Macomb County

A look back at top MAC football players, teams

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Nicholas Barry Sterling Heights High senior Josh Heins was named to the MAC Blue All-Conference team. Photo by Nicholas Barry Sterling Heights High senior Josh Heins was named to the MAC Blue All-Conference team.

The Macomb Area Conference’s football programs enjoyed a banner year, sending a handful of teams deep into the postseason.

Here’s a look back at how each team fared in its division and the elite players who helped shape their team’s destiny.

MAC Red
Utica Eisenhower captured the MAC Red Division title with a 5-0 mark in the league.

Warren Mott, Macomb Dakota and Romeo High finished tied for second place with identical 3-2 division records. Chippewa Valley finished fifth at 1-4, and Utica Stevenson was sixth at 0-5.

Ike’s Alfonso Vultaggio and Bob Lantzy won division MVP and Coach of the Year, respectively.

Picking up All-Conference honors are Vultaggio, Yousseff Bujaidar, Joe Zerafa, Ben Schulte, Daniel Venditti, Dominic DiClemente and David Curle, Ike; Lucas Ross, Jamel Lockett, Shane Strwska, Harris Vrabac and Anthony Brooks, Mott; Seth Balogh, Jon Jarvie, Jeremy Byers and Trevor Macklem, Dakota; Joey Bacci, Sam Brunner, Dalton Binkowski, Brian Roth and Troy Zibkowski, Romeo; Devante Thomas and Paul Miller, Chippewa; and Lance Gross, Stevenson.

MAC White
Warren Cousino won the league with a 5-0 record, followed by Roseville High, Utica Ford II and Grosse Pointe North all tied for second at 3-2. Utica High went 1-4, and L’Anse Creuse North was 0-5.

Cousino’s Troy Cross and Mike Powell won division MVP and Coach of the Year, respectively.

All-Conference honorees are Cross, Stephan Annoni, Evan Cavanaugh, Thomas Mickens, Corey Dunaj, Israel Hicks and Jimmy Glidden, Cousino; Caleb Cummings, Kristiano Capuchina, Malcomb Simmons and Ray Williams, Roseville; Brad Meredith, Anthony Savine, Lester Olson, Mike Saba and David Skochelak, Ford; Charles Idemudia, Anthony Sarkis, Joe Tolliver, Tod Long and Chris Hamilton, Grosse Pointe North; Alex Maday and Russell Simmons, Utica; and Ken Donajkowski, L’Anse Creuse North.

MAC Blue
Port Huron High went 5-0 to win the division, followed by Grosse Pointe South (4-1), Port Huron Northern (3-2), Anchor Bay (2-3), L’Anse Creuse (1-4) and Sterling Heights High (0-5).

Port Huron’s Winslow Chapman and Ryan Mullins won division MVP and Coach of the Year, respectively.

All-Conference honorees include Chapman, Mark Chapman, Tyler Robotham, Alex Zmolick, Kyle Moran, James Calvert and Montez Jackson, Port Huron; Jack Doyle, Jon Parker, Eddy Mollison, Tom Firl, Pat Sattelmeier and Robby Kish, South; Jack Thompson, Quinn Kotsko, Alex Johns-Moore, Gage Nowaczyk and Donovan Barnes, Northern; Nick Black, Anthony Misiewicz and Rick Woonton, Anchor Bay; Josh McCarthy and Lucas Lanzon, L’Anse Creuse; and Josh Heins, Sterling Heights.

MAC Gold
Marine City took home the league crown with a 5-0 mark, followed by Madison Heights Madison (4-1), St. Clair Shores Lake Shore (3-2), St. Clair High (2-3), Fraser High (1-4) and East Detroit (0-5).

Marine City’s Anthony Scarcelli and Tony Scarcelli won division MVP and Coach of the Year, respectively.

All-Conference honorees are Scarcelli, Aaron Loconsole, Alex Kroll, Jack Badovinac, Jacob Grosso, Anthony Albo and J.J. Russell, Marine City; William Bradley, Danny Lankins, Alvin Mingo, Brandon Blackman, Chris Terrance and Juan Johnson, Madison; Travis Joseph, Nate Snover, Chris Bolus, Joe Almeranti and Jo Janko, Lake Shore; David St. Pierre, Donovan Langley and Matt Lanzi, St. Clair; Josh Rezny and Tre Wells, Fraser; and Tyrell Yharbrough, East Detroit.

MAC Silver
Marysville High won the division title at 5-0, followed by St. Clair Shores Lakeview (4-1), Madison Heights Lamphere (2-3), Clinton Township Clintondale (2-3), Warren Fitzgerald (2-3) and Warren Woods Tower (0-5).

Marysville’s Jake Mineau received the honor of league MVP. Marysville’s Mark Caza is the Coach of the Year.

All-Conference honorees include Mineau, Sean Farnsworth, Josh Smith, Ryan Leto, Josh Westphal, Kyle Hyde and Jared Gross, Marysville; Latham Donald, Zach Horne, Troy Kaplan, Kenny Kaufman, Austin Doll and Steve Altadonna, Lakeview; Abrahem Balawi, Mike Middleton and DeJour Donaldson, Lamphere; Dylan Burns, Malik Hazzard and Todd Walker, Clintondale; Larry Gavin, P.J. Garwood and Josh Thompson, Fitzgerald; and Chuckie Voorhees, Tower.

MAC Bronze
St. Clair Shores South Lake took the league’s top spot at 5-0, followed by Clawson High (4-1), Mount Clemens (3-2), Center Line (2-3), Warren Lincoln (1-4) and New Haven (0-5).

South Lake’s Casual Williams earned MVP honors. The Cavaliers’ Steve Senters is the division’s Coach of the Year.

All-Conference honorees are Williams, Marcus Anderson, Jacques Christian, Bradley Mitchell, Nick Johnson, Delshawn Dukes and Jordon Culver, South Lake; DeShawn Gilbert, Greg Gmeiner, Deonte Hill, James Steffen, Roger Forney and Jalen Harrison, Clawson; Aaron McFadden, Joshua Weidner, Shawn Clairmont, Chevas Walker and Kalvan Williamson, Mount Clemens; Jacob Legree, Jerome Dina and Mike Tyszkiewicz, Center Line; Lairren Johnson and Kevin Shaw, Lincoln; and Paul Evans, New Haven.

Check out next week’s edition for our annual C & G All-Eastside football honor teams.
 

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040.