INDEPENDENTS 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.
INDEPENDENTS
SCHOOL: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
HEAD COACH: Pat Fox, seventh season
2019 RECORD: 10-2 (independent)
2019 POSTSEASON: Def. North Branch (27-12); def. Ortonville Brandon (54-40); lost to Flint Powers Catholic in D-4 regional finals (12-9)
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004, 1995, 1990, 1984
RETURNING STARTERS: Jacob Bendtsen, sr. QB (6-3, 190); Clayton Bone, sr. DB/WR (6-1, 190); Caleb Webb, sr. DB (5-9, 185); Alex Whalen, sr. ILB/OL (6-1, 210); Trevor Tuttle, sr. WR/DB (5-10, 165); Evan Noga, jr. NT/TE (6-3, 225); Ryan Cueny, sr. WR/DB (6-1, 170)
TOP PROSPECTS: Andrew Marsheh, sr. K/P (5-9, 185); Patrick Mullen, sr. OL/DL (6-3, 215); Aaron McGhee, jr. RB (5-9, 160); Evan McGhee, jr. RB (5-9, 165); Michael Kirchner, sr. LB/RB (5-10, 185); Peter Channo, jr. OL/DL (6-1, 275); Jack Risi, sr. WR/DB (6-6, 180)
NOTABLES: The Fighting Irish are coming off one of their best seasons to date, reaching the D-4 regional finals before a narrow defeat to Flint Powers under chilling conditions. It marked the furthest that NDP had advanced in the postseason since 2004 and the Irish did so behind a potent offense that chalked up 459 points against only 178 allowed over 12 games. The program has qualified for the playoffs six times in the past decade, seven times in the last 11 seasons and hopes to continue that trend in 2020 with a solid core of returning starters.
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