FOOTBALL: Flint Metro League Team Capsules 2015
2015 FLINT METRO LEAGUE TEAM CAPSULES
Below are the 2015 Flint Metro League Football team capsules, as compiled by Dan Stickradt based on information submitted by coaches. He can be reached at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans.
COACHES POLL: 1. Fenton (60 points); 2. Flushing (55); 3. Linden (46); 4. Ortonville Brandon (35); 5. Swartz Creek (32); 6. Flint Kearsley (27); 7. Holly (25); 8. Clio (12)
SCHOOL: Clio
NICKNAME: Tigers
HEAD COACH: Greg Ganfield, first season (208-129-2 at multiple schools)
2014 RECORD: 3-6, 1-7 FML (seventh)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Austin Pease, sr. OG-ILB; Will Hearn, sr. OL; Andrew Odette, sr. OL; Tyler Hoye, sr. TE-DE; Kane Williams, sr. RB (school record 1,232 yards); Jared Sherman, jr. QB; Kolton Langdon, sr. DB-DB; Jack Swanson, sr. SE; Matt Bracking, sr. RB-SE-WR; Jimmy Robinson, sr. SE-WB; Jarrett McGraw, soph. NT-OL; Dylan Rogers, soph. WB-QB-CB;
KEY LOSSES: Zack Takacs, Riggs Robinson, Jake Hardaker
NOTABLES: Looking back in recent times, Clio’s three wins last season was the most the Tigers collected in a single campaign since going 5-4 in 2001, also the school last winning season. In fact there has been just seven total wins over the past 11 campaigns. Will Clio continue to forge ahead towards a winning season or will last year’s minor success be only a blurp on the radar? Ganfield, a Hall-of-Fame coach said he will try to help this program “take the next step forward from the progress of last year’s team.”
SCHOOL: Fenton
NICKNAME: Tigers
HEAD COACH: Jeff Setzke, ninth season (60-33, 123-68 overall)
2014 RECORD: 9-1, 8-0 FML (first)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 0-1, lost in D-2 pre-district to Farmington Harrison (35-10)
KEY PLAYERS: Kobe Lookebill, sr. OL; Reid Thompson, jr. OL; Mitch Adams, sr. OL; Kevin Lack, sr. WR; Greg Lukas, sr. WR; Chase Lynch, sr. DE; Mason McCormick, sr. DT; Peyton Coffman, sr. LB; Dylan Crankshaw, jr. RB; Aaron Boulay, sr. WR; Ben Hajciar, sr. QB-FS; Josh Czarnota, soph. QB; Matt Meyers, sr. TE; Gracy Sonderogroth, soph. OL; Shane Kolinski, sr. LB; Jacob Henard, jr. DE; Jermaine McGlown, sr. CB; Christian Clies, sr. DT; Joel Graves, sr. SS
KEY LOSSES: Ross Ebert, Alec Thomas, Brice Roney, Evan Welch, Connor Kovacs, Paul Idoni
NOTABLES: Fenton is going after its fifth straight league title and hopes to not only repeat but win a couple of games in the postseason. The Tigers bolster mobile and large space-eaters on the lines and have an array of offensive weapons. An eighth straight winning campaign is likely, as this team has won at least eight games each of the past five years and posted nine-win seasons three times in the same time-span. The seven losing seasons from 2001-2007 are long since forgotten.
SCHOOL: Flint Kearsley
NICKNAME: Hornets
HEAD COACH: Jeff Putnam, second season (3-6 at Kearsley, 174-98 overall)
2014 RECORD: 3-6, 2-5 FML (sixth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Tyler Phipps, Ryan Bennett, Tyler Schwerin, Josh Roberts
KEY LOSSES: Brenden Evenson, Alex Speer, Brenden Sweeney, Anton Webster
NOTABLES: Putnam is a proven coach who saw a one-win increase at Kearsley last season, his first with the program. His work is still cut out for him and his staff, as the Hornets have had 11 straight losing seasons and have only posted one winning campaign in the last 15 years (2003).
SCHOOL: Flushing
NICKNAME: Raiders
HEAD COACH: Robert Oginsky, fourth season (16-14)
2014 RECORD: 9-3, 6-1 FML (second)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 2-1, lost in D-2 regional finals to Farmington Harrison (23-10)
KEY PLAYERS: Justin Rau, Garrett Oginsky, Jacob Matus, Nolan Martin, Devin Morgan, Colin Emmendorfer
KEY LOSSES: Chris Triplett, Mitch Albert, Nolan Rawlings, Chris Johnson, Derek Waller
NOTABLES: Flushing is apparently a team on the rise. The Raiders’ first season in the FML a year ago featured nine wins and a berth in the regional finals. Considering that was on the heals of three straight losing campaigns that the future is looking bright for Flushing.
SCHOOL: Holly
NICKNAME: Bronchos
HEAD COACH: Ryan Culloty, ninth season (64-55 overall at multiple schools)
2014 RECORD: 0-9, 0-7 FML (eighth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Adam Tooley, sr. RB-LB-DB; Javon Barr, sr. RB; Alex Mazzone, sr. RB-DB; Matt Barnett, sr. QB-DB; Jimmy Gray, sr. OL-LB; Zac Stoll, sr. OL-DL; D’Anthony Austin, sr. DB; Jamie Cardenas, sr. LB; Christian Diaz, sr. LB; Landon Hooper, sr. LB;
KEY LOSSES: Austin Chmura, K-DB
NOTABLES: Injuries, transfers, a small senior class and little experience forced Holly into a major rebuilding campaign in 2014 just three years after winning the league championship for the first time in 59 years (2011). As one opposing coach pointed out, the Bronchos “were in most of their games last season in the second half” but couldn’t finish off the opposition. There’s plenty of second-year and third-year starters all over the field and every indication that Holly will be far better than last year.
SCHOOL: Linden
NICKNAME: Eagles
HEAD COACH: Co-coaches, Dennis Hopkins (121-53) and Nick Douglass (6-4)
2014 RECORD: 6-4, 5-2 FML (third)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 0-1, lost in D-3 pre-district to Mason (28-13)
KEY PLAYERS: Kevin Bates, sr. RB-FS; Ray Ballard, sr. OL-DL; Ryan Young, sr. RB-OLB-SS-KR; Bailey Davis, sr. WR-DB-P-K-KR; Trent Strang, sr. WR-DB; Sawyer Benge, sr. OL-DL; Ryker Rivera, sr. WR-DB; Sklyler Stites, sr. OL-DL; Aaron Steedman, jr. RB-OLB; Cade Dickson, soph. WR-OLB; Nolan Hill, sr. WR; Jaylin Steedman, jr. OL; Chris Kitch, sr. OL; Trent Strang, jr. WR; Zack Brown, sr. DL; Ronnie Gipson, sr. DB; Hunter Michael, jr. ILB
KEY LOSSES: Kyle Norman, Andrew Kost, Austin McNeill, Marshael Ryan, Austin Buerkel, Jake Marshall, Jake Zorn, Andy Roberts
NOTABLES: The bad news for Linden is that 19 players that started Game 1 last season graduated. The good news is the team was decimated with injuries last year and was forced to dip deep into the well for younger players — and a large chunk of starters at the end of the year are back this season. Linden is coming off 13 straight winning seasons and the players growing up in the program are used to winning. Much of the same is expected in 2015, where the Eagles should contend for the FML title.
SCHOOL: Ortonville Brandon
NICKNAME: Blackhawks
HEAD COACH: Tim Pizalla, ninth season (30-43)
2014 RECORD: 4-5, 3-4 FML (fifth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Kevin Bickett, jr. WR; Amare Kittles, jr. WR; Caleb Carter, sr. WR; Sean Russ, sr. OL; Andrew Hayduk, sr. OL; Brian Andrus, sr. LB-RB; Collin McMillan, jr. MLB; Ben DeVoogd, sr. LB-OL; Chris King, sr. CB-DB; A.J. Krause, sr. SE; Dawson Nichols, sr. QB
KEY LOSSES: Shane Arnold, Lucas Woch, Nate Everett, Nick Udocon, Brendan Poniatowski
NOTABLES: The Blackhawks went with a younger version last season with the hopes of more success this season. Brandon was fifth a year ago and with 12 players that started games last year back in uniform, this team could surprise in the FML. The strength should be at wide receiver and with mobile and serviceable linemen and a heady QB, this offensive unit should bode well with a potent offense. If the defense improves drastically from last year’s 229 points allowed, the Blackhawks could very well sneak into the league race and even challenge for their first postseason appearance since 2011.
SCHOOL: Swartz Creek
NICKNAME: Dragons
HEAD COACH: Brad Brown, fourth season (16-11 at Swartz Creek, 43-29 overall)
2014 RECORD: 5-4, 4-3 FML (fourth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Clayton Lynn, jr. RB-LB; Seth Baker, sr. OL-DL; Brandon Ross, sr. WR-DB; Cameron Hill, sr. QB-DB; Keneyn Spurlock, sr. WR-DB; Brett Pero, sr. WR-DB
KEY LOSSES: Gage Smith, QB (Adrian College), Maverick Curtis, OL-DE; Christian Gauthier, OL-DL
NOTABLES: Swartz Creek has posted winning seasons in two of the last three years, including its first postseason team in 2012. The Dragons have plenty of offensive weapons back as they hope to climb the FML ladder and surprise. Considering that in the quarter century before 2012 (1987-2011), this school only had one winning campaign (2009). The program is in much better shape with Brad Brown at the helm. At least the Dragons will be competitive, not a pushover.
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Category: Holly, Ortonville Brandon, Uncategorized
