FOOTBALL: KLAA-WEST DIVISION TEAM CAPSULES 2015
2015 KENSINGTON LAKES ACTIVITES ASSOCIATION
FOOTBALL TEAM CAPSULES
Below are the 2015 KLAA Football team capsules. Compiled by Dan Stickradt based on information submitted by coaches. He can be reached at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans.
KLAA-WEST DIVISION
SCHOOL: Brighton
NICKNAME: Bulldogs
HEAD COACH: Brian Lemons (58-19 at multiple schools)
2014 RECORD: 4-5, 2-3 KLAA-West (tied-fourth)
POSTSEASON iN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Grant Dunatchik, sr. QB; Joey Clifford, sr. RB (1,121 rushing yards); Brendan Klaus, sr. OL
KEY LOSSES: Nick Brish, S (Mt. Union); Alex Zielinski, TE (Miami Ohio); Tyler Trish LB (Hope College
NOTABLES: Brighton has reached the postseason in 14 of the past 19 years but took a step backward last fall. Learning a new system in a hurry will determine how well the Bulldogs will do under a new coaching staff. This is a wide open division so the opportunity is there for Brighton to return to glory.
SCHOOL: Grand Blanc
NICKNAME: Bobcats
HEAD COACH: Joe Delaney
2014 RECORD: 5-4, 4-1 KLAA-West (tied-first)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Zach Leedom, sr. QB-RB; Chandler Tucker, sr. LB; Blake Bogan, jr. WR (all-league); Ryon Honea, sr. LB; Robert Mora, sr. SS
KEY LOSSES: Tre’von Avery, QB (Wayne Stage, 1,815 passing yards); Matt Mastermatteo, WR; Tony Roland, LB (All-State)
NOTABLES: Grand Blanc is another team that has enjoyed success in recent years, reaching the postseason in 11 of the previous 16 campaigns with 11 winning seasons in 12 years. The Bobcats did miss the playoffs in 2014 and are eager to gain a postseason bid this year. Only three starters are back on both sides of the ball, so this team is lacking in experience but not athleticism and speed.
SCHOOL: Hartland
NICKNAME: Eagles
HEAD COACH: Brian Savage, fourth season (18-11)
2014 RECORD: 7-3, 4-1 KLAA-West (tied-first)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 0-1, lost in D-1 pre-district to Grand Ledge (14-0)
KEY PLAYERS: Andy Maschke, sr. DL (all-league); Alex Vydick, sr. LB; Aaron Laird, sr. LB; Noah Marshall, sr. QB (All-league); Hayden Hutalla, jr. OL-DL
KEY LOSSES: Jake Economou, DL (Slippery Rock); Jared Gohl, OL (Hillsdale)
NOTABLES: All sports considered, Hartland had an incredible year in 2014-15, including astute runner-up finish in wrestling and a D-1 state title in baseball. On the grid-iron, the Eagles shared a league crown and reached the postseason. Hartland lost a lot of its “leaders,” according to Coach Savage and had many versatile athletes that left holes by graduation. The Eagles return a combined seven starters and yet are not void of athletes that should keep them in the league’s upper echelon.
SCHOOL: Howell
NICKNAME: Highlanders
HEAD COACH: Aaron Metz (44-27)
2014 RECORD: 4-5, 3-2 KLAA-West (third)
POSTSEASON in 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Brett Chaperon, sr. QB (1,290 yards); Dan Collins, sr. OL; Wil Manson, sr. OL; Greg Kearns, sr. K; Thomas Lassitter, sr. DB; Trevor Wetzel, sr. DB; Joe Senecal, sr. LB
KEY LOSSES: Jared Pietila, LB-OL (all-league); Michael Betz, WR-DB (Michigan Tech); Evan Siemen, RB (All-league, Livingston County Player of the Year).
NOTABLES: Howell has reached the postseason in seven of the past 10 years. The Highlanders also missed the past two seasons and dipped under the five-hundred mark. A total of 13 starters are back, including seven on offense where a talented QB can thrive behind a beefy offensive line. The running game and defensive backs is where Howell has voids to fill. If the Highlanders can reload there, this team should be in the hunt for championships.
SCHOOL: Milford
NICKNAME: Mavericks
HEAD COACH: Tim Gough, second season (1-8)
2014 RECORD: 1-8, 0-5 KLAA-West (sixth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Jackson Hale, sr. DL; Joe Larson, sr. QB; Jacob Jones, sr. OL; Adam Stebbins, sr. LB; Blake Peterson, sr. DL
KEY LOSSES: Tyler Carrier, RB (Lake Erie College); Dylan Sanders, OL (Grand Valley); Chad Comis, LB
NOTABLES: In a wide open division, the Mavericks have a legitimate shot of righting the ship and becoming much more competitive thanks to a combined 11 returning starters. The new coaching staff is hoping the players can learn new schemes in the same time become much more consistent. If anything, the Mavericks are rarer to snap a seven-game losing streak and turn the tables on back-to-back losing seasons.
SCHOOL: Pinckney
NICKNAME: Pirates
HEAD COACH: Jakob Gailitis, fourth season (14-15)
2014 RECORD: 3-6, 2-3 KLAA-West (tied-fourth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Nate Houghtelling, sr. OT-DT; Bryce Heatwole, sr, OT; Jarrett Bohn, sr. RG; Brandon Wiese, sr. CB; Joey Bachmeier, sr. OLB
KEY LOSSES: Josh Hess, QB; Justin Eagy, WR
NOTABLES: Six starters are back on both sides of the football and Pinckney, which had 11 straight losing seasons from 2000-2012 only to make the playoffs in 2013, want to reverse the trends of recent decades (three winning seasons in 20 years). The Pirates sunk below five-hundred last season but did win two of their final three contests. If new players at the skill positions can step up and produce, this team could surprise.
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