OAA BLUE DIVISION TEAM CAPSULES
PREP FOOTBALL 2012
OAKLAND ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION
TEAM CAPSULES
OAA BLUE DIVISION
(Team capsules compiled by Dan Stickradt. He can be reached by email at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans)
Auburn Hills Avondale
HEAD COACH: Steve Deutsch, 11th season at Avondale (50-46); 28th overall.
ASSISTANT COACHES: Torre Robinson, Anthony Epperson, James Prince, Roderick Reed, Stephen Watkins, Mike Kuhn, Andy Cox.
2011 RECORD: 5-5, 4-4 OAA Blue Division (tied-fourth); Postseason: Lost to Lapeer East (48-13) in division 3 pre-districts.
NICKNAME: Yellowjackets
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 13, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011.
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-4
RETURNING STARTERS: Clark Clancy, sr. OT (6-5, 280; committed to Bowling Green); Michael Johnson, sr. RB (5-9, 195); Eric Stubbs, sr. WR (6-0, 180); Treyvon Munson, sr. WR (6-6, 180); Mitch Williams, jr. DT(5-11, 275); Chris Bracewell, sr. LB (6-0, 180); Paul Czartorski, jr. DT (6-1, 265); Dillon Brancheau, sr. OLB (6-2, 190); Kyle Siroka, sr. K (5-9, 155).
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.
Birmingham Groves
HEAD COACH: Brenden Flaherty, 12th season (48-58).
ASSISTANT COACHES: Kirk Duncan, Pat Bero, Matt Turner, Nate Grant, Tom Downey, Jamie Brooks, Chuck Barnett, Bruce Cobb, Jason King, Chad Stuckey, Jason Wagner, Brian Badridge, Art Reamey
2011 RECORD: 6-4, 6-2 OAA Blue Division (tied-first); Postseason: Lost to Southfield (53-7) in Division 2 pre-districts.
NICKNAME: Falcons
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 8, 1978, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2011.
RETURNING STARTERS: Devan Moosherr, sr. OL-DL (6-1, 205); Drew Hendrickson, sr. DE-LB (6-2, 215); Tom Ndrejaj, sr. DL-OL (5-10, 210); Nick Valentine, sr. OL (6-3, 230); Jasob Sneed, 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.
Birmingham Seaholm
HEAD COACH: Jim DeWald, first season.
ASSISTANT COACHES: Dontayo Gage, Jason Bazner, Russ Purdy, Jamie Boerkoel
2011 RECORD: 6-4, 5-3 OAA Blue Division (tied-third); Postseason: Lost to Farmington Harrison (35-0) in Division 2 pre-districts.
NICKNAME: Maples
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 13, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2011.
RETURNING STARTERS: Dan Simon, sr.LB (6-0, 195); Stephen Guenther, sr. QB (5-11, 175); Chris hill, jr.LB-RB (6-3, 220); Sam Wilson, sr. OL (6-1, 245); Austen Park, sr. DB-WR (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 a pack of a wide open race?
Bloomfield Hills Andover
HEAD COACH: Mike Boyd and Nate Coleman, co-coaches in first season.
ASSISTANT COACHES: Chaise Hughes, Justin Ibe, Jade Tanguay, Lomas Brown, Ed Firoz, Dave Hack
2011 RECORD: 0-9, 0-8 OAA Blue Division (ninth); did not qualify.
NICKNAME: Barons
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 6, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.
OFFENSE: Muliple
DEFENSE: 4-3
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.
Bloomfield Hills Lahser
HEAD COACH: Dan Loria, 12th season (77-41)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Andy Patterson, Jack Patterson, Nick Roddy, Bobby Patterson, Matt MacLeod, Dave Welcome, Ali Haji-Sheikh, Sean VandenBussche
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
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 10, 1982, 1990, 1992, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011.
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-3
RETURNING STARTERS: Riley Manz, sr. LB-TE (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?
Berkley
HEAD COACH: Jeff Burnside, second season (4-5).
ASSISTANT COACHES: John Osborne, Tyler Altman, Ki’erre Gaut, Josh Gordon, Robert Ellis
2011 RECORD: 4-5, 4-4 OAA Blue Division (tied-fifth); did not qualify.
NICKNAME: Bears
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 5, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2009, 2010.
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-4
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 their players that saw significant time last season. Berkley may not be one of the top teams in the league this season, but have enough talent to knock some teams off and make this league again as wide open as any in Metro Detroit.
Hazel Park
HEAD COACH: Scott Guthrie, ninth season (44-33).
ASSISTANT COACHES: Nick Montgomery, Jamie Gordon, Jared Nabozny, Greg Richardson.
2011 RECORD: 3-6, 2-6 OAA Blue Division (seventh); did not qualify.
NICKNAME: Vikings
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 5, 1979, 1997, 2005, 2009, 2010.
OFFENSE: Pro-I
DEFENSE: 4-3
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 less than 30 players on the varsity to start. There is 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. Such an item could help this team if passed, perhaps attract some numbers.
Ferndale
HEAD COACH: Ryan Dunlap, seventh season (33-24)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Eric Royal, John Martisius, John Bassier, Rodney Jackson, Rod Paige, Mike Crossley,
2011 RECORD: 4-5, 4-4 OAA Blue Division (tied-fifth); did not qualify.
NICKNAME: Eagles
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 6, 1987, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008.
OFFENSE: I-Formation
DEFENSE: 4-3 Multiple Front
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. DE-OL (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-WR-QB-OLB (6-0, 190; transfer sat out last season per MHSAA rules); Jordan Banks, sr. CB (5-10, 175); Delante Dorris, jr. DT (5-10, 325).
NOTABLES: Ferndale was a middle of the pack team last season in the OAA Blue. With improvements in some areas of the lineup, the Eagles could be able to fly towards the top
Royal Oak
HEAD COACH: Ryan Irish, first season at Royal Oak (24-23 at Livonia Clarenceville).
ASSISTANT COACHES: Justin Reed, Joe Bodo, Jeremy Thoel, Frank Pendergrass, Nick Linseman, Dan Malley, Frank Ringley, Max Glowacki, Andrew Fournier
2011 RECORD: 1-8, 0-7 OAA Red Division (eighth); did not qualify.
NICKNAME: Ravens
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 1, 2006; Before Merger: Royal Oak Dondero (1990, 1991); Royal Oak Kimball (1981, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2005).
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-3
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 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. Does Irish and staff have the patience to build this program back up?
(Team capsules compiled by Dan Stickradt. He can be reached by email at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans)
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