, Zack Egbert, Seth Tice, Rhys Adle
School: Traverse City West
Nickname: Titans
Coach: Tim Wooer (sixth year)
2012 record: 6-4
Players lost: Donny Cizek, Derrick Diver, Dustin Tucker, Tyler Johnson
Players returning: Connor Hayes, Grant Balino, Tyler Town, James Peck, Zack McGuire
Coach’s comment: “We lost eight starters on defense, a huge hit. Our 2012 class was also an incredible senior class in terms of leadership. Filling these roles will be critical to our early-season success, as we open with Midland, Ogemaw Heights, Traverse City Central, and Petoskey. In short, quarterback, defense, and leadership will be points of emphasis.”