FLINT METRO LEAGUE TEAM CAPSULES

PREP FOOTBALL 2012

FLINT METRO LEAGUE TEAM CAPSULES

(Team capsules compiled by Senior Editor Dan Stickradt. He can be reached by email at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans)

 

 

Clio

HEAD COACH: Nate Taylor, third season (0-18).

2011 RECORD: 0-9, 0-8 Flint Metro League (ninth); did not qualify.

NICKNAME:

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 1, 1994.

RETURNING STARTERS: Aaron Huff, sr. QB; Chris Lanyi, sr. LB; Tyler Eible, jr. OT.

NOTABLES: Clio’s program has been in trouble for years and is trying to halt a 19-game skid. Even with the move from the Big 9 Conference to the Flint Metro League in 2005, nothing has been able to save the Mustangs. In the past 15 seasons, Clio has recorded only 19 wins against 116 losses. They have not won a game since Week 8 of the 2009 season and have just three wins in the past five years and have four winless seasons in the past decade. The last winning season came in 2001, a 5-4 campaign. In all likelihood this season, the Mustangs will finish in the bottom three of the FML. The top six teams in the FML are all significantly better.

 

 

Fenton

HEAD COACH: Jeff Setzke, 20^th season (97-63).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Ron Eltringham, Brian Eltringham, Ryan Coffman, Randy Hoover, Ken Brown

2011 RECORD: 9-3, 6-2 Flint Metro League (tied-first); Postseason: Def. Marquette(45-21); Def. Okemos (35-7); Lost to Lowell (35-14) in Division 2 regional finals.

NICKNAME: Tigers

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 11, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

OFFENSE: Spread Option-No Huddle

DEFENSE: 40 Front

RETURNING STARTERS: Cody Hovevar, sr. RG (6-2, 250; all-conference); Nick Chappell, sr. LT (6-5, 305; all-conference); Joe Diller, sr. LG (5-11, 215); Jacob Keesee, sr. C (6-0, 195); Mitch Shegos, sr. SL-CB (5-11, 195); Damon Thomas, sr. WR-CB (6-2, 180; six interceptions last season); Trent Grimes, jr. SL (6-1, 195); Alex Okepein, sr. DT (5-11, 240); Brennam Clarke, sr. SS-RB (5-11, 175).

KEY PROSPECTS: Connor Davidson, sr. QB (5-11, 175); Scot Lukas, jr. WR (6-1, 175); Mike Czarnota, sr. LB (5-9,205); Isaiah Miller, sr. LB (6-1, 200); Luke Idoni, jr. DE  (6-1, 205); Tyler Hudson, jr. DT (6-2, 225); McKay Hamilton, jr. FS (6-2, 190); Jonathan Kontorousis, sr. OLB (5-8, 180).

NOTABLES: Fenton had had a resurgence in recent years, posting four straight winning seasons and playoff teams, including back-to-back trips to the Division 2 elite Eight. There’s reason to believe that the tigers will be one of the better teams in the FML once again. The league, which produced six playoff teams last season, is a little deeper that past few years opposed to the previous decade. Fenton is one of those teams that could finish anywhere from first to sixth in the league, but more likely a top three finish is in store for the Tigers.

 

 

Flint Kearsley

HEAD COACH: Rod Schuch, third season (2-16).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Russ Beagle, Rich Bennett, Paul Carpenter, Ryan Mansfield

2011 RECORD: 1-8, 1-7 Flint Metro League (eighth); did not qualify.

NICKNAME: Hornets

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 5, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998

OFFENSE: I-Formation

DEFENSE: 4-3

RETURNING STARTERS: Nate Kamert, sr. OT (6-1, 275; All-State in powerlifting); Richard Conrad, sr. C (5-9, 230); Matt Weine, jr. RB-P (5-6, 190); Lance Mucha, sr. LB (6-2, 230); Vinnie Brandt, sr. MLB (6-1, 235); Zack Link, sr. SE (6-3, 190); Trevor Oaks, sr. K (5-11, 170); Alex Schmitter, sr. LB (5-10, 185).

KEY PROSPECTS: Caleb Pyscher, sr. QB (6-1, 175); Aaron Jones III, jr. OT (6-4, 270); Matt Romono, sr. TE (6-5, 200); Anthony McMasters, jr. CB (6-2, 190); Brett Morin, sr. CB (5-10, 185); Hayden Prine, jr. SE (6-2, 180);Cedric Moten, soph. WR (5-10, 165; transfer from Flint Northern).

NOTABLES: The Hornets counter with plenty of size, tall, big, mobile bodies that will help them in the trenches and catch the football. But this team does not have a mentality of winning and Schuch and staff have a big challenge that awaits them. Kearsley has not had a winning season since 2003 (5-4) and have not won more than five games since 1998 (10-1), the last year the Hornets made the playoffs.

 

 

Holly

HEAD COACH: Ryan Culloty, fifth season (55-37 all-time as coach).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Eric Curl, Greg Maynard, Todd Preston, Eric Peterson, Dallas Lesperance, Mike McGowan, Paul McNeely, Kevin Bellant, Jordan Bellant, Tim Dusseault, Scott Bruning

2011 RECORD: 7-3, 6-2 Flint Metro League (tied-first); Postseason: Lost to South Lyon (33-14) in division 2 pre-districts.

NICKNAME: Bronchos

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 3, 2006, 2010, 2011

OFFENSE: Spread

DEFENSE: 31-Multiple

RETURNING STARTERS: Johnny Williams, sr. QB-DB (5-10, 190; League MVP; two-time all-conference); Evin Papuga, sr. RB-WR-LB (6-0, 195; all-conference); Kyle Vandel, sr. OL (6-0, 215; all-conference; Jake Schuermann, sr. OLB-WR (6-0, 190); Kyle McCarty, sr. WR-OLB (5-9, 170); Andrew Giles, sr. DL (6-0, 190); Zach Diehl, sr. DB (5-10, 170).

KEY PROSPECTS: Tom O’Connor, jr. OL (6-0, 190); Jake Zorn, soph. QB-WR (6-2, 180; transfer from Linden); Jesse Torres, sr. DB (5-9, 160); Josh Sayles, sr. DL (5-10, 270).

NOTABLES: Holly snapped a 59-year league title drought last season by sharing the FML crown with Lapeer East and Fenton. The Bronchos lost some key components from last year’s squad but have enough holdover talent to be considered title contenders once again. Holly has posted quite a turnaround in recent years, qualifying for the playoffs three times in the past six years with three winning seasons in that time span after decades of being a cellar dweller within its conference.

 

 

Lapeer East

HEAD COACH: Jake Weingartz, fifth season (24-15).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Brad Thomas, Jerry Nak, Nick Hobbins, Joe Shallman

2011 RECORD: 8-3, 6-2 Flint Metro League (tied-first); Postseason: Def. Auburn Hills Avondale (48-13); lost to Linden (33-8) in Division 3 district finals.

NICKNAME: Eagles

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 5, 1993, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011

RETURNING STARTERS: Joe Perry, sr. DL-OL (5-10, 230); Austin Greenleaf, sr. LB-RB (6-0, 200; all-conference; Gibson Finch, sr. C (6-2, 285); Kyle Rachwal, jr. LB-TE (6-2, 220); Anthony Herbert, soph. DL-OT (6-4, 295; all-conference as freshman); Nate Catalano, sr. P-WR (6-1, 195).

KEY PROSPECTS: Garrett Schaller, jr. QB; Dan Perry, jr. OL; Jake Perry, jr. FB; Matt Frank, jr. WR; Ben Muir, jr. RB; Travis Mersino, jr. RB.

NOTABLES: One of the FML tri-champions last season, the Eagles hope to engage in another wide-open race this season that could feature five teams, including Lapeer East, Lapeer West, Holly, Fenton and Linden. Lapeer East has one of the biggest lines in the league and plenty of girth. If the players in the skilled positions and secondary develop, than this could be another dangerous team.

 

 

Lapeer West

HEAD COACH: Mike Smith, 15^th season (97-48).

2011 RECORD: 6-4, 5-3 Flint Metro League (tied-fourth); Postseason: Lost to Linden (21-0) in Division 3 pre-districts

NICKNAME: Panthers

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 13, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011

RETURNING STARTERS: Michael Ledington, sr. DB-WR; Cody Perkins, sr. LB-WR; Zeshawn Jones-Parker, sr. WR-LB; Brandon Welling, sr. OT.

NOTABLES: Lapeer West has become a matter of consistency since first reaching the postseason in 1993, qualifying 13 times in 20 years. In that span the Panthers have collected three Final Four appearances, including the Class A state championship team of 1995. Lapeer West returns several players which should make them a formidable team in the nine-school FML and perhaps another postseason berth is reachable.

 

 

Linden

HEAD COACH: Dennis Hopkins, 25^th season (99-32).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Nick Douglass, Jeff Krause, Desi Mayner, Ken Hill

2011 RECORD: 7-5, 5-3 Flint Metro League (fourth); Postseason: Def. Lapeer West (21-0); Def. Lapeer East (33-8); Lost to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (49-7) in Division 3 regional finals.

NICKNAME: Eagles

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 14, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

OFFENSE: Spread

DEFENSE: 3-4

RETURNING STARTERS: Ed Walterhouse, sr. WR-OLB (6-1, 195); Travis Hull, sr. WR-DB (6-3, 180); Taylor Anderson, sr. WR-OLB (5-11, 183); Nick Carlson, sr. OL-DE (6-2, 210); Shaye Brown, sr. QB (6-4, 195); Mitch Juhl, sr. RB-OLB (5-10, 185); Cody Grandy, sr. OL (6-2, 200); Ben Armstrong, sr. DE (6-2, 215); Matt Wirenga, sr. LB (6-0, 195).

KEY PROSPECTS: Patrick Ryan, sr. WR-DB (6-0, 180; transfer from Swartz Creek); Mitch Ryan, sr. QB-DB (6-0, 185; transfer from Swartz Creek); Joey Williams, sr. C-LB (5-10, 195; transfer from Lake Fenton).

NOTABLES: Linden has been the FML’s most consistent program in the past two decades, posting 10 straight winning seasons and qualifying for the postseason 10 straight times, 12 of the past 13 years and in 14 of the past 17 seasons. Even last year, the Eagles made a run to the Division 2 Elite Eight before falling to eventual state champion OLSM. There’s plenty of reason to believe that Linden will again be among the leaders of the FML with several key players back along with three impact transfers.

 

 

Ortonville Brandon

HEAD COACH: Tim Pizzala, sixth season (21-24)

ASSISTANT COACHES: Joel Dohm, Scott Sawyer, David Wyatt, Brian Blausey

2011 RECORD: 5-5, 4-4 Flint Metro League (sixth); Postseason: Lost to Port Huron (32-14) in Division 2 pre-districts.

NICKNAME: Blackhawks

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 4, 2011, 2000, 1997, 1996

OFFENSE: Spread

DEFENSE: 4-3

RETURNING STARTERS: Larry Bland, sr. OL; Nick Wummel, sr. WR; Derek Klanke, sr. WR; Blake Nivelt, sr. LB-WR; Blake Rehan, jr. LB; Andrew Derry, jr. DB.

KEY PROSPECTS: Most of the roster is first-year varsity players

NOTABLES: Having a large senior class can often be a blessing in terms of kids playing with a sense of urgency and leadership. The downfall is that there are plenty of shoes to fill the following year. Brandon graduated 23 players and lost another key athlete via transfer, leaving numerous shoes to fill. The Blackhawks snuck into the postseason last year as a 5-4, at-large team, ending an 11-year postseason drought.

 

 

Swartz Creek

HEAD COACH: Brad Brown

2011 RECORD: 4-5, 3-5 Flint Metro League (sixth); did not qualify.

NICKNAME: Dragons

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: None.

RETURNING STARTERS: Travis Campbell, sr. DL-OL; Jaylen Schoefield, sr. QB; Max Cummings, sr. WR; Clay Black, sr. DE.

KEY PROSPECTS: Devin Mosholder, sr. OL-DL; Kevin Weiler, jr. OL-DL.

NOTABLES: Swartz Creek started 3-1 last season which included an upset win over eventual tri-league champion Holly, but finished 1-4 down the stretch. The Dragons lost several key players to either graduation or transfer and with a new coach, it will take some time for this group to become a unit. Much like Clio, Swartz Creek came over from the Big 9 in 2005 and still hasn’t found much success. The Dragons have posted one winning season in 25 years. Swartz Creek’s last league titles came in 1985 and 1996 and the Dragons have never reached the postseason.

 

(Team capsules compiled by Senior Editor Dan Stickradt. He can be reached by email at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans)

 

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