West Oakland County football preview

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 western Oakland County.

Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Last season’s record: 0-9.
League: Catholic High School League Central.
First game: vs. Roseville, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

It was an out-of-character season for Brother Rice, which was winless in 2023. Now under the direction of head coach Aaron Marshall, who coached Southfield A&T to a state championship last year, Brother Rice is hoping to become players in the CHSL Central Division. Led by junior quarterback Brady Thomas, Rice’s offense hopes to get back on track with senior Nolan Hannawa (LB) and senior Alex Grochowski (DB) commanding the defense.

Birmingham Groves
Last season’s record: 6-4.
League: Oakland Activities Association White Division.
First game: at Detroit U of D Jesuit, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

With the level of talent Groves possesses, there’s no reason why it’s not competing for an OAA White league title this year. Headlined by University of Michigan commit Avery Gach (OL); senior running back Noah Sanders, a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports; and senior defensive back Chris Little, a Grand Valley State University commit, Groves has elite-level talent on both sides of the ball. Senior Ryan Counts will command the huddle this season with senior Mario Campoy-LoVasco (RB), senior Nick Hardy (WR) and Little (WR) also contributing offensively. On the defensive side, Little leads the group alongside senior Jalen Brooks (DB), with junior Joshua Hammonds (DL), senior Teddy Abbot (DB), senior Paul Hubbard (LB), junior Carter Hladki (LB) and senior Wyatt Shortridge (LB) all set to contribute as well.

Birmingham Seaholm
Last season’s record: 9-2.
League: Oakland Activities Association Blue Division.
First game: vs. Troy Athens, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

It will be a tough hill to climb in order to stay at the top of the OAA Blue, but Seaholm is looking for its inexperienced players to step up to fill the void. Returning only two starters on each side of the ball, head coach Jim DeWald said his guys are hungry to prove what they’ve got this season.

“I think they’re trying to carry on that tradition of being a gritty and tough group of kids, and every coach probably says that, but I really believe that in my heart,” DeWald said. “The last three days, we’ve been as physical as we can be without pads. We have a couple new coaches, and they’re saying how they’ve seen teams never be this physical in full pads.”

Seniors Matt Erne and Magnus Branstrom return to the offensive line, with senior Penn Roberts expected to handle the bulk of the carries offensively. Defensively, Roberts will anchor the linebacking core alongside senior Alejandro Rauth, while senior Nathan Walsh (DB) will be the mainstay in the secondary. Of course, who could forget senior kicker Wesley Billings, who gives Seaholm a chance any time it’s in opponent territory.

Bloomfield Hills
Last season’s record: 1-8.
League: Oakland Activities Association Blue.
First game: vs. Troy, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

The OAA White wasn’t kind to Bloomfield Hills, so it returned to its roots of the OAA Blue, where it posted a 9-1 record the last time it competed in the league in 2021. Senior running back Evan Becker will headline the offensive unit with senior wideout Payton Parsons, while senior linebacker Sam Doerr leads the defense.

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
Last season’s record: 2-7.
League: Catholic High School League Intersectional #1.
First game: vs. International Academy of Flint, 5 p.m. Aug. 29.

We’re three years removed from Cranbrook Kingswood’s seven-straight seasons of making the playoffs. With only a handful of returning starters on each side of the ball, it will be up to senior wideout Owen Steinke and sophomore Anthony Warchuck to lead the offense, while sophomore defensive end Charlie Fogle commands the defense.

Detroit Catholic Central
Last season’s record: 8-3.
League: Catholic High School League Central.
First game: at Dearborn, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Detroit Catholic Central has been the masters of consistency, and they should have no problem continuing that trend this season. Posting eight or more wins the past four seasons, DCC will lean on senior Jaden Pydyn (Army commit) to handle the bulk of the carries alongside senior running back Lee Krueger, with junior Benny Eziuka anchoring the offensive line. The Shamrocks’ defense is led by senior defensive lineman Danilo Guberinich, a Western Michigan University commit, and Krueger, who headlines the linebacking core. It’s always a dogfight in the Central, but don’t be surprised if DCC is still standing as one of the top teams in the league by the end of the regular season.

Detroit Country Day
Last season’s record: 3-5.
League: Independent.
First game: vs. Portland, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

The 2023 campaign saw Country Day take a step back after seeing 16-straight playoff appearances in 17 seasons, but it’s only a minor setback if you come back strong the next season. Led by returning all-Region talent Chase Dawkins (QB) and Cade Wilhelmi (OL/DL), a University of Toledo commit, Country Day is poised for a successful year to return them back to form. Last year’s three wins was the lowest win total for Country Day since 2005.

Farmington
Last season’s record: 2-7.
League: Oakland Activities Association Blue Division.
First game: vs. Oak Park, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Another team hoping a change of scenery makes a difference, Farmington’s move to the OAA Blue after spending just a year in the OAA White is a welcomed change. In 2022, as part of the OAA White, Farmington went 6-4, its highest win total since 2019, and head coach Jason Albrecht expects the trials and tribulations of the year in the OAA White to help his team this season.

“I had two different meetings with each grade level, and I just talked to them about what we just went through and what we could do as a program to rebound from that and take the lessons we learned and the buttkickings we took at times,” Albrecht said. “It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t grow from it.”

Senior Trenton Darden (RB), senior Julian Johnson (QB), junior Antoine Bailey (RB), and senior Brady Petrusha (OL) are expected to headline the offensive unit, while senior Daniel Vukaj (LB), senior Mark White (LB) and senior Justin Quin (DE/LB) lead the defense.

North Farmington
Last season’s record: 4-5.
League: Oakland Activities Association Blue.
First game: at Livonia Stevenson, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Hoping for its first playoff appearance since 2020, North Farmington’s veteran group is hungry to show the league what they have to offer. Junior Terrance James (WR), senior Leland Pettiway (OL), senior Micah Redic (OL) and senior Lorence Woodley (WR) are expected to lead the offense, while senior Brendon Rice (DL), a Rice University commit, headlines the defensive unit alongside senior Dominic Washington (LB), senior Trey Thomas (DB), senior Tranier Alexander (DB) and senior AJ Wilson (DT). North Farmington, which was projected to finish third in the OAA pre-season coaches poll, hopes its mix of speed and physicality has it competing for a league title towards the end of the season.

Novi
Last season’s record: 7-3.
League: Kensington Lakes Activities Association West Division.
First game: at Sterling Heights Stevenson, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

Tallying its highest win total since 2008 last season, Novi was an offensive juggernaut last season. Now only returning three starters on offense and five on defense may lead some to think Novi is vulnerable this year, and that’s just the way head coach Jim Sparks likes it.

“I kind of like it because on paper we only have three offensive returners and five on defense, but every one of those guys that are first-year starters have been in the program for four years,” Sparks said. “They know what they’re doing, but they just lack game experience. They’re ready to step in. I hope people underestimate us because of the fact that, on paper, we only have three starters on offense.”

Senior running back Logan Ellison will handle the bulk of the carries this year, while senior Sele Cox and senior Jaden Vondrasek lead the wide receiving core. Senior Johnny Aurilia, a standout baseball player for Novi, is the leader in the clubhouse to take over at quarterback where former Novi baseball standout, Caleb Walker, shined last season. Defensively, it’s senior Ethan Young, senior Christian Molnar, senior Christian Cobb and senior Cash Warren manning the trenches, with senior Mario Miminllari, junior Reece Pippin and junior Colin Edwards at the linebacker spots. Novi was one win away from clinching the league title before losing to Northville, so expect the Wildcats to use it as motivation in 2024.

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Last season’s record: 3-6.
League: Catholic High School League Central.
First game: vs. Portage Northern, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

A team that’s flying under the radar, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s is looking to announce its presence this year in the CHSL. Led by a trio of Michigan State University commits in Bryson Williams (ATH), Charles White (LB) and Jayden Savoury (TE), Orchard Lake St. Mary is quietly flying under the radar with an array of talent ready to leave it all on the field. Sophomore Jabin Gonzales will command the huddle with three-star recruit senior Antonio Johnson anchoring the offensive line group.

Walled Lake Central
Last season’s record: 3-6.
League: Lakes Valley Conference.
First game: vs. Berkley, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

With back-to-back 3-6 seasons, the three-straight winless years from 2019-2021 are a thing of the past for Walled Lake Central. Central opened up the season with a win before dropping five-straight, but rebounded with a 2-1 record to end the year.

Walled Lake Northern
Last season’s record: 1-8.
League: Lakes Valley Conference.
First game: vs. South Lyon, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

It’s been a pair of underwhelming seasons for Walled Lake Northern, but, hopefully, the tides turn in its favor in 2024. Northern returns an all-Region talent in senior linebacker Jackson Ferguson.

Walled Lake Western
Last season’s record: 10-2.
League: Lakes Valley Conference.
First game: Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

The playoff streak now stands at 14 for Walled Lake Western, and they even added a district championship to the fold last year. Returning an all-State talent in senior offensive lineman Liam Vaughn, a Western Michigan University commit, and an all-Region talent in senior linebacker Shane Rachner, Walled Lake Western should be a threat in the Lakes Valley Conference, which they’ve won the last two seasons.

West Bloomfield
Last season’s record: 10-3.
League: Oakland Activities Association Red Division.
First game: vs. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 7 p.m. Aug. 29.

A thrilling state semifinals matchup last year was fought between West Bloomfield and Southfield A&T, and being that close has the Lakers motivated for this season. Returning one of the best wide receiving duos in the state in seniors Elisha Durham and Kamren Flowers, a University of Toledo commit, West Bloomfield’s offense should pick up right where it left off. Senior running back Josh Tate is expected to handle the bulk of the carries, with senior defensive back Jaiden Allos, senior defensive back Jonathan Edison Jr. and senior defensive back Brody Pikur headlining the defensive unit. West Bloomfield head coach Zach Hilbers said he expects the offensive and defensive lines to be the Lakers’ strong suit this year, featuring University of Colorado commit Jay Gardenhire, who stands at 6 feet, 8 inches, 350 pounds; junior Travis Robertson (DL); senior Joshua Bryant (DL); junior Jeremiah Benson (OL/DL); junior Kamari Pittman (DL); senior Ashton McCoy (OL); and senior Dwayne Broome Jr. (OL).

“These guys don’t get the recognition they deserve,” Hilbers said.