South Macomb County football preview

MACOMB COUNTY — We’re back in full swing with gridiron action at the high school level. Here are previews for all teams in the C & G Newspapers coverage area in southern Macomb County.

Center Line
Last season’s record: 3-6.
League: Macomb Area Conference Silver Division.
First game: at Detroit Henry Ford, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Center Line tested itself last year with a nonconference schedule consisting of Madison Heights Lamphere, River Rouge and Marine City, and the young Panthers were hungry for the challenge.

Returning with a core of all-league players in junior Avery Taylor (LB), senior Elijah Williford (WR/DB) and sophomore Darius Wallace (WR/DB), Center Line’s jump to the MAC

Silver should be a smooth transition given the talent it possesses.

Senior quarterback Ethan Goralski will command the huddle with sophomore running back Masai Ali handling the bulk of the carries.

Eastpointe
Last season’s record: 1-8.
League: Macomb Area Conference Silver Division.
First game: at Dearborn Heights Crestwood, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

It’s been a rough couple of years for the Shamrocks, but we’re only three years removed from a team who had back-to-back winning seasons in ’19 and ’20.

Dropping down from the MAC Gold to the MAC Silver could be a nice move to clear the team’s heads and regroup, and also bringing in an entirely new staff could give a different perspective.

Seniors Devon Loggins (WR/DB) and Dreshawn Morris (DL) headline Eastpointe’s returning group.

Grosse Pointe North
Last season’s record: 7-4.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: vs. Utica, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

When you have only three returning starters on offense, sometimes you have to get a little creative about how you’re going to run your offense.

When head coach Joe Drouin found an old playbook of longtime head football coach Frank Sumbera, it created a new outlook for his offense.

“We’re going to run a little bit of the two-back set and go under center,” Drouin said. “We’re going to take it back to 1968 and run some I-formation with the guys.”

The Norsemen have the talent to do so with junior King Jackson and junior Caleb Butler handling the bulk of the carries, while senior Caleb Rivera serves as the fullback and sophomore Jason Hubbell and senior Je’Sean Woods anchor the offensive line as returning starters.

North also plans to move senior Daylon Doe to the tight end spot, creating a favorable matchup for the 6-foot-3 receiver who can move quicker than most linebackers.

Defensively, North returns a core of veterans behind senior Jack Kezhaya (LB), senior James Shefferly (LB), senior Evan Bainbridge (DL), senior Terry Smith (DL) and Jackson (LB).

Grosse Pointe South
Last season’s record: 9-2.
League: Macomb Area Conference White Division.
First game: at Port Huron Northern, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

The Blue Devils continue to show that the MAC White belongs to them, posting back-to-back league titles and an unbeaten 10-0 record the past two seasons.

Returning a corps of veterans and fresh off its ninth straight playoff appearance, South should be at the top of the league until proven otherwise.

Senior quarterback Jack Lupo will command the offense again with senior wideout Vince Vachon, an all-region selection returning on the outside.

The South defense, who tallied three shutouts and allowed more than seven points only once last season, returns all-region talents in senior linebacker Lex Willson and senior defensive back Wyatt Hepner.

Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett
Last season’s record: 7-3.
League: Catholic High School League Intersectional #1.
First game: vs. Detroit Denby, 4 p.m. Aug. 29.

Under the direction of first-year coach Andre Rison, a former NFL player and Michigan State University wide receiver, Liggett’s move up from CHSL Intersectional #2 to Intersectional #1 was properly timed for an emerging Knights team.

Posting back-to-back seasons with seven wins, senior running back Gary Stacy will headline the returning group on the offensive side alongside junior quarterback Nikkos Davis. Senior defensive lineman Andrew Johnson will anchor the defense.

Liggett’s back-to-back playoff appearances the past two seasons happened for the first time since 2015-2016.

Harper Woods
Last season’s record: 11-3.
League: Oakland Activities Association White Division.
First game: vs. Redford Union, 7 p.m. Aug. 30.

Not much more needs to be said for Harper Woods last season other than the fact that they’re the defending state champions in Division 4.

Harper Woods returns only four starters on each side of the ball, but it’s still going to be a dangerous team on the field each week.

“The 2025 version of the Pioneers will be fast, physical and athletic,” head coach Rod Oden said. “We return about 50 percent of our roster from last year, and most of that is in the trenches.”

Junior quarterback Nate Rocheleau will command the huddle with seniors Colby Bailey and Donald Adams handling the bulk of the carries. Sophomore wideout Dakota Guerrant, who will also serve as the team’s kicker, will be one to watch this season on the outside.

Defensively, it’s a veteran-heavy defensive line led by senior and University of Toledo commit Bryant Weatherspoon, senior defensive lineman Jevon Jones, and senior defensive end Vory Peacock. Ferris State University commit Matt McCraw and senior Johnny Nelson headline the linebacking corps.

Roseville
Last season’s record: 8-4.
League: Macomb Area Conference White Division.
First game: at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (at Lawrence Technological University), 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Roseville’s consistency over the past few years under head coach Vernard Snowden has rewarded it with four straight playoff appearances and three straight seasons of seven or more wins.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, they’ve run into Warren De La Salle Collegiate the last four years in the playoffs, but Roseville isn’t backing down with the talent it’s returning.

Senior quarterback Jordan Simes, a three-year starter and Ferris State University commit, will command the huddle with three-star recruit and Howard University commit Eric Slater, a senior wideout, on the outside along with senior Herman Searcy.

Roseville’s offense also has the benefit of having one of the top players in the state of Michigan, senior running back Desmond Straughton, who has committed to play college football at the University of Illinois.

But with all this firepower on the offensive side, it’s the defensive line that Snowden said is poised for a big season.

“I honestly think our defensive line and the depth of our defensive line is really solid this year, and it’s going to be needed in the league,” Snowden said. “We graduated four linebackers, who were all Division I or high Division II guys, so our D-line has really stepped up to the challenge.”

Senior Mike Chude, a Grand Valley State University commit, headlines the defensive front alongside senior Jacob Blair, junior Miles Sharp and senior Elizah Jolly, who is also a Grand Valley State University commit.

Senior D’ondre Fordham and sophomore Armani Hegmon will lead the linebacking corps while junior Bryant Snowden, senior Hanklin Elston and Straughton will lead the secondary.

St. Clair Shores Lakeview
Last season’s record: 7-3.
League: Macomb Area Conference White Division.
First game: at Lapeer, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

When you make six consecutive playoff appearances, especially in the MAC White, you’re doing something right.

After graduating a slew of talent last season, Lakeview enters the season with a lot of question marks, but head coach Patrick Threet said it’s nothing he and his team aren’t accustomed to.

“That’s kind of been the norm the last four years,” Threet said. “We lose this great player, and then the next year somebody becomes that great player. We talked to our guys about how they may have this aunt where they go to her house and she makes this special pie and she doesn’t share the recipe with anyone, but you always know it’s good. I told them to trust the process and understand that we have a recipe for success at Lakeview.”

Junior quarterback Gavin McKee will command the huddle again with senior Eric Simmons emerging as the primary running back, but Lakeview has had a knack for developing running backs in the past, so don’t be surprised if two or three more players enter the committee.

It also helps the running game when you have a veteran-heavy offensive line consisting of senior Bobby Clark, a three-year starter, junior Vincenzo Pizzo, senior Connor Kubiak, senior Jacob Smigielski, and senior Matthew Demski.

Defensively, the Huskies are led by senior Terrell McCurdy (DB), a three-year starter, and junior Brennen Johnson (DB) with junior John Kline and senior Jacob Snell on the defensive line.

St. Clair Shores Lake Shore
Last season’s record: 3-6.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: vs. Sault Ste. Marie, 7 p.m. Aug. 30.

Lake Shore is still searching for its first winning season since 2018, but it will have to fight for it this season without its starting quarterback and receiver, who both transferred this year.

Seniors James Taylor (TE/DE) and Ja’Sean Dean (WR/DB) headline the returning group for the Shorians.

St. Clair Shores South Lake
Last season’s record: 3-6.
League: Macomb Area Conference Silver Division.
First game: vs. Warren Woods Tower, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

South Lake snapped its three consecutive playoff appearances streak but still was able to turn in a respectable season.

The Cavaliers will rely on senior Rafeal Payne (RB/LB) and junior Emarian Jackson (WR/DB) to lead the team this season.

Warren Cousino
Last season’s record: 6-4.
League: Macomb Area Conference Blue Division.
First game: vs. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

The tide is turning in the right direction for Warren Cousino, who’s posted back-to-back winning seasons and playoff appearances.

Prior to 2022, Cousino had tallied six total wins from 2017 to 2021, but the Patriots have turned things around.

Cousino will take on a new league this year, but will ride the momentum of last year and rely on its veteran leaders consisting of seniors Jake Rudd (OL/DL) and Owen Banaszak (RB/LB) and juniors Brick Sandridge (QB), Michael Kozel (WR/DB) and Kam Hayward (WR) to lead the team.

Cousino last made its third straight playoff appearance in 2006.

Warren De La Salle
Last season’s record: 11-3.
League: Catholic High School League Central.
First game: at Davison (at Wayne State University), 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

With four straight state championship appearances and two state titles in the process, De La Salle is a well-oiled machine.

If De La Salle needed any extra motivation to storm out the gate this year, a loaded senior group fresh off a state finals loss should just about do it.

Senior quarterback Sante Gasperoni, an all-region selection, returns under center with junior wideout Damion King, an all-region selection, headlining the wide receiver room.

Defensively, it’s two all-state players leading the way with senior Jacob Tur (DL) and Dalton Drogosh (LB) commanding the defensive unit, but the Pilots also have all-region talents on the defensive side in Anthony Presnell (DL) and Isaiah Jones (DB).

Warren Fitzgerald
Last season’s record: 4-6.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: at Warren Mott, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Things weren’t looking great for Fitzgerald out the gate as it lost its first three games, but a four-game win streak put the season back on track and was just enough to qualify for a playoff spot.

Fitzgerald’s win over Grosse Pointe North also earned the team a share of the MAC Gold title, and that goes a long way in terms of momentum.

Now back with returning veterans and all-league players such as junior Myron Hardy (DB), junior Martez Kelley (DT) and senior Demontae Edwards (WR/DB), Fitzgerald should challenge for the MAC Gold again this season.

Warren Lincoln
Last season’s record: 5-4.
League: Macomb Area Conference Bronze Division.
First game: vs. Romulus Summit Academy North, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Warren Lincoln’s 4-2 run to end the season, which clinched its first winning season since 2015, has to have the team feeling good heading into 2024.

With returning all-league players such as senior Aaron Logan (WR/DB), senior Jeremiah Hutson (WR/DB) and senior Keyonta Pettis (OL/DL), Lincoln should be a key player in the race for the MAC Bronze title.

It’s likely going to be a four-team race between Lincoln, Clawson, Clinton Township Clintondale and Hazel Park for the MAC Bronze title.

Warren Mott
Last season’s record: 6-4.
League: Macomb Area Conference Blue Division.
First game: vs. Warren Fitzgerald, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Warren Mott stormed out the gate last season to the tune of an impressive 6-3 regular season record, suffering a one-point loss to league rival Port Huron, a seven-point loss to Port Huron Northern, and a loss to Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, a MAC Red team.

With senior quarterback Mike Kronner commanding the huddle and senior Wes Gilmore (WR/DB) — both all-league selections — returning on both sides of the ball, Mott should be a threat again in the MAC Blue.

Warren Woods Tower
Last season’s record: 2-7.
League: Macomb Area Conference Gold Division.
First game: at St. Clair Shores South Lake, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Still in search of its first winning season since 2018, Warren Woods Tower showed signs of fight last season, but it didn’t translate to its record.

Returning all-league talents in seniors Arnell Logan (TE/DE) and Amari Richardson (TE/DT), also an all-region selection, Tower hopes to improve this year, but the MAC Gold only gets tougher.