OAA WHITE DIVISION 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.
OAKLAND ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION — WHITE DIVISION
SCHOOL: Farmington
HEAD COACH: Kory Cioroch, fourth season
2019 RECORD: 8-2, 5-1 OAA Blue Division (second)
2019 POSTSEASON: Def. Oak Park (12-6); lost in D-2 district finals to Detroit U-D Jesuit (11-10)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2003, 2002, 1999
RETURNING STARTERS: Julian Ama, sr. SL/CB (5-11, 170); Anthony Grandberry, sr. OL/DL (6-4, 260); Javen Culpepper, sr. RB/LB (5-10, 185)
TOP PROSPECTS: Javin Silver, jr. QB/RB/SE (5-9, 160); Evan Martin, jr. WR/CB (6-0, 155); Demetrian Moore, jr. RB/MLB (5-8, 160); Jacob Sanders, jr. RB (transfer from Royal Oak Shrine Catholic; Division 7/8 All-State First Team selection last year)
NOTABLES: Last year’s OAA Blue Division runners-up accepted their promotion to the OAA-White and should continue to be a formidable team this season. The Falcons have reached the postseason seven of the last 10 seasons and should be a team that reaches that level again. The Falcons’ junior-varsity went 8-1 last season and the program which should help offset losing nine all-league players to graduation.
SCHOOL: Birmingham Groves
HEAD COACH: Brendan Flaherty, 19th season
2019 RECORD: 8-3, 5-1 OAA White Division (second)
2019 POSTSEASON: Def. Warren DeLaSalle (2-0); lost in D-2 district finals to Birmingham Seaholm (42-7)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1978
RETURNING STARTERS: Jaden Mangham, sr. WR (6-3, 175) (Division I offers); Ben Simmons, sr. OL/DE (6-6, 260); Johnny Rex, sr. RB (5-9, 175); Jack Woods, sr. QB/LB (5-11, 160); Jackson Tinsley, sr. SE; Sam Mercer, sr. OT (6-0, 210); Dez Walker, sr. OG/DT (5-9, 215); Orion Kendra, sr. TE/DE/P (6-5, 205); Kyle Coleman, sr. FB/SS (6-0, 200); JJ Ferguson, sr. DT (6-0, 265); Logan Flaherty, jr. DE/FB (6-2, 220)
KEY PROSPECTS: Several juniors will start in their first season of varsity.
NOTABLES: Before Brendan Flaherty took over the Groves program two decades ago, the Falcons had only reached the postseason four times previously and never consistently fielded a team that annually competed for league championships and postseason wins. Now Groves has reached the postseason seven straight times, eight of nine seasons and even reached the Division 2 Final Four in both 2016 and 2018. This team should again be in the mix for an OAA-White title and more as long as its junior class fills in holes vacated by graduation. There were nine all-league players that graduated.
SCHOOL: Birmingham Seaholm
HEAD COACH: Jim DeWald, 10th season
2019 RECORD: 9-4, 4-2 OAA White Division (third)
2019 POSTSEASON: Def. Sterling Heights (55-34); def. Birmingham Groves (42-7); def. Port Huron (44-28); lost to Detroit King in D-2 state semifinals (60-17)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2019, 2018, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1984, 1983
RETURNING STARTERS: Nick Thorn, sr. DL/OL; Jackson Vance, sr. DB/SE/RB (5-11, 180); Caden DeWald, sr. OL/DL (6-2, 260) (Central Michigan); Caleb Knoer, sr. QB (5-11, 180); Will McBride, sr. RB (5-9, 200); Jake LaBarre, sr. OL (6-3, 245); Jack Jurkovich, sr. LB (6-0, 190)
NOTABLES: A respectable 6-3 regular season included a 35-14 loss to rival Birmingham Groves in Week 8 and a third-place finish in the OAA-White. Then it finally all came together for the Maples. Seaholm turned the tables on Groves in the D-2 district finals (42-7) and eventually reached the Final Four before bowing out to state powerhouse Detroit King — the school’s first time reaching that benchmark since 1997. The Maples featured a high-powered offense last season that chalked up 35.3 points an outing — and those numbers could be obtainable again.
SCHOOL: North Farmington
HEAD COACH: Jonathan Herstein, second season
2019 RECORD: 9-1, 6-0 OAA Blue Division (first)
2019 POSTSEASON: Lost in Division 2 pre-district to Detroit U-D Jesuit (34-21)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2019, 2013, 2011, 2005, 2003, 2002, 1991, 1978
RETURNING STARTERS: Jacob Bousamra, sr. QB (6-3, 185); Rashad Green, sr. DT/OT (5-11, 215); Carson Roberts, sr. OL/NT (5-11, 250); Jai’Lun Hampton, sr. OT/DT/DE (6-6, 250); Aaron Rice, jr. WR/DB (6-4, 185); Massimo Sgambati, jr. K/P (5-11, 165); Manndez Blanch, sr. DB (5-11, 175)
TOP PROSPECTS: Justin Whitehorn, sr. RB (5-8, 185) (transfer from Detroit Renaissance); Richard Harris, sr. OLB/RB; Justin Bryant, sr. LB (5-7, 160) (recruited by Western Michigan); Jasper Beeler, jr. RB/WR/CB (6-0, 155); Chika Udemba, jr. OL/DL (6-2, 230); Wyland Hall, jr. OLB/TE (6-6, 205); Jalen Casey, jr. DT (6-2, 220); Rayshon Mathews, soph. RB/OLB (5-11, 185); Austin White, soph. RB (5-8, 155); Jaden Taylor, soph. WR; Daijaire Green, fr.; Mill Coleman Jr., fr.
NOTABLES: The only other two times the Riders finished the regular season 9-0 it was decades ago, and those seasons came in 1970 and 1978. Now North Farmington has upgraded to the OAA White Division and so did its expectations. The Raiders graduated 24 players and has several question marks with first-year starters.
SCHOOL: Rochester Adams
HEAD COACH: Anthony Patritto, 18th season
2019 RECORD: 7-3, 4-2 OAA-Red (tied-third)
2019 POSTSEASON: Lost in D-1 pre-district to Utica Eisenhower (24-0)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997
RETURNING STARTERS: Parker Picot, soph. QB/WR/RB/DB (6-1, 175) (committed to Alabama for baseball); Alex DeGrieck, jr. DE/OT (6-4, 235); Mohammad Murray, jr. DT/OG (6-0, 230); Santino Orsini, sr. RB/DB (6-0, 180); Joey Shallow, jr. SL/DB (6-0, 165); Nick Partini, sr. RB/DB (6-0, 165); Griffen Henley, jr. RB/DB (5-10, 165)
TOP PROSPECTS: Cade Picot, soph. QB/WR (5-10, 175); Nick Paterra, soph. QB/SE (6-2, 160); Marco DeCresce, jr. DB/SL (5-10, 170)
NOTABLES: Perhaps the Highlanders have been the area’s most consistent program in the last 25 years. Adams has reached the postseason 20 times in the last 23 seasons dating back to its first-ever playoff berth in 1997. The Highlanders boast winning campaigns in 21 of 23 years during that stretch, missing in only 2012 and 2015. This year’s version is smaller in terms of physical size of players after averaging 260 pounds on the lines last season. But the Highlanders make up for that with pure athleticism, versatility and team speed. Most of the roster is made up of two- and three-sport athletes and many of the players can play multiple positions, giving the coaching staff flexibility.
SCHOOL: Rochester Stoney Creek
HEAD COACH: Nick Merlo, third season
2019 RECORD: 5-5, 3-3 OAA White Division (fourth)
2019 POSTSEASON: Lost in D-1 pre-district to Lake Orion (21-14)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2019, 2013, 2007, 2006
RETURNING STARTERS: Austin Jordan, sr. OL/DL (6-2, 275) (Division I and II recruit); Aden Smith, sr. OL/DL (6-1, 255); Josef Engelhardt, sr. OL/DL (6-2, 260); Garrett Joye, sr. OL/DL (6-1, 300); Matthew Daines, sr. OL/DL (6-2, 255); Grant Lowery, sr. De/TE (6-4, 245); John Rayba, sr. DE (6-0, 225); Cole Luhmann, sr. LB (6-2, 220); Carson Chambers,, sr. DB (6-2, 185); Ryan Eckhout, sr. QB/DB (6-1, 190); Camron Burford, sr. RB/LB (5-11, 190); Ozzy Villafuerte, sr. WR (6-5, 210);
TOP PROSPECTS: John Fogler, soph. RB (5-10, 180); Only a couple of first-year players will crack the starting lineup.
NOTABLES: The Cougars have yet to claim a league title in the upper two divisions of the OAA and have never won a playoff game. That could very well change this season with an extremely veteran squad the features nine returning starters on offense and eight on defense. Stoney Creek bolsters size, speed, experience and has perhaps higher expectations than in recent years. The Cougars pushed state-ranked Lake Orion to the brink last season before falling 21-14 in the Division 1 pre-district and should be an even more formidable opponent this autumn. This is year 19 for Stoney Creek and it could be a memorable one.
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