MICHIGAN INDEPENDENT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM CAPSULES 2020
Below are the area’s prep football conferences and area teams within these leagues. Capsules compiled by veteran sports writer Dan Stickradt based on research and information gathered from coaches’ preseason surveys. Corrections and changes can be made by emailing to dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and on several social media platforms.
MICHIGAN INDEPENDENT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
SCHOOL: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian
HEAD COACH: Rich Alkire, second season (46-18 all-time as head coach at various schools)
2019 RECORD: 7-3, 6-1 MIAC (second)
2019 POSTSEASON: Lost in D-8 pre-district to Fowler (46-8)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2019, 2017, 2013
RETURNING STARTERS: Daniel Siminski, sr. QB/LB; Mason Kolb, sr. RB/LB; Carter Lewis, sr. OL/DE; Keith McAllister, sr. WR/SE; Lake Patterson, sr. WR/DB/KR; Ethan Townsend, jr. WR/RB/DB/KR; Connor Butcher, sr. K/P
TOP PROSPECTS: Logan Pruden, soph. RB/LB
NOTABLES: This could be one of the Lancers’ better seasons as they welcome back seven starters on both sides of the ball and have a talented, athletic and experienced roster of 20. This is the 13th football season at Oakland Christian (39-69 all-time) and a group that could challenge for a conference title and perhaps some postseason wins.Oakland Christian did lose two starters to home-school and lacks size.
SCHOOL: Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest
HEAD COACH: Steve Lemke, first season
2019 RECORD: 2-7, 2-5 MIAC (tied-fifth)
2019 POSTSEASON: None
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005
RETURNING STARTERS: Luke Lanier, jr. QB/SE (5-10, 175); Mack Burmeister, jr. WR/DB (5-10, 160); Jack Teelander, jr. QB/DL (6-0, 185); Joe Baughman, sr. RB/LB (5-10, 185); Adam VanDellen, sr. WR/DL (6-3, 170); Luke Burmeister, soph. RB/DB (5-10, 145); Rocco Russo, sr. RB/DB (5-6, 145); Dylan Teeling, sr. WR/DB (6-1, 145); Ryan Brannan, sr. WR/LB (6-3, 180); Joe Quirk, sr RB/OLB (5-8, 170); Sam Smith, sr. OL/DL (6-1, 220); Joe Morrissey, soph. OL/WR/DB (5-9, 180); Shane Rich, jr. OL/DL (5-10, 200)
TOP PROSPECTS: There are six freshmen in the program hoping to crack the varsity lineup.
NOTABLES: Steve Lemke, who earned 10 varsity letters in various sports from 1989-1993 at Northwest, is trying to rebuild the Crusaders’ program after a couple of down years. He was the school’s first four-year starting quarterback and recently entered into the school’s Hall-of-Fame. Lemke, who recently served as offensive coordinator at Clawson, is the fourth head coach in as many years at Northwest. All of the school’s postseason appearances have come in the last 15 years (nine total) and the school had four straight from 2014-2017. The program dipped below five-hundred the past two seasons. Last season the Crusaders were outscored 294-135, a focal point to change in 2020.
SCHOOL: Whitmore Lake
HEAD COACH: Brian Boron, fifth season (17-21 overall)
2019 RECORD: 8-3, 7-0 MIAC (first)
2019 POSTSEASON: Def. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (45-28); lost to Dearborn Heights Robichaud in D-5 district finals (40-30)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2019, 2013, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1986
RETURNING STARTERS: Logan Kurth, sr. RB/LB (Division 5 All-State Honorable Mention); Michael Corrie, sr. OL/DL; Isaac Brady, soph. OL/DL
TOP PROSPECTS: Several first-year starters will start at key positions in the backfield, receivers and secondary.
NOTABLES: After some lean seasons in the Tri-County Conference, the Trojans enjoyed their new digs in the MIAC last season. Behind an explosive offense that outscored the opposition 484-205, Whitmore Lake captured the league title at a perfect 7-0 and eventually reached the D-5 district finals. Expect the Trojans to be in the hunt once again with six starters back on offense and five on defense. The Trojans feature plenty experience along the lines but must replace 12 players to graduation and many who played at the skilled positions last year.
SCHOOL: Livonia Clarenceville
HEAD COACH: Bob Meyer, second season (30th overall as head coach)
2019 RECORD: 5-4, 5-2 MIAC (third)
2019 POSTSEASON: None
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2013, 2012, 2008, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998
RETURNING STARTERS: Tanner Pierce, sr. OL/DE; Miles Ealy, soph. RB/LB; Daniel Moore, jr. WR/LB; Justin Dorsey, sr. OL; Sean Bryan-Craig, jr. RB; Dylan Stadler, jr. QB; Armonee Snorden, jr. WR; Josh Hood, sr. TE/DE; Emelio Ferrer-Gonzaga, sr. OL; Josh Fleming, jr. OL; Jordan Williams, soph. DB; Vamir Richardson, soph. DB; Sean Brian-Craig, sr. CB; Josh Hood, sr. DE; Adonis Mack, jr. DB
NOTABLES: For the first time last school year, the MIAC welcomed in a couple of public schools in Livonia Clarenceville and Whitmore Lake and the Trojans faired quite well with a third place finish. Clarenceville did lose their final two league games to miss the postseason but hope to remain in the top half of the reshuffled league which will have seven schools with football programs compared to eight a year ago. Two years ago Clarenceville ended on a 18-game losing streak only to climb above five-hundred with five wins last season, This time around the Trojans should contend for a league title with a veteran ball club that features eight returning starters on both sides of the ball. Clarenceville has perhaps the most experienced team in the league and has increased its team speed, athleticism and continuity by returning a bulk of its roster of 50.
SCHOOL: Sterling Heights Parkway Christian
HEAD COACH: Joe Beck, fifth season (21-17)
2019 RECORD: 2-7, 2-5 MIAC (sixth)
2019 POSTSEASON: None
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006
RETURNING STARTERS: John Stricker, sr. QB/ SS (6-2, 185); Destin Jackson, sr. WR/CB (5-5, 140); Jason Fahmy, sr. OG/DE (5-9, 215); Jalen Wilburn, sr. FB/LB (6-2, 210);
Drew Powers, soph. OG/DT (6-2, 230); Hunter Nysen, soph. OT/LB (5-11, 215); Evan Mick, jr. K/P/WR/DB (5-11, 155)
TOP PROSPECTS: BJ Weathersby, fr. RB/FS (5-6, 180); Luke Wolgast, fr. QB/DB (5-11, 160); Justin Kramer, fr. FB/LB (5-10 200); Logan Zielinski, fr. TE/DE (5-10, 190); Marc Nesler, fr. C/LB (5-10, 205); Kyler Maiorana, fr. WR/DB (5-7, 145); John Stricker, sr. QB/SS (6-2, 185); Destin Jackson, sr. WR/CB (5-5, 140); BJ Weathersby, fr. RB/FS (5-7, 180)
NOTABLES: Since the merger of Warren Zoe Christian and Sterling Heights Bethesda Christian back in the summer of 2006, the Eagles have fared well on the grid-iron by reaching the postseason nine times in 14 seasons. The Eagles have also qualified for the postseason five times in the last nine seasons. Last fall was a setback, as Parkway was outscored 290-69 and the Eagles recorded only a pair of wins. On a roster of 22, there are four returning starters on offense and six on defense, but more importantly a sense of urgency to bring the program back to where it was earlier in the decade. There is a quality freshman group of athletes which should bode well for the future as well.
SCHOOL: Westland Lutheran
HEAD COACH: Paul Guse
2019 RECORD: 4-5, 4-3 MIAC (fourth)
2019 POSTSEASON: None
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2014, 2012, 2011
RETURNING STARTERS: Ryan Faith, soph.; Paul Davenport, jr.
NOTABLES: Since starting its football program back in 1986, the Warriors have reached the playoffs only three times and each of those have come in the last decade, the most recent being 2014. Westland does have a solid core of returnees this season and hopes to climb into the top half of the league.
SCHOOL: Southfield Christian
2019 RECORD: 3-6, 2-5 MIAC (sixth)
2019 POSTSEASON: None
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2013, 2008
NOTABLES: Due to the extended lockdown and low numbers, Southfield Christian opted out of the 2020 season.
SCHOOL: Dearborn Advanced Tech Academy
HEAD COACH: Chris Merrell, second season
2019 RECORD: 3-6 (Independent)
2019 POSTSEASON: None
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Chris Boler, jr. RB/DB; Morris Briggs, sr. QB/LB (offers from Oberlin State and Ohio Wesleyan, and interest coming from Hope and Baldwin-Wallace); Jaylin Gilmore, sr. RB/DB; Tarqi Harris, jr. TE/LB
Shawn James, jr. TE/DE; Armon Parker, jr. G/DT; Jayvon Parker, jr. G/DE; Joe Sajewski, sr. LB
NOTABLES: As a first-year varsity program in 2019, Advanced Tech posted a 3-6 record as an independent. This year the Lakers will enter MIAC play with the hopes of significant improvement and has goals of finishing in the top half of the league with plenty of experience on both sides of the football. There are 24 players on varsity and eight players on both offense and defense that started games last season.
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