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This is the first year of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association, a merger of the former Western Lakes Activities Association and Kensington Valley Conference, with Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott also joining from the Oakland Activities Association.
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(All players are seniors unless noted)
NORTH
Coaches poll: 1. Walled Lake Western 34; 2. White Lake Lakeland 32; 3. Walled Lake Central 21; 4. Waterford Mott 20; 5. Waterford Kettering 11; 6. Walled Lake Northern 8.
Walled Lake Western
2007 record: 7-3, 5-0
Strength: Offensive experience
Top players: TE/LB Edison Vushaj, junior QB Sam Welch, slot/DB Gilvanni Johnson, OL Roji Alexander.
Outlook: A team that will execute well in all aspects of the game. The offense boasts eight returning starters.
Lakeland
2007 record: 8-3, 5-2
Strength: Team quickness
Top players: QB/DB Blake Heiman, OG/DE Lee Lopez, SE/DB Clint Penokie, FB/LB Max Hill, OG/LB Josh Mulligan.
Outlook: Lakeland, which is set at offensive skill positions, is hoping last season's playoff run will mean a longer postseason stay this season.
Walled Lake Central
2007 record: 2-7, 2-3
Strength: Team speed
Top players: LB Ryan Daul, RB Ryan Gregory, OL Kyle Sisler, DB John Lovelace, QB Cory Davis, K Brad Lyons.
Outlook: Central expects athletes to play with a lot of emotion and fly on the field.
Waterford Mott
2007 record: 7-3, 7-1
Strength: Team speed
Top players: RB/CB Marc Pressley, QB Tyler Bush, WR/OLB Tony Romero, LB Kyle Pearson, OG/DT Kyle Kittel.
Outlook: Mott returns eight starters on offense and six on defense, but much isn't expected. Mott hopes to prove folks wrong.
Waterford Kettering
2007 record: 4-5, 4-4
Strengths: Size and experience
Top players: QB Kevin Truitt, junior OL Tyler Bedgood, RB Chris Smith, DE Tyler Wade, junior LB Josh Blowers.
Outlook: With experience and size on offense, Kettering looks to be a threat this season.
Walled Lake Northern
2007 record: 0-9, 0-5
Strengths: Work ethic and attitude
Top players: WR Garrett Harper, WR Aaron Kapelech, DE Joe Haas, DB Bo Brown, junior QB Jason Tucker, junior Adam Chuchla, RB Terrell Goode.
Outlook: With a new offense and defense the team will grow throughout the year.
SOUTH
Coaches poll: 1. Canton 30; 2. Livonia Franklin 26; 3. Livonia Churchill 23; 4. Plymouth 20; 5. Westland Glenn; 6. Wayne Memorial 10.
Canton
2007 record: 5-4, 3-2
Strength: Improved defense
Top players: RB Kiere Daniels, OT/LB Justin Sneddon, DB/RB Nick Sweda, OLB/TE Dakota Dark-Bird, TE Todd Turf, DB David Wilcox.
Outlook: Chiefs will be a quicker team with more depth at the skill positions.
Livonia Franklin
2007 record: 7-5, 4-2
Strength: Hard work
Top players: FB/LB David Fortin, DB Mark McRobb, DE Brandon Lane, DB Connor Leidal, junior OL Nate Coleman, junior RB Mike Baumgardner, junior RB Mike Gadsby, junior DL Shawn McAullife.
Outlook: Franklin has an inexperienced team. Early success will be a key for this group.
Livonia Churchill
2007 record: 7-3, 4-1
Strength: Experience
Top players: RB Matt Kowalis, RB Jeff Ricketts, QB/FS Grant Morgan, TE/LB Devin Moynihan, DL Brandon Dare.
Outlook: Churchill, which returns a strong senior class of 33 players, expects to compete for the division title and make the state playoffs.
Plymouth
2007 record: 6-4, 2-3
Strength: Speed
Top players: TE/LB Ronnie Gobel, RB Terrance Guthridge, QB Matt Skubik, WR Connor McKinney, WR Zach Hamed, LB Connor Martin, FS Mike Rose, junior DT Darrell Cohn.
Outlook: If young players step up, Plymouth can be better than last season's state playoffs entry. The Wildcats are fast.
Westland Glenn
2007 record: 5-4, 3-2
Strength: Team speed
Top players: OT/DT Jake Morris, WR/DB Kyren Boyd, QB/DB Josh Reed, QB/DB Jerome Scales, RB/DB Dazz Bragg, RB/LB Jordan Phillips, RB/LB Sheldon Hankins, OT/DE Jay Bloomer, TE/DE Steve Smith.
Outlook: Tough, blue-collar group trying to surprise conference foes.
Wayne
2007 record: 4-5, 2-3
Strength: Linebackers
Top players: RB/LB Richard Haley, WR/DB C.J. Johnson, OL Eric Story, OL/DL Ramsey Hart, QB Nick Kostora, K Jesse Dorow, LB Alex Bledsoe.
Outlook: Memorial has a young team. The team has installed a new offense that it has been working at summer camps to be ready for the season.
CENTRAL
Coaches poll: 1. Novi 34; 2. Livonia Stevenson 31; 3. South Lyon 25; 4. Northville 16; Salem 13; 6. South Lyon East 7.
Novi
2007 record: 9-2, 6-1
Strength: Team unity
Top players: ILB/OG Jack Petroskey, WR/DB Jarett Green, WR Brandon Bradford, LB/RB Paul Favorite, OL Sam Valkanos, QB Chris Bellamy, DB Brandon Bryant.
Outlook: Novi plans to win the division and is looking to go undefeated.
Livonia Stevenson
2007 record: 13-1, 5-0, lost in Division 1 state final
Strength: Experience in offensive and defensive backfields
Top players: RB Wade Stahl, DB Wyatt Stahl, junior RB Austin White.
Outlook: Tough to follow a trip to Ford Field, but White is one of the top players in the area so Stevenson will be tough.
South Lyon
2007 record: 6-4, 5-3
Strength: Speed
Top players: RB/DB Anthony Baskin, FB/LB Jake Geise, OT/DE Eric Wedesky, QB Justin Butler, OT Ken Osborne.
Outlook: Not a lot of experience, but the team hopes to learn quickly.
Northville
2007 record: 1-8, 0-5
Strength: Defense.
Top players: TE/OLB Ryan Gerblick, WR/DB Kris Baumgardner, QB Matt Kreager, FB/LB Pat Keady, junior FB/LB Jake Weddle, DE Adam Fuhrman.
Outlook: You can expect Northville to play with pride, passion, and desire. The Mustangs are confident that their players will give their best effort each week.
Plymouth Salem
2007 record: 1-8, 0-6
Strengths: Leadership and offensive line
Top players: QB Heath Parling, RB Anthony Mullins, WR Brian Hattie, DL Andrew Grabowski.
Outlook: The Rocks expect to be better than last year. Parling will be starting QB for third year.
WEST
Coaches poll: Hartland 16, Howell 15.5, Milford 12, Brighton 11.5, Pinckney 5.
Hartland
2007 record: 3-6, 2-5
Strength: Athleticism
Top players: QB Chris Cagle, TE/DE John Stevens, DB/WR Travvon Jones, OL/DL Josh Theis, OL/LB Ryan Simancek.
Outlook: Team experience should translate into wins.
Howell
2007 record: 8-2, 6-1
Strength: Running backs
Top players: RB/DB Robin Witjes, TE/LB Mike Wendel, TE/OLB Hunter Roberston, junior RB/LB Bryce Lindberg.
Outlook: Howell will have to replace much of its offensive and defensive lines, but expects good things from senior Rock Williams and junior Joey Holton to lead those positions. The Highlanders hope to have three solid backs in returners Witjes, Lindberg and Tom Bovee.
Milford
2007 record: 4-5, 2-5
Strengths: Offensive line and running backs.
Top players: RB/DB Kyle Podvin, WR/TE Carter Fox, OL/DL David Owens, OL/DL Jake Thompson, OL/DL Grant Vandenbussche.
Outlook: Milford has a good mix of returning seniors who will look to rebound from a disappointing season.
Brighton
2007 record: 3-6, 3-4
Strength: Potential to have great line play
Top players: DL Ryan Paxson, WR/DB A.J. Dokey, DB Mike Wiley, DB Lawrence Moss, WR Kevin Norman, Jr. DB Ryan Johnston, RB/DB Alex Vitkuske, OL/LB Lucas Hartman, TE Bennett Estey.
Outlook: Brighton expects to put forth a winning season and fight for a league championship and a playoff berth.
Pinckney
2007 record: 1-8, 0-7
Strength: Offensive line
Top players: OLB/QB Derek Kroeger, ILB/FB Brett Geiermann, DE Jacob Adams, DT/OT Adam Waltersdorf, FS Patrick Moore.
Outlook: Pinckney will have a new defensive look this year and will feature a more ball-control oriented offense.
By Vince Ellis, Free Press sports writer
This is the first year of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association, a merger of the former Western Lakes Activities Association and Kensington Valley Conference, with Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott also joining from the Oakland Activities Association.
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(All players are seniors unless noted)
NORTH
Coaches poll: 1. Walled Lake Western 34; 2. White Lake Lakeland 32; 3. Walled Lake Central 21; 4. Waterford Mott 20; 5. Waterford Kettering 11; 6. Walled Lake Northern 8.
Walled Lake Western
2007 record: 7-3, 5-0
Strength: Offensive experience
Top players: TE/LB Edison Vushaj, junior QB Sam Welch, slot/DB Gilvanni Johnson, OL Roji Alexander.
Outlook: A team that will execute well in all aspects of the game. The offense boasts eight returning starters.
Lakeland
2007 record: 8-3, 5-2
Strength: Team quickness
Top players: QB/DB Blake Heiman, OG/DE Lee Lopez, SE/DB Clint Penokie, FB/LB Max Hill, OG/LB Josh Mulligan.
Outlook: Lakeland, which is set at offensive skill positions, is hoping last season's playoff run will mean a longer postseason stay this season.
Walled Lake Central
2007 record: 2-7, 2-3
Strength: Team speed
Top players: LB Ryan Daul, RB Ryan Gregory, OL Kyle Sisler, DB John Lovelace, QB Cory Davis, K Brad Lyons.
Outlook: Central expects athletes to play with a lot of emotion and fly on the field.
Waterford Mott
2007 record: 7-3, 7-1
Strength: Team speed
Top players: RB/CB Marc Pressley, QB Tyler Bush, WR/OLB Tony Romero, LB Kyle Pearson, OG/DT Kyle Kittel.
Outlook: Mott returns eight starters on offense and six on defense, but much isn't expected. Mott hopes to prove folks wrong.
Waterford Kettering
2007 record: 4-5, 4-4
Strengths: Size and experience
Top players: QB Kevin Truitt, junior OL Tyler Bedgood, RB Chris Smith, DE Tyler Wade, junior LB Josh Blowers.
Outlook: With experience and size on offense, Kettering looks to be a threat this season.
Walled Lake Northern
2007 record: 0-9, 0-5
Strengths: Work ethic and attitude
Top players: WR Garrett Harper, WR Aaron Kapelech, DE Joe Haas, DB Bo Brown, junior QB Jason Tucker, junior Adam Chuchla, RB Terrell Goode.
Outlook: With a new offense and defense the team will grow throughout the year.
SOUTH
Coaches poll: 1. Canton 30; 2. Livonia Franklin 26; 3. Livonia Churchill 23; 4. Plymouth 20; 5. Westland Glenn; 6. Wayne Memorial 10.
Canton
2007 record: 5-4, 3-2
Strength: Improved defense
Top players: RB Kiere Daniels, OT/LB Justin Sneddon, DB/RB Nick Sweda, OLB/TE Dakota Dark-Bird, TE Todd Turf, DB David Wilcox.
Outlook: Chiefs will be a quicker team with more depth at the skill positions.
Livonia Franklin
2007 record: 7-5, 4-2
Strength: Hard work
Top players: FB/LB David Fortin, DB Mark McRobb, DE Brandon Lane, DB Connor Leidal, junior OL Nate Coleman, junior RB Mike Baumgardner, junior RB Mike Gadsby, junior DL Shawn McAullife.
Outlook: Franklin has an inexperienced team. Early success will be a key for this group.
Livonia Churchill
2007 record: 7-3, 4-1
Strength: Experience
Top players: RB Matt Kowalis, RB Jeff Ricketts, QB/FS Grant Morgan, TE/LB Devin Moynihan, DL Brandon Dare.
Outlook: Churchill, which returns a strong senior class of 33 players, expects to compete for the division title and make the state playoffs.
Plymouth
2007 record: 6-4, 2-3
Strength: Speed
Top players: TE/LB Ronnie Gobel, RB Terrance Guthridge, QB Matt Skubik, WR Connor McKinney, WR Zach Hamed, LB Connor Martin, FS Mike Rose, junior DT Darrell Cohn.
Outlook: If young players step up, Plymouth can be better than last season's state playoffs entry. The Wildcats are fast.
Westland Glenn
2007 record: 5-4, 3-2
Strength: Team speed
Top players: OT/DT Jake Morris, WR/DB Kyren Boyd, QB/DB Josh Reed, QB/DB Jerome Scales, RB/DB Dazz Bragg, RB/LB Jordan Phillips, RB/LB Sheldon Hankins, OT/DE Jay Bloomer, TE/DE Steve Smith.
Outlook: Tough, blue-collar group trying to surprise conference foes.
Wayne
2007 record: 4-5, 2-3
Strength: Linebackers
Top players: RB/LB Richard Haley, WR/DB C.J. Johnson, OL Eric Story, OL/DL Ramsey Hart, QB Nick Kostora, K Jesse Dorow, LB Alex Bledsoe.
Outlook: Memorial has a young team. The team has installed a new offense that it has been working at summer camps to be ready for the season.
CENTRAL
Coaches poll: 1. Novi 34; 2. Livonia Stevenson 31; 3. South Lyon 25; 4. Northville 16; Salem 13; 6. South Lyon East 7.
Novi
2007 record: 9-2, 6-1
Strength: Team unity
Top players: ILB/OG Jack Petroskey, WR/DB Jarett Green, WR Brandon Bradford, LB/RB Paul Favorite, OL Sam Valkanos, QB Chris Bellamy, DB Brandon Bryant.
Outlook: Novi plans to win the division and is looking to go undefeated.
Livonia Stevenson
2007 record: 13-1, 5-0, lost in Division 1 state final
Strength: Experience in offensive and defensive backfields
Top players: RB Wade Stahl, DB Wyatt Stahl, junior RB Austin White.
Outlook: Tough to follow a trip to Ford Field, but White is one of the top players in the area so Stevenson will be tough.
South Lyon
2007 record: 6-4, 5-3
Strength: Speed
Top players: RB/DB Anthony Baskin, FB/LB Jake Geise, OT/DE Eric Wedesky, QB Justin Butler, OT Ken Osborne.
Outlook: Not a lot of experience, but the team hopes to learn quickly.
Northville
2007 record: 1-8, 0-5
Strength: Defense.
Top players: TE/OLB Ryan Gerblick, WR/DB Kris Baumgardner, QB Matt Kreager, FB/LB Pat Keady, junior FB/LB Jake Weddle, DE Adam Fuhrman.
Outlook: You can expect Northville to play with pride, passion, and desire. The Mustangs are confident that their players will give their best effort each week.
Plymouth Salem
2007 record: 1-8, 0-6
Strengths: Leadership and offensive line
Top players: QB Heath Parling, RB Anthony Mullins, WR Brian Hattie, DL Andrew Grabowski.
Outlook: The Rocks expect to be better than last year. Parling will be starting QB for third year.
WEST
Coaches poll: Hartland 16, Howell 15.5, Milford 12, Brighton 11.5, Pinckney 5.
Hartland
2007 record: 3-6, 2-5
Strength: Athleticism
Top players: QB Chris Cagle, TE/DE John Stevens, DB/WR Travvon Jones, OL/DL Josh Theis, OL/LB Ryan Simancek.
Outlook: Team experience should translate into wins.
Howell
2007 record: 8-2, 6-1
Strength: Running backs
Top players: RB/DB Robin Witjes, TE/LB Mike Wendel, TE/OLB Hunter Roberston, junior RB/LB Bryce Lindberg.
Outlook: Howell will have to replace much of its offensive and defensive lines, but expects good things from senior Rock Williams and junior Joey Holton to lead those positions. The Highlanders hope to have three solid backs in returners Witjes, Lindberg and Tom Bovee.
Milford
2007 record: 4-5, 2-5
Strengths: Offensive line and running backs.
Top players: RB/DB Kyle Podvin, WR/TE Carter Fox, OL/DL David Owens, OL/DL Jake Thompson, OL/DL Grant Vandenbussche.
Outlook: Milford has a good mix of returning seniors who will look to rebound from a disappointing season.
Brighton
2007 record: 3-6, 3-4
Strength: Potential to have great line play
Top players: DL Ryan Paxson, WR/DB A.J. Dokey, DB Mike Wiley, DB Lawrence Moss, WR Kevin Norman, Jr. DB Ryan Johnston, RB/DB Alex Vitkuske, OL/LB Lucas Hartman, TE Bennett Estey.
Outlook: Brighton expects to put forth a winning season and fight for a league championship and a playoff berth.
Pinckney
2007 record: 1-8, 0-7
Strength: Offensive line
Top players: OLB/QB Derek Kroeger, ILB/FB Brett Geiermann, DE Jacob Adams, DT/OT Adam Waltersdorf, FS Patrick Moore.
Outlook: Pinckney will have a new defensive look this year and will feature a more ball-control oriented offense.
By Vince Ellis, Free Press sports writer
