FOOTBALL: CHSL-CENTRAL DIVISION TEAM CAPSULES 2015
2015 CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE TEAM CAPSULES
Below are the 2015 Catholic High School 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.
CHSL-CENTRAL DIVISION
SCHOOL: Birmingham Brother Rice
NICKNAME: Warriors
HEAD COACH: David Sofran, second season (11-1)
2014 RECORD: 11-1, 4-0 CHSL-Central Division (first)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 2-1, lost to Warren DeLaSalle in D-2 regional finals (26-21)
KEY PLAYERS: Johnnie Tracy, jr. QB; Jeff Timko, sr. OLB; Riley Maher, sr. DE-OLB; Ryan McWood, sr. ILB; Tommy Liesveld, sr. OL-DL; Sterling McCarrall, jr. DT; Larry Borom, jr. OG; Octaveious Miles, jr. OT-DT; Michael Birkenhauer, sr. OL-DL; Steven Krajewski, soph. QB-DB
NOTABLES: Sofran replaced the legendary Al Fracassa last season and kept Rice amongst the state’s elite. Included in the Warriors’ story was another Central Division title, Prep Bowl championship, district title and berth in regional finals. Brother Rice will still be a very good team and will feature one of its biggest offensive and defensive lines in recent years. The program will also be trying to break in a multitude of first-year starters, especially at the skilled positions. On the heals of 29 straight winning campaigns and 48 winning seasons in 54 years and Rice fans expect a winner. They’ll likely see another this fall.
SCHOOL: Detroit U-D Jesuit
NICKNAME: Cubs
HEAD COACH: Oscar Olejniczak, third season (9-12)
2014 RECORD: 2-7, 0-4 CHSL-Central Division (fifth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Jim Pierce, sr. OT; Cedric Mutebi, sr. WR-DB; Scott Nelson, jr. QB-DB; Brian McNamara, jr. ILB; Greg Leatherwood, sr. DL
NOTABLES: Playing in perhaps the state’s top large-school conference, U-D Jesuit often struggles in league play. With fellow league members Brother Rice, Catholic Central, St. Mary’s and DeLaSalle all playing in a state championship game at least once the past two years, there’s a long road ahead for the Cubs, who have made the postseason once in the last 13 seasons (2013). If this team can sneak a couple of upsets, it will be battle-tested for the playoffs. Getting there has been the difficult part.
SCHOOL: Novi Detroit Catholic Central
NICKNAME: Shamrocks
HEAD COACH: Tom Mach, 40th season (348-93)
2014 RECORD: 4-5, 1-3 CHSL-Central Division (fourth)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: None
KEY PLAYERS: Alex Bock, sr. RB-DB; Tom Kowalkoski, sr. OT-DT; Tyler Laurentius, sr. RB-DB; Phil Schmitz, sr. TE-LB; Austin Darkangelo, sr. RB-LB; Tarek Dalou, sr. DB; Michael Edwards, sr. DE; Chyle Johnson, sr. SE; Jackson Ross, jr. TE
NOTABLES: For a program that has reached the postseason 25 times in 40 years and has won 10 state titles, 2014 left a bitter taste in the mouths around the Shamrocks program, which finished below the five-hundred mark for just the fourth time in 40 years. There a combined 12 returning starters, five two-way starters, and quality speed on this roster. The biggest question mark will be at the QB position, where five individuals are trying to separate themselves from the pack.
SCHOOL: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
NICKNAME: Eaglets
HEAD COACH: George Porritt, 28th season (233-66
2014 RECORD: 12-2, 3-1 CHSL-Central Division (second)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 5-0, captured D-3 state title with win over Muskegon (7-0)
KEY PLAYERS: Brandon Tabone, sr. QB; Cameron Kolwich, sr. OT; Josh Ross, jr. LB; Pierce Bauer, sr. RB-LB; Tyler Cochran, sr. SE-WR
NOTABLES: Considered by some to be the top program in the state regardless of division, St. Mary’s is primed to go after defending its D-3 state title. Although just five starters return on both sides of the ball, the pipeline has more than replenished itself of the voids of graduation. Remember, St. Mary’s also won state titles in baseball and track and field last school year and many of those athletes play football. In 15 of the previous 20 seasons, St. Mary’s has reached the postseason. In that time span the Eaglets have also played in the state title game 10 times, going 4-6.
SCHOOL: Warren DeLaSalle
NICKNAME: Pilots
HEAD COACH: Paul Verska, 14th season (100-49)
2014 RECORD: 11-3, 2-2 CHSL-Central Division (third)
POSTSEASON IN 2014: 5-0, captured D-2 state title with win over Muskegon Mona Shores (44-8)
KEY PLAYERS: Jordan Asbury, sr. OL-DL; Tru Wilson, sr. DB-WR; Drew Beesley, sr. TE-DE; Kyle Strizinger, jr. RB; Austin Potter, sr. FB-LB; Tom Evans, sr. DL-OL
NOTABLES: Four trips to the D-2 Final Four in nine seasons was capped by the Pilots soaring to their first state title last season. A program that has only reached the postseason 12 times overall, all coming in the past 24 seasons, and DeLaSalle has finally proven that it is now an elite program by going 1-2 in state titles games in the past decade. With six starters back on both sides of the ball, expectations of challenging in the ever-tough CHSL-Central Division and making a mother deep run in the postseason are realistic.
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