AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE PREVIEW: Yellowjackets hope to reload the cannon

CARRYING THE LOAD: Auburn Hills Avondale senior quarterback Mithc Robinson (No. 7) is one of the state'sbest and will look to lead the Yellowjackets into contention in the OAA Blue Division this season. File Photo | Dan Stickradt

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

AUBURN HILLS — In all reality, Auburn Hills Avondale won’t be as well-oiled of an offensive machine as it was a year ago on the football field. The Yellowjackets could be a better defensive team to compensate.

That is the ingredient that coach Steve Deutsch is hoping for in his 10th season at the helm. Avondale finished 7-4 last season and kept scoreboard operators quite busy throughout the season.

Avondale wracked up 464 points in 11 games, an area-best 42.2 average, but allowed 354 points throughout the season, a 32.2 average. Three times the Yellowjackets scored over 50 points and they eclipsed 40 points seven times.

In the final game of the season, Avondale dropped a 71-44 decision to eventual Division 3 state runner-up Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the district finals. Few teams could stop the Yellowjackets, but the inability to stop opposing teams proved to be their demise in the end.

Besides the loss to St. Mary’s, the other three losses were by a combined 16 points —meaning that Avondale was only a couple of defensive plays away from having more than seven wins last season.

“We will be a lot better defensively this year. We have to be,” beamed Deutsch, whose team set multiple school records last season. “We lost a lot of our skilled athletes, but we do have some very good kids coming up. We hope to surprise some people.”

Avondale must replace five of its top six skilled athletes from last year, as Ray Tillman, Tony Harris Jr., Trevon Burrell, Ryan Brancheau and Trevon Salter all graduated. All were running backs, slot backs or receivers last season.

The sole running back to return is junior Mike Johnson (5-8, 190), who will see his name called more often this season. Senior Jeff Douglas, an all-state sprinter in track, and junior newcomer Eric Stubbs (6-1, 175) will be the top receivers.

“All three of these guys are very fast,” said Deutsch. “Johnson and Douglas ran track last season and Douglas was on a state championship relay. Stubbs was on the junior varsity. In a lot of years, he would have played varsity. But with all of the talent we had last season, we kept him down on the JV. He’s going to impress some people this season.”

The catalyst to the whole system is senior quarterback Mitch Robinson (6-1, 195), who enters his third season as a starter. Also on target to be a four-year starter in baseball as a catcher, Robinson has a strong and accurate arm and he set the single-season state record last season with 46 touchdown passes.

Division I Lehigh is one of several schools who have their sights set on Robinson’s progress. If he can again post solid numbers firing to mostly a new cast, then he’ll likely be suiting up at the collegiate level next year.

Robinson, who will also serve as the punter, will have three returning starters digging deep in the trenches this season. Junior Clark Clancy (6-4, 240) is back at tackle, senior Chris Wilson (6-1, 210) will be the center and senior Anthony Camposeo (6-2, 200) will play guard along the offensive line. Sophomore Mitchell Williams (6-0, 240) played on the varsity last season and will see an expanded role.

“We still have some decent size on the lines. We know that Mitch can throw, so if we protect him and the new guys can catch the ball, we should be all right,” said Deutsch.

PREACHING: Auburn Hills Avondale football head coach Steve Deutsch tries to motivate his troops at a recent practice. Deutsch's Yellowjackets are the favorites in the OAA Blue Division this season despite the loss of several skilled athletes. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Defensively, Avondale will have several underclassmen filling in as starters. The only returning starters are senior linebacker Troy May (5-8, 165) and Douglas at safety. Sophomore Manuel Baca (5-10, 215) is a fine prospect at outside linebacker and junior Spencer Smith (5-9, 170) will be a defensive back. Sophomore defensive lineman Paul Czartorski (6-1, 240) also returns and will see more playing time.

Avondale opened the season 0-2 last season with close losses to Warren Fitzgerald and Hazel Park. The Yellowjackets responded with six straight wins to finish third in the OAA Blue Division (6-2) and qualify for the postseason for the 12^th time in school history and fourth time under Deutsch.

Avondale is on the heels of three straight winning seasons and playoff berths in 2008 and 2010. Deutsch feels there is enough talent on the team to coat tail that momentum and contend for a league championship and a postseason pass in 2011.

“I have to think that we’ll be up there,” said Deutsch. “Last year we lost close games to Hazel Park and Berkley and finished third in the league and both of those teams graduated a lot of people. I think that (Birmingham) Groves and (Birmingham) Seaholm should be decent and Hazel Park does bring back some quality kids. There is no reason to think we can’t contend again this year. We have the quarterback, we have some good speed and we have better size. Our goal is to win the league this year and make it back (to the postseason).”

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Tags: Auburn Hills Avondale Football, Auburn Hills Avondale Football Preview 2011, high school football, OAA football, prep football, Steve Deutsch

Category: Auburn Hills Avondale, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps