Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township

Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle: A look at local prep teams as gridiron season nears

» click to enlarge « Photo by Andrew Potter Birmingham Seaholm quarterback Stephen Gunther hands the ball off during a recent practice. The Maples are under new leadership with coach Jim DeWald. Photo by Andrew Potter Birmingham Seaholm quarterback Stephen Gunther hands the ball off during a recent practice. The Maples are under new leadership with coach Jim DeWald.

High school football season has arrived. And to help you get familiar with all the local teams, we present our annual football preview, chock full of information to review right up until the first kickoff.

Bloomfield Hills Andover Barons
Last season’s record: 0-9
League: Oakland Activities Association Blue Division
Returning starters: 11
Offensive keys:
Mike Boyd and Nate Coleman take over the Barons as co-coaches and are bringing an offense with them that gets their athletes in space.
“We brought in a whole new offense in to try and utilize our speed,” Boyd said.
Nick Rabah leads the squad at quarterback and has Sean Wilson behind him at running back. Wilson rushed for nearly a 1,000 yards last season.
“He’s determined, bigger, stronger and faster this year,” Boyd said.
On the outside, Rabah has targets in receivers in Alec Mares, Perry Kalemanski and Matt Coleman.
Three-year starter Jayvon Stringer is the leader up front at guard.

Defensive keys:
Rabah, Coleman and Kalemanski are also playmakers on defense.
“They are three of the better linebackers I’ve seen. They hit hard, they’re fast and have good instincts,” Boyd said.
On the line, Stringer and Daniel Welsh are expected to cause havoc.
“Welsh is real athletic and moves well. With Stringer, you have to put two guys on him or he’s getting to the quarterback,” Boyd said.
Wilson roams the secondary from his free safety spot.
“He’s the real deal,” Boyd added.

Coach’s outlook:
The Barons have struggled in recent years, going 14-49 since 2005. Next year, Andover is consolidating with Bloomfield Hills Lahser to become the Bloomfield Hills Black Hawks.
Boyd hopes to make the Barons’ last season a memorable one.
“We definitely use that as an incentive. We talk about how Andover has had strong football teams, and hopefully, we can bring that out one last time,” he said. “Everyone is uncertain who will be the coach next season and who will be teammates. We talk about making Andover proud and playing for the community and the school.”

Birmingham Groves Falcons
Last season’s record: 6-4
League: Oakland Activities Association Blue Division
Returning starters: 10
Offensive keys:
Coach Brandon Flaherty has never shied away from his love of the running game, and it’ll be more of the same this season.
“We’ll throw the ball a little bit, but we’re going to be a little more of a ground-attack team,” he said.
Leading the way in the backfield is Ross Williams, who is an explosive runner that Flaherty said is one of his best players.
When the Falcons do throw, it’ll be Nick Kizy under center.
“He’s done a great job of keeping things in his wheel house and not trying to do too much,” Flaherty said.

Defensive keys:
Captains Drew Hendrickson and Devan Moosherr anchor the defense at defensive end and linebacker, respectively.
“They’re pretty good and will stabilize things for us,” the coach said. “I think our defense will keep us in it early, and after that, hopefully, the offense will come together and start jelling.

Coach’s outlook:
Flaherty said the team’s success is dependent on how well his offensive line holds up and if his perimeter defense can do its job.
“I think we’re in the middle of the pack in the Blue, and depending on how things go, if they go well, we’ll make a push (for the title). If they don’t come together early on, then we’ll be right there in the middle,” he said.

Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day Yellowjackets
Last season’s record: 7-3
League: Independent
Returning Starters: Seven

Offensive keys:
After scoring more than 32 points per game last season, DCD brings back a very experienced offensive line that should pave the way for more of the same in 2012.
“We’re going to be a good offensive team,” coach Dan McLean boasted.
Junior quarterback Tyler Weigers, now in his second year on varsity, takes over the starting role after seeing quite a bit of time last year.
McLean said fullback Gianmarco Rea and running back Richard Wilson should provide a solid one-two punch in the backfield.

Defensive keys:
DCD’s biggest strength defensively is up front. McLean said the key for his group is trying to make opponents one-dimensional by shutting down any running threat.
That certainly worked last year when the Jackets allowed roughly 10 points per game.
“It’s going to be tough to do something like that again,” McLean said of the points allowed. “We’re playing a more difficult schedule this season, so we’ll see. … Our secondary is very inexperienced, but I really like the athletes we have. This will be another good defensive team.”

Coach’s outlook:
With no division or conference race to focus on, McLean said the focus for his team is simple.
“We see ourselves as a playoff team that can make a good run,” he said. “We’re going to be tested with the schedule we’re playing, but these guys have worked real hard to this point. It’s a good group of kids, and I think they are ready.”
Country Day hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2005.

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood Cranes
Last season’s record: 2-6
League: Catholic League Intersectional
Returning starters: 10

Offensive keys:
When Cranbrook scored 33 points in a season-opening win last year, hopes of a promising fall were abundant.
Six weeks later, the Cranes were 1-6 and had an offense struggling to find the end zone.
Coach Stephen Graf expects things to be much different this time around.
“We hired Joe D’Angelo as our new offensive coordinator, and I know things will be better,” Graf said last week. “We’ll be a little heavier with the running game, which is fine by me. I think we have a pretty good offensive line that will make that possible.”
Six starters are back on offense, including third-year quarterback Jake Hall.
Joe Myrick, also entering his third year starting at running back, will anchor the ground attack.

Defensive keys:
Coaching changes were also made on the defensive side of the ball for Cranbrook this offseason.
Ken Kashubara takes over the new defensive coordinator, attempting to revive a squad that allowed roughly 35 points per game a year ago.
“We’re going to attack more than we have in the past,” Graf explained. “We’re going to try and mix some things up and get after teams.”
With just four defensive starters back, the Cranes will have to deal with a bit of a youth movement. Graf said he expects some big things from the guys back, namely the defensive line.
“We have to be better this year, and the guys know that,” Graf added
Adam Bloomer and Belvin Liles will anchor the D-line,
Chris Lopez and Kevin Shand are expected to do the same with the linebackers.

Coach’s outlook:
“The main thing for us this year is finding a way to get some Catholic League wins,” Graf said about the season. The Cranes are 0-7 in Catholic League play in two seasons. “We know Loyola is the team to beat in our division. It’ll be interesting to see how some of the others, like (Royal Oak) Shrine and (Allen Park) Cabrini and (Madison Heights Bishop) Foley. We’ll battle for what we can every week, but our guys want it to be better around here than it has been.”

Bloomfield Hills Lahser Knights
Last season’s record: 6-4
League: Oakland Activities Association Blue Division
Returning starters: 11

Offensive keys:
“Our key to success is the offensive line,” coach Dan Loria said. “Our advantage is our skill positions. We have real good receivers, tailbacks and our quarterback is back.”
Spencer McCourt enters his second season at the helm and is depending on an offensive line that is largely unproven but led by three-year starter Andrew Gikas.
“It’s a good mix on the line and a combination we’re comfortable with. It just depends on how well they develop,” Loria said.

Defensive keys:
Much like the offense, the Knights are depending on their defensive line to prove itself. Gikas anchors this line, as well.
“He’s just a great football player and gets after it pretty good,” Loria said.

Coach’s outlook:
“I think we’ll be a good team. The development of the lines will be the difference between a good team and very good team,” Loria said, as Lahser aims for its third playoff appearance in five years.
This also marks the final season for the Knights. Next season, Lahser and Bloomfield Hills Andover are consolidating to make the Bloomfield Hills Black Hawks, a fact that isn’t lost on Loria’s seniors.
“It’s a motivating factor knowing that this is the last team. They want to do something special,” the coach said.

Birmingham Brother Rice Warriors
Last season’s record: 10-4,
Division 2 state champion
League: Catholic League Central Division
Returning Starters: 10

Offensive keys:
Scoring points certainly wasn’t a problem for Rice in 2011, especially as the season wore on and the playoffs got going.
But a lot of that had to do with running back Devin Church, who was outstanding during the Warriors’ run to a state title.
Church may be gone, but there’s no need to panic.
“What the offensive line can do determines how good we’re going to be,” said coach Al Fracassa, now in his 44th season at Rice. “We’ve got some experience there, and if they block the way they can, we’re going to be able to run the ball just fine.”
Junior Brian Walker steps in as the go-to back.
Cheyne Lacanaria, who started many games last year under center, is also back as the full-time starter this fall.
“He handles the offense real well,” Fracassa said of his senior quarterback. “He’s in charge when he’s in there, and that’s what I like.”

Defensive keys:
Much like the offense, Rice’s defense only got better as the fall of 2011 progressed.
With a 4-4 record and needing a win to possibly earn a playoff spot, Rice cruised past Chandler Park Academy 38-2.
In the five playoff wins, the defense allowed double digits just twice and allowed more than 14 points just once.
“We certainly hope to pick up where we left off,” Fracassa said with a laugh.
So what’s the key?
“Linebackers,” he added.
Rice returned nearly its entire secondary and most of its down linemen, so if the team’s backers can do their job, scoring may be at a premium for opponents.
“We’ve got an excellent defensive coaching staff that is committed to getting the best out of those kids that we can,” Fracassa said. “That could be a very strong unit.”

Coach’s outlook:
When last year’s D-2 final ended, many wondered out loud if Fracassa had coached his final game.
At 79, he’s won seven state titles, numerous league titles and holds the career coaching record for wins in the MHSAA.
But he said he’s having too much fun to walk away.
“I’m taking things one day and one game and one year at a time,” he added.
As for this year, he knows how talented his team is, how the potential to win the first back-to-back state title in program history looms, but also understands the challenge his guys are about to face.
“We know teams are going to be gunning for us right off the bat against (defending D-1 champ) Cass Tech,” he said. “These kids will give it their best shot every game we play. They are mature enough to understand how difficult winning a title is. To try and do that again is going to be that much more difficult. That’s the ultimate goal, but right now the philosophy is to enjoy every moment we have and let the rest take care of itself.”

Birmingham Seaholm Maples
Last season’s record: 6-4
League: Oakland Activities Association Blue Division
Returning starters: Three

Offensive keys:
Coach Jim DeWald comes to Seaholm after spending the last three seasons leading Bloomfield Hills Andover, and he’s brought his veer offense with him.
“I think they’re working really hard to understand the whole concept and making the aiming points work,” DeWald said. “I think we’re a little further ahead than expected with a first-year team.”
DeWald added that he’s counting on his offensive line, especially returning starters Sam Wilson and Donte Capicchioni.
“We need those guys to play well,” he said.
Stephen Gunther takes over at quarterback after starting at safety last season.

Defensive keys:
With Gunther moving to the offensive side of the ball, the Maples are without a returning starter on defense, though DeWald believes that what they lack in experience, they make up for in depth.
“We play a 4-3 defense and have five linebackers that could start,” he said, adding that Dan Simon is the emotional leader of the unit. “They’ll be the strength of our defense.”

Coach’s outlook:
DeWald is new to the Maples, but familiar with the conference after being with Andover.
“It helps us definitely early on in the season. We play Ferndale first, and a lot of times, if you go into a new conference you can only go off of the film from their scrimmage, but we have a pretty good book on them from the last three years,” he said.
With that familiarity, DeWald expects big things from his squad.
“I think we’re the favorites. Even though we’re pretty young and have a new system with a lot of junior starters, I think we’ll be pretty good,” he said.