St. Clair Shores

St. Clair Shores Sentinel: A look at local prep teams as gridiron season nears

» click to enlarge « Photo by Deb Jacques St. Clair Shores Lake Shore running back Brandon Muraczewski has been tapped by coach Tom Iwanicki as a standout for the Shorians. Photo by Deb Jacques St. Clair Shores Lake Shore running back Brandon Muraczewski has been tapped by coach Tom Iwanicki as a standout for the Shorians.

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.

For profiles of every team in C & G Newspapers’ coverage area and complete schedules, check out our website at www.candgnews.com/Sports.

Check back in the paper and online throughout the season for more football coverage, including photos, game previews and recaps, team and player features, rankings and picks.

And don’t forget to follow along with us on Twitter and Facebook for live updates from select games.

St. Clair Shores Lake Shore Shorians

Last season’s record: 4-5

League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division

Returning starters: 11

Offensive keys:

Coach Tom Iwanicki said Lake Shore’s offensive line needs to stay healthy and lead.

With four starters returning from the line, strong play in the trenches will be vital.

Senior offensive lineman James Bush anchors the group. Iwanicki also said he expects quarterback Jimmy White, running back Brandon Muraszewski, wide receiver D’Vonte Owens and fullback Alec Malunchik to lead the offensive attack.

Lake Shore averaged 16.4 points per game last season and tallied 25.5 points per game in its four wins.

Defensive keys:

Lake Shore will only start four seniors on defense, according to Iwanicki, so the unit must learn quickly.

Iwanicki said he sees Bush, who also plays on the defensive line, along with Muraszewski and Owens (defensive backfield), and Malunchik as standouts.

The Shorians allowed 19.9 points per game last season — 13.7 points in wins, 24.8 in losses.

Coach’s outlook:

“We really have to find a way to get off to a great start to this season. We open with city rival South Lake … and we need to try to find a way to beat a very tough team. We need to stay healthy, and our young defense will have to grow up quickly. We will be relying on the leadership of our captains — Bush, Ross Leadmon and White — and the rest of our seniors to show the way to a successful season.”

St. Clair Shores Lakeview Huskies

Last season’s record: 5-4

League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division

Returning starters: 11

Offensive keys:

Second year coach Rob Wozniak said the play of his offensive line would be key to the Huskies’ success.

Lakeview returns seven starters on offense. Wozniak said he expects contributions from H-back Nick White, wide receiver Daniel Phillips, wide receiver Derrick Nichols, wide receiver Robbie Shields, tight end Gary Tilney, guard Matt Marasco, tackle Matt Ina, center Connor Luke, tackle Kirk McGee, running back Brian Moy and quarterback Caleb Stump.

The Huskies averaged 17.8 points per game in 2011.

Defensive keys:

On the defensive side of the ball, four starters are back in action. Wozniak believes the performance of the secondary is vital.

Wozniak is looking to get contributions from linebackers White, Tilney and Moy, cornerbacks Nichols and Shields, defensive tackles Marasco and McGee, defensive ends Ina and Luke, and Phillips at safety.

The Huskies allowed 18.6 points per game last season.

Coach’s outlook:

“The team has the potential to qualify for the playoffs in 2012,” Wozniak said. “Our seniors have done a fantastic job mentoring the underclassmen. We need to continue to work as a team and continue the strong team commitment, which was developed during offseason workouts.

“This team may not be the most talented we’ve ever coached, however, the strong character exhibited by this team early on has me very excited for the season.”

St. Clair Shores South Lake Cavaliers

Last season’s record: 8-2

League: Macomb Area Conference Silver Division

Returning starters: 13

Offensive keys:

South Lake moves to the MAC Silver after winning the Bronze in 2009 and 2010, going 10-0 in league play over that span.

First-year coach Chanterius Brock inherits an offense that outscored its opponents by more than 20 points a game in 2011. The Cavaliers scored more than 35 points four times last season.

Brock said he expects Delshawn Dukes (a returning All-Conference selection), Travon Desassure, Darryl Johnson, Deshun Brown, Jamyre Anderson, Kyonte Stallworth and Ghaylen Hammonds to lead the offense.

Defensive keys:

The Cavs’ defense will be tested as it moves into a new division.

The defense was untested for the majority of 2011, allowing just 4.8 points per game in its final season in the Bronze, including seven shutouts.

No team scored more than six points on the Cavs over the course of the first two months of the 2011 season.

Brock expects Jordon Culver (an All-Conference selection in 2011), Jalen Dingle, Raylan Hill, Decari Quick, Joshua Shaffer, Montez Foutner, Dukes and Brown to stand out on defense.

Coach’s outlook:

“On defense, we’ll be strong up front; our front seven will be very good. We have good athletes on the back end, and they are working hard to develop technique and continuity.

“On offense, we have experience at the quarterback position, which provides stability. We hope to run the football and have our offense (center around) on our ability to do so.”

Macomb Lutheran North Mustangs

Last season’s record: 4-5

League: Catholic High School League AA Division

Returning Starters: 12

Offensive keys:

New coach Ryan Wesley expects “really good line play” from the Mustangs’ front five and tight ends.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to grind the ball down the field,” the coach said. “We need them to be our strength. We’re ready to pass at any time, but our goal is that our running game will wear teams out.”

North has an experienced quarterback in junior Will Kruse, who enters his third year with the varsity. His weapons include a “strong, fast” running back in junior Trevor Mason and a “quick, athletic” receiving corps led by junior Jonathan Taykowski.

Defensive keys:

Wesley said the key on defense is matching up physically with their opponents week in and week out.

Leading the way on this side of the ball is another player entering his third year on varsity in senior strong safety David Craig. Junior Vince Petitta joins Craig in the secondary, where they’re expected to do “great things.” In front of them are a trio of linebackers in Trevor Mason, Seth Majeski and Jonah Taykowski. Wesley described the group as being “aggressive at getting to the football.”

Coaches outlook:

“Enthusiasm is high right now, and we hope that continues through adversity,” Wesley said during the preseason. “Our playbook is completely in after two days of practice, and even though we’ll do some tweaks here and there, we’ve got everything we need except competition. I think the kids are hungry and ready to go.”