FOOTBALL: 2016 FLINT METRO LEAGUE TEAM CAPSULES
2016 FLINT METRO LEAGUE TEAM CAPSULES
Below are the 2016 Prep Football Team Capsules, as compiled by NorthOaklandSports.com staff. For updates, email senior editor Daniel Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com, or raton1972@comcast.net . Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans or on multiple social media platforms.
SCHOOL: Clio
HEAD COACH: Jeff Klopf
ASSISTANT COACHES:
2015 RECORD: 3-6, 1-6, Flint Metro League (seventh)
POSTSEASON: None
KEY RETURNEES: Kolton Langdon, sr. WR/P; Garrett McGraw, jr. OL/DL; Jack Swanson, sr. WR/DB; Kane Williams, sr. RB/LB; Brian Iveson, sr. RB/LB; Cade Canterbury, sr. WR/DB; Tyler Glenn, sr. WR/DB; Trent Marsh, sr. RB/DL; Dalton Ballantine, sr. K
KEY NEWCOMERS: Bob Love, sr. WR; Jared Sherman, sr. DB; Cade Canterbury, sr. DB; Colin Clark, sr. LB.
NOTABLES: Back-to-back 3-6 seasons are a major uptick for the Tigers, who previously had four straight 0-9 campaigns. Before that, it was four consecutive 1-8 seasons. This program appears to be headed in the right direction, although with 30 players on varsity cannot afford injuries and suspensions.
SCHOOL: Fenton
HEAD COACH: Jeff Setzke (132-70)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Ron Eltringham, Brian Eltringham, Caleb Hyder, Brad Beverly
2015 RECORD: 9-2, 7-0 Flint Metro League (first)
POSTSEASON: Def. Holly (21-20); lost in D-2 district finals to Midland Dow (41-14).
KEY RETURNEES: Josh Czarnota, jr. QB (6-1, 195, All-FML); Dyan Crankshaw, sr. RB (5-9, 165, All-FML, 20 TDs, 1,000 rushing yards); Greg Lucas, sr. WR/DB (6-1, 185); Zack West, sr. WR (6-1, 165, All-FML); Reid Thompson, sr. OL (6-0, 280); Grady Sondgeroth, jr. OL (6-1, 235); Jarrett Smith, sr. OL/DL (6-1, 255); Alex Marshall, sr. WR/DB (6-4, 180); Jacob Henard, sr. DE (5-10, 210); Chris York, sr. LB (5-11, 185); Troy Smigelski, sr. P (5-9, 150)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Josh Maher, jr. RB (5-8, 155); Chanse Setzke, jr. WR (5-11, 160, transfer); Trevor Edgar, jr. OG (5-10, 235); Logan Prater, soph. OT (6-2, 265); David Pietryga, jr. FS (6-3 205); Keegan Pombier, sr. SS (6-3, 190); Phillip McKee, sr. LB (6-1, 185); Trevor Edgar, jr. DT (5-10, 235, transfer); Christian Frazier, sr. DE (6-2, 215); Hunter Chappell, jr. DE (6-1, 210); George Shebby, sr. OL/DL (5-11, 280, transfer)
NOTABLES: With nine starters back on offense and five on defense, chances are the Tigers will again compete for the FML title. Fenton is going after its ninth straight postseason appearance and is coming off six straight seasons where the Tigers have won at least eight games.
SCHOOL: Flint Kearsley
HEAD COACH: Jeremy Ferman, first season
2015 RECORD: 1-8, 0-7 Flint Metro League (eighth)
POSTSEASON: None.
SCHOOL: Flushing
HEAD COACH: Robert Oginsky, fifth season
2015 RECORD: 4-5, 3-4 Flint Metro League (fifth)
POSTSEASON: None
SCHOOL: Holly
HEAD COACH: Ryan Culloty (14th overall season, 69-60 at various schools)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Greg Maynard, Mike Millhouse, Dallas Lesperance, Jim Routen, Dave Tooley, Darren Tooley, Todd Preston, Steve DeHart, Paul McNeely, Heath Neubecker
2015 RECORD: 5-5, 4-3 Flint Metro League (fourth)
POSTSEASON: Lost in D-2 pre-district to Fenton (21-20)
KEY RETURNEES: Peyton Billbia, sr. RB/LB; Cade Dallwitz, soph. QB/LB; Collin Dallwitz, jr. RB/LB; Jacob Honsetter, soph. RB; Bryce Jacopec, sr, TE/DB; Nick Michels, sr. OL; Kyle Noren, jr. OL; Paris Partee, sr. RB/LB; Connor Spencer, sr. TE; Kyle Staple, sr. RB/LB; Dylan Vandell, sr. OL; Griffin Backs, sr. DB; Hunter Bemman, sr. LB; Amy Scruggs, sr. K
NOTABLES: Holly returns most of its starters on both sides of the football and will look to join the top three in the FML and qualify for the postseason for the second straight season. The 0-9 campaign in 2014 is far in the tail lights. The Bronchos could challenge Fenton and Linden if they avoid injury and win the close games that eluded them the past two years.
SCHOOL: Linden
HEAD COACH: Nick Douglass and Dennis Hopkins (29-56) (co-coaches)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Greg Durkac, Robert Pouch, Thad Guyzik, Mike Quesnelle, Ethan Quesnelle, Mike Dickson, Art Jacobs, Scott Klocek, Dan White, Brent Rogers, Jesse Patterson
2015 RECORD: 8-3, 6-1 Flint Metro League (second)
POSTSEASON: Def. Ortonville Brandon (20-3); lost in D-3 district finals to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (55-14)
KEY RETURNEES: Aaron Sarkon, sr. QB (6-1, 180, All-FML); Cade Dickson, jr. WR/DB (6-0, 185, All-FML);
Aaron Steedman, sr. RB (5-9, 185); Jaylin Steedman, sr. OL (6-1, 255, All-FML); Sawyer Benge, sr. OL (5-11, 245, All-FML); Gabe Piesko, sr. OL (6-2, 230); Eddie Grode, jr. OL (6-1, 230); Trent Strang, sr. LB (6-0, 195, All-FML); Josh Abernathy, jr. LB (5-10, 185); Skyler Stites, sr. DE (6-1, 255, All-FML); Hunter Michael, sr. DT (6-2, 280, All-FML); Zack Brown, jr. DT (6-0, 290); Avery Jacobs, jr. DB (6-2, 185); Aaron Sarkon, sr. P; Koleton Strauss, jr. K.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Ryker Rivera, sr. WR, (5-11, 180); Danny Pudduck, sr. WR (5-9, 170); Seeger DeGayner, fr. WR (6-0, 170); Corbin Sines, jr. WR (5-10, 150); Avery Jacobs, jr. WR (6-2, 190); Hunter Michael, sr. TE (6-2, 280); Hunter Babcock, jr. WR (5-9, 180); Garrett Durkac, soph. OL (6-1, 220); Jakub Gagne, sr. DB (6-2, 180); Noah Giacomontonio, jr. DB (6-2, 175); Hunter Babcock, jr. DB (5-9, 180); Owen Wagnitz, jr. DL (5-11, 200); Easton Giacomontonio, soph. DL (6-0, 195)
NOTABLES: Linden is coming off 14 straight postseason appearances and has been a FML contender for years, a model of consistency. Linden should again be one of the favorites for a league crown with more than half of its starters back.
SCHOOL: Ortonville Brandon
HEAD COACH: Brad Zube, first season (30-26 overall at three schools)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Kyle Schultz, Louis Adams, Joel Malkasian, Ron Koyl, Andrew Micovitch, William Schaeffer, Todd Beck
2015 RECORD: 6-4, 4-3 Flint Metro League (fourth)
POSTSEASON: Lost in D-3 pre-district to Linden (20-3)
KEY RETURNEES: Kevin Bickett, sr. WR (5-10, 180);
Matt Hill, soph OT/DT (5-10, 230); Ean Thompson, jr. C (5-10, 200); Nick Smarch, jr. OG (5-11, 180); Travis Adams, sr. DT/FB (5-8, 170); Kevin Bickett, jr. FS (5-9, 170); Dusty Dickens, sr. SS (5-9, 170)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Amare Kittles, sr. QB/WR (5-10, 165); Bryce Chamberlin, jr. RB (6-2, 215); Josh Manfroni, jr. WR (5-10, 160); Joey Lovasz, sr. LB/FB (5-10, 225); Michael Nicaj, soph. LB (5-11, 185); Randall Hutchinson, sr. CB (5-10, 170)
NOTABLES: Brad Zube comes over to Brandon after stints at Pontiac and most recently four years at Rochester Stoney Creek. He has some work to do, as the Blackhawks graduated a gret deal of talent from a postseason team. One thing about Zube-coached teams is they are physical and they compete. Brandon likely won’t win the FML this season, but don’t be surprised to see the Blackhawks spring an upset along the way.
SCHOOL: Swartz Creek
HEAD COACH: Joseph Spencer, first season
2015 RECORD: 4-5, 3-4 Flint Metro League (fifth)
POSTSEASON: None
KEY RETURNEES: Clayton Lynn, sr. LB/RB (two-time All-FML); Joe Hill, sr. QB/SS; Brian Bridges, sr. OL/DL FML Shot Put champion); Matthew Smith, jr. RB/DB; Brandon Varner, jr. TE/DL; Myles Johnson, jr. LB;
KEY NEWCOMERS: Max Murphy, soph. RB/DB; Justin Schlaack, soph. OL/DL.
NOTABLES: Swartz Creek suffered major losses to graduation, including three all-state players. The Dragons will need to mature quickly to have success this year as they have many young players who will be leaned on to fill spots.
[polldaddy poll=6414054]
Category: Featured Articles, Football, High School, High School (M-Z), Holly, NOS reference, Ortonville Brandon, Prep Wraps, Sport, Top Stories, Uncategorized
