Helmet courtesy of MichiganHelmetProject.org

League: Macomb Area Conference Blue Division
Last season: 5-4
Opening game: 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse

Offense
Key player: Alex Koski, senior, running back

As a junior, Koski totaled 544 yards rushing and added another 608 yards as a return man.

Coach Tim Brandon expects even bigger things out of the 5-foot-8-inch, 180-pound back as the Blue Devils’ primary offensive weapon.

“He’s a natural runner,” Brandon said. “Not only does he have 4.5 (40-yard dash) speed, but he has natural elusiveness.”

Koski, who also tied for the team lead in receptions last year, returns along with senior quarterback Pat Kennedy.

Marquee matchup: Koski faces Utica Stevenson senior defensive lineman Carl Davis and senior linebacker Charlie Walker at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at home.

Defense
Key player: Will Reeves, junior, linebacker

Reeves led the Blue Devils in tackles last year and returns as a junior captain on a veteran defense that lost just one starter from last year.

“He’s always around the ball,” Brandon said of the 6-foot, 200-pound Reeves.

Reeves anchors the Blue Devils’ linebackers along with senior Stan Scott.

Marquee matchup: Reeves faces Grosse Pointe North senior running back Tommie Watkins at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at home.

Special teams
Key player: Chris Shirar, senior, kicker/punter

Shirar was South’s punter last year and averaged more than 37 yards per kick. This year, he returns to add place kicking and kickoff duties to an already full slate of responsibilities, including playing tight end and defensive end.

“Chris is bigger and stronger this year, and he’s really booming the ball,” Brandon said. “Because he’s such a big strong kid, he has the natural ability to power a lot of kicks through.”

Coach’s outlook
The Blue Devils were one game shy of the postseason in 2008, and Brandon has seen his team so motivated that he’s had to temper their early enthusiasm.

“You can really see their hunger,” Brandon said. “We’ve pulled back the reins, because we don’t want to see them peak too early.”

That motivation, combined with the return of 18 starters on offense and defense, has the Blue Devils thinking big.

“We have some pretty lofty goals,” Brandon said. “Obviously, the crosstown rivalry is huge. (North has) dominated us in the last 15 years, so we want to win that.

“But more important than that is the season-long stuff, like making the playoffs and winning the league.”

— Brad D. Bates