Football Football
News | Roster | Schedules--Results | Archives
8/24/2009--Football
BY TOM LANG
FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER
Coaches Poll: Warren DeLaSalle, 58. Detroit Catholic Central, 51. Birmingham Brother Rice, 50. Orchard Lake St. Mary, 45. Dearborn Divine Child, 33. U-D Jesuit 31.
Strength: Skill positions.
Top players: Juniors S Loran Jaddou and S/RB Jimmy Pickens; OL Sean Grisan, RB Jeff DeClaire, LB Justin Cherocci, QB Frankie Popp (third year) and WR Kevonte Martin-Manley. Junior DE/TE Conor Hart.
Outlook: Martin-Manley is a college D1 recruit, but the Warriors have only one returning lineman. "We have some good skill players but we always need the big, husky lineman," said coach Al Fracassa. "You have to prepare well in this league, the opponents are all loaded. If the lines do well, we'll be OK. Those lineman are unsung heroes, no one knows who they are, but I do."
Strength: Intelligence.
Top players: C Jordan Dean, LB Paul Napalatino, LB Keith Jones, RB/DB Stephen Dagenhardt, DL Ben Rossi; plus sophomores, QB Brian Cleary, OL Xavier Stallworth, RB David Hughes.
Outlook: Main goal is getting back respect in the Catholic League. "We don't want to be looked at as the easy game on the schedule," said new coach Jeff Putnam, formerly at Davison. "We want to challenge and be in the thick of a playoff berth."
Strength: Experience.
Top players: QB Marty Mitchell (third year), TE/DE Jeremy Shay, LB/RB Adam Forster, DB Nate Gendron, WR/DB Kyle Sampson, OT/ DT Ian Thibodeau, DE/TE Steve Yaros, RB Mike Childs, S/WR Gabe Gutierrez, C Dan Bustamante, NG Richard Bechard.
Outlook: Good depth with 15 of 22 starters returning. "This senior class has been very close knit since freshman year, they get along so well, more than most classes I've seen in more than 35 years of coaching," said Jack Massarang. "What stands out to me is their cohesiveness." Divine Child is also celebrating its 50th season of football, and will honor former coaches at home games all season. Coach Tony Versaci won the first 27 games he coached, beginning at age 19 -- and was the first coach to win three straight Catholic League championships. Former Colorado coach Bill McCartney also coached a Diving Child.
Strength: Conditioning.
Top players: RB Anthony Capatina (third yr), LB/RB Butch Herzog, LB/TE Mike Kinville, QB Sam Landry, FB/ DT Niko Palazeti, DB Jon Savakus, C/DT Jeff Sherman.
Outlook: "I think we have pretty good experience coming back, which we hope translates into a more mature team that makes less mistakes," said veteran coach Tom Mack. "We have a better understanding of both the offense and defense (changed last year from 5-2 to 4-3 to keep up with spread offenses). Mack refered to the tough schedule helping keep the team focused. "There will be no games we can take off."
Strength: Lineman.
Top players: QB Robert Bolden (three-year starter, Penn State commitment), RB/LB Ernest Thomas (UCLA commitment), TE/LB Mike Padula, DT/OL Justin Ruby, CB/WR Gary Hunter, OL/DL Joe Kowalski, C Phillip Schoof.
Outlook: Veteran coach George Porritt is most impressed with his linemen for 2009. "If you ever are going to have a good team you start up front," he said. "The guys worked hard in the off-season to be a great group on the line. It's a tough league so we want to start there, then the ultimate goal is always be there at the end," he said referring to the playoffs.
Strength: Defensive front 7.
Top players: FB/LB Steve O'Shell (6-0,222), FB/LB Shane McCain, (6-1, 224), OL/LB Joe Biernat, (6-4, 219), C/DL Matt Privett, WR/S Tim Zabawa, OL/DL Eric Smith (6-4, 245), RB/DB De'Angelo Parris (avg. 6 yards per rush), WR/S Patrick Harris (6-1, 212), OL/DL Cody Silk (6-4, 265).
Outlook: Coming off a D2 state championship runner-up season, coach Paul Verska said: "I hope we can keep it going. You have to be lucky, good and go injury free. We did all that last year until the semifinal game when a few injuries hit. We have as much chance in our league as anybody." Four core players have two state championship games under their belts (2006 and '08, both times losing to Muskegon).
Copyright 2009, St. Mary's Preparatory, Orchard Lake, Michigan. All rights reserved.
No logos, photographs, or graphics on the site may be reproduced without written permission.