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Center Line
Last season’s record: 4-5.
League: Macomb Area Conference Bronze Division.
First game: vs. Detroit Voyageur College Prep High, 7 p.m. Aug. 26.
It’s all about improvements this year for Center Line.
If the defense and offense can both show up at the same game, then Center Line will be poised for improvements this season.
Senior defensive tackle Seth Fulton and senior middle linebacker Antonio D’agostino headline the senior leaders who Center Line will rely on this season.
Eastpointe
Last season’s record: 2-6.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: at Madison Heights Madison High, 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
Following two straight winning seasons, Eastpointe faced a difficult road in 2021.
Senior Najon Fricks (RB), junior Jordan Brooks (RB/LB) and senior Derek Wallace (RB/LB) are set to play key leadership roles on both sides of the ball.
“I think our running backs are going to be really solid,” Eastpointe coach Donavon Hall said. “We got three to four guys who can really touch the ball and break it big.”
Freshman quarterback Christopher Johnson will command the huddle and will look to improve an offense that scored just over 14 points per game last year.
Grosse Pointe North
Last season’s record: 3-6.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: vs. Clinton Township Clintondale High, 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
Unable to get anything going in 2021, Grosse Pointe North returns a healthy number of starters this season.
Senior quarterback Daniel Taylor returns under center, while senior running back Jaden Holyfield will handle the bulk of the carries.
North plans to switch to a run-pass option style of offense with sophomore wide receivers Leo Perettie and Sebastian Rouse looking to make an impact in the passing game. Senior and three-year starter Kyle Armbruster will headline the receiving corps.
North coach Joe Drouin said his players loved the new-look offense.
“It was like holding a dog on a leash; they wanted to go out, they wanted to run and they wanted to be athletic,” Drouin said.
Seniors Drew Hill and Nicolas Dixon lead the linebacker position while junior Brennan Hill anchors the secondary.
Grosse Pointe South
Last season’s record: 6-5.
League: Macomb Area Conference White Division.
First game: vs. Dexter High, 1 p.m. Aug. 27.
Extending its playoff streak to seven years, Grosse Pointe South has not made it past the first round since 2016.
South, who played in the MAC-Red the last two seasons, will play in the MAC-White after going 1-4 in conference play last year.
On the plus side, South has solidified itself as a winning program, as it’s had only one losing season since 2006.
Senior running backs Egan Sullivan and Donavan Moody headline the backfield while wide receivers Jackson Rybicki (Jr.) and Luke Wilson (Sr.) lead the receiving corps.
Senior linebacker Owen Domzalski and junior defensive lineman Paul Wilson control the defensive unit.
Grosse Pointe University Liggett
Last season’s record: 3-6.
League: Catholic League Intersectional 2.
First game: vs. Detroit Communication and Media Arts High, 4 p.m. Aug. 25.
University Liggett opened up the 2021 season strong with a 2-0 start, but six straight losses ended Liggett’s playoff chances.
Liggett averaged just over 43 points per game in its three wins, but scoring dropped to only 12 points per game in its six losses.
Seniors Oliver Service (RB/DB) and Mitchell Beauregard (WR/DB), and junior Andrew Stalker (WR/DB) will lead Liggett on both sides of the ball.
Harper Woods
Last season’s record: 7-3.
League: Oakland Activities Association White Division.
First game: vs. Harper Woods Chandler Park High, 7 p.m. Aug. 26.
For the first time since 1998, Harper Woods made four straight playoff appearances with a strong 2021 campaign.
Harper Woods will play in the OAA-White for the first time this year, and it made Harper Woods rethink its personnel.
“When we knew we were going into the OAA, our offseason goal was to add depth so we could replace the two-way players,” Harper Woods coach Rod Oden said.
Key losses on offense in running back Christion Stokes and wide receiver Tay’Shawn Trent will put heavy emphasis on junior quarterback Stephone Buford Jr., junior running back Willie Powell and junior wide receiver Ramonty Houze, a three-year starter.
The defensive unit is headlined by junior Jacob Oden (DB), sophomore Cailin Scott (LB), senior Carmelo Hunter (DT) and senior Antjuan Peterson (LB).
Oden, who is a four-star recruit according to 247 Sports, is ranked fifth in the state for the 2024 class.
Roseville
Last season’s record: 7-5.
League: Macomb Area Conference White Division.
First game: vs. Dearborn Heights Crestwood High, 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
After losing its senior quarterback and a key target in all-state wide receiver Tyrell Henry last season, Roseville is looking to retool on the offensive side.
Junior BJ Weathersby will handle the bulk of the carries, while junior Robert Salter (Slot/RB), sophomore Eric Slater (WR) and sophomore Desmond Straughton (RB) are expected to make an impact offensively, as well.
Cincinnati commit and senior Amare Snowden (DB), junior Huston Eubank (LB), senior Elijah Baker (SS) and senior Dezzmon Meriwether (DT) will anchor Roseville’s defense.
Roseville had to forfeit its first three games due to ineligibility, but Roseville coach Vernard Snowden said that lit a fire under his guys.
“It was something that flipped the switch,” Snowden said.
Roseville will look to carry that momentum into its 2022 season.
St. Clair Shores Lakeview
Last season’s record: 5-5.
League: Macomb Area Conference White Division.
First game: vs. Warren Woods Tower High, 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
To extend its yearly playoff streak to five, Lakeview will call on its experienced defense to get the job done this season.
Lakeview returns seven starters on the defensive unit headlined by senior linebackers Toby Mitchell and Keegan Tackett.
Senior Brandon Lewis (OL/DL), junior Tucker Weddle (Ol/DL), senior Austin Stockett (QB/DB) and senior Matthew Horak (WR/CB) are all expected to make contributions on both sides of the ball.
Stockett moved from running back to quarterback this year.
“I think he’ll meet the challenge,” Lakeview coach Patrick Threet said. “We like what we’ve seen this summer; I feel like he’s getting more confident each day.”
Lakeview will have a tough test early with back-to-back games against Sterling Heights Stevenson and Roseville in weeks two and three, respectively.
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore
Last season’s record: 2-7.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: vs. Port Huron Northern High, 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
After starting the 2021 season on a six-game losing streak, Lake Shore looks to start this season on the right path.
Senior running back Ernie Petty will headline the offense, while linebackers Isaac Moses (Jr.) and Andrew Petty (Sr.) will lead the defensive unit.
Lake Shore’s last winning season came in 2016.
St. Clair Shores South Lake
Last season’s record: 5-5.
League: Macomb Area Conference Silver Division.
First game: vs. Macomb Lutheran North High, 7 p.m. Aug 26.
South Lake’s 5-5 record was enough to punch its playoff ticket for the second straight year, and the offensive line will be a key factor this year as South Lake looks to make it three straight.
Three-year starter and senior Shamon Price (OT) and junior Derek Gibson (RG) anchor the offensive line, while senior Jerome Shamily Jr. (WR), junior Orlando Hall (WR) and senior Jaden Ford (WR) headline the wide receiving corps.
Junior quarterback Brandon Cunnningham will command the huddle for South Lake, while senior Javion Davis (RB/LB) is poised for improvement this season.
“He knows all the calls,” South Lake coach Vincent Phillips said. “He’s ready to have a breakout season.”
Warren Cousino
Last season’s record: 0-9.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: vs. Auburn Hills Avondale High, 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
With only one win in its last two seasons, Cousino is destined to improve this season.
Seniors Devin Quinn and Drew Tucker will lead an experienced wide receiver group, while junior Dequawn Woodruff will return as the feature tailback for Cousino.
Warren De La Salle
Last season’s record: 13-0.
League: Catholic League Central Division.
First game: vs. Detroit Renaissance High, 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
Securing a Division 2 state championship and a flawless 13-0 season, De La Salle will have the target on its back heading into the 2022 season.
Led by Cincinnati commit and first team all-state senior quarterback Brady Drogosh, the De La Salle offense will feature Central Michigan commit and senior Jamari Allen (WR), senior Jack Yanachik (WR), senior Brian White II (TE) and senior Brendan Dignan (OL).
Junior running back Rhett Roeser will handle the bulk of the carries this season.
Illinois commit and senior defensive end Mason Muragin and senior safety Griffin Phillips will headline the De La Salle defense.
Warren Fitzgerald
Last season’s record: 8-2.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: at Warren Mott, 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
Having achieved back-to-back playoff appearances warrants excitement, but Fitzgerald’s schedule will be tougher this season in the MAC-Gold.
Fitzgerald’s trenches will be a key factor this season with junior offensive lineman Brenton Jackson and company.
Junior quarterback Bryce Gordon, senior wide receiver Brandon Gordon and senior running back Bernard Adebayo will lead a talented Fitzgerald offense.
Senior defensive back Dayvion Bowen headlines the secondary, while freshman linebacker Johnathon Copeland will fill the void of a senior-loaded linebacking corps in 2021.
“We’re curious to see how (Copeland) will step in and fill the shoes,” Fitzgerald coach JuWan Shakespear said.
Warren Lincoln
Last season’s record: 1-8.
League: Macomb Area Conference Bronze Division.
First game: at Mount Clemens High, 7 p.m. Aug 26.
Since 2015, Warren Lincoln has not had a winning record, but Lincoln coach Darrius Alexander is hoping his seniors can change that.
Junior quarterback Terrance Lombard will command the offense, while junior defensive tackle Micah Alexander will anchor the defensive unit.
Lincoln will utilize a running back by committee for the year.
“A lot of guys haven’t been battle-tested at this point, so we’ll have to wait and see,” Darrius Alexander said.
Warren Mott
Last season’s record: 3-6.
League: Macomb Area Conference Blue Division.
First game: vs. Warren Fitzgerald High, 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
Snapping its decade-long playoff streak in 2021, Warren Mott comes into the season determined to improve on last year’s result.
Mott opened 2021 with a win but couldn’t get anything going for the remainder of the season.
Seniors Blaise Armstead (WR), Ja’Corey Anderson (WR) and Zavier Lamb (OLB/WR/S) look to be the senior leadership that Mott will lean on in 2022.
“One thing I’ll say about this senior group is the core of it has really rubbed off on the rest of this group,” Mott coach Tom Milanov said.
The Ojinnaka brothers, senior Ifeanyi Ojinnaka and junior Sopuruchi Ojinnaka, will lead the linebackers and secondary, respectively.
Warren Woods Tower
Last season’s record: 1-8.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: vs. St. Clair Shores Lakeview High, 7 p.m. Aug. 25
Both defensive and offensive struggles were a cause for concern last year, but senior leadership and skill-position talent could be beneficial for Tower this season.
Senior tackle Jon Haygood will anchor the offensive line, while senior wide receiver Elijah Stanfield and sophomore running back Amari Richardson will headline the skill positions for Tower.
Tower’s defense will look to improve this season after allowing almost 41 points per game in 2021.
