Friday, August 21, 2009
Coaches in new football league disagree on scheduling
Tom Markowski and Beth Markowski / The Detroit News
Opinions differ on how to schedule the new 10-team Downriver League, but every coach agrees breaking up the Mega Conference to form this geographically-friendly league was the correct decision.
Bob Czarnecki is entering his 19th season as head coach at Trenton and said he's looking forward to competing against teams in his own backyard.
"It's something we should have done years ago," he said.
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Back to the schedule. League administrators decided every team would play a nine-game league schedule leaving no open dates for a non-league opponent. Allen Park coach Tom Hoover would prefer to play a non-league game but is satisfied with the decision.
Gibraltar Carlson's Kent Sikora would've liked two non-league games, perhaps the opener and a season-ending game.
The situation is different for each school, but for Allen Park, scheduling a game against a Dearborn school, a city that borders Allen Park, as a non-league opponent would, one, help prepare Allen Park for the state playoffs by playing a quality opponent (all three Dearborn schools qualified for the playoffs each of the past two seasons).
Ron Adams, the coach at Wyandotte Roosevelt, disagrees. He wants a definitive league champion, a champion decided on the field.
If the teams play an eight-game league schedule for instance it's possible two teams could tie for the title without facing each other.
Downriver League
(In the predicted order of finish as selected by the coaches)
1. Southgate Anderson First-year coach Derek McLaughlin was the offensive line coach last year and that unit will be headed by Dan Gear (OT) and Nick Byrd (G).
2. Wyandotte Roosevelt Roosevelt (10-2) lost to Southfield in a Division 2 regional final and it lost 26 seniors to graduation. But by mid-season Wyandotte will be as good as any in this league.
3. Melvindale Melvindale (4-5) has experience, with nine starters returning on both offense and defense. Coach Phil Howard said Wayne Pettus (CB/RB/SR), who has started since his freshman year, is explosive.
4. Allen Park For the first time since 1998 Allen Park (4-5) did not qualify for the playoffs and it returns just three starters on both sides. With no experienced quarterback returning, Allen Park could struggle offensively.
5. Gibraltar Carlson Gibraltar Carlson (6-4) lost to Inkster in the first round of the playoffs. Coach Kent Sikora said Anthony Lewis (RB/DB) is one of the top running backs in the league.
6. Woodhaven Woodhaven (6-4) made the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Its last playoff appearance before that was in 1991. Aaron Bailey (RB) rushed for 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns.
7. Taylor Truman Truman looks to improve on a 3-6 season as it returns its entire offense line plus tight end-linebacker Raphael Sanders. Jared Davis will move from LB to QB.
8. Trenton Trenton (7-4) lost to Inkster in the Division 2 playoffs and returns just three starters on offense and two on defense. "We'll be small and young," coach Bob Czarnecki said.
9. Taylor Kennedy Coach Chuck Hokey said his offensive linemen, including returning starters Joe Lozon (6-2, 225) and Mark Ziegler (6-3, 230), are big, experienced and intelligent.
10. Lincoln Park First-year coach Don McKenzie, who also is the wrestling coach, said his skill position players will be a strong point.
Coaches in new football league disagree on scheduling
Tom Markowski and Beth Markowski / The Detroit News
Opinions differ on how to schedule the new 10-team Downriver League, but every coach agrees breaking up the Mega Conference to form this geographically-friendly league was the correct decision.
Bob Czarnecki is entering his 19th season as head coach at Trenton and said he's looking forward to competing against teams in his own backyard.
"It's something we should have done years ago," he said.
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Back to the schedule. League administrators decided every team would play a nine-game league schedule leaving no open dates for a non-league opponent. Allen Park coach Tom Hoover would prefer to play a non-league game but is satisfied with the decision.
Gibraltar Carlson's Kent Sikora would've liked two non-league games, perhaps the opener and a season-ending game.
The situation is different for each school, but for Allen Park, scheduling a game against a Dearborn school, a city that borders Allen Park, as a non-league opponent would, one, help prepare Allen Park for the state playoffs by playing a quality opponent (all three Dearborn schools qualified for the playoffs each of the past two seasons).
Ron Adams, the coach at Wyandotte Roosevelt, disagrees. He wants a definitive league champion, a champion decided on the field.
If the teams play an eight-game league schedule for instance it's possible two teams could tie for the title without facing each other.
Downriver League
(In the predicted order of finish as selected by the coaches)
1. Southgate Anderson First-year coach Derek McLaughlin was the offensive line coach last year and that unit will be headed by Dan Gear (OT) and Nick Byrd (G).
2. Wyandotte Roosevelt Roosevelt (10-2) lost to Southfield in a Division 2 regional final and it lost 26 seniors to graduation. But by mid-season Wyandotte will be as good as any in this league.
3. Melvindale Melvindale (4-5) has experience, with nine starters returning on both offense and defense. Coach Phil Howard said Wayne Pettus (CB/RB/SR), who has started since his freshman year, is explosive.
4. Allen Park For the first time since 1998 Allen Park (4-5) did not qualify for the playoffs and it returns just three starters on both sides. With no experienced quarterback returning, Allen Park could struggle offensively.
5. Gibraltar Carlson Gibraltar Carlson (6-4) lost to Inkster in the first round of the playoffs. Coach Kent Sikora said Anthony Lewis (RB/DB) is one of the top running backs in the league.
6. Woodhaven Woodhaven (6-4) made the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Its last playoff appearance before that was in 1991. Aaron Bailey (RB) rushed for 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns.
7. Taylor Truman Truman looks to improve on a 3-6 season as it returns its entire offense line plus tight end-linebacker Raphael Sanders. Jared Davis will move from LB to QB.
8. Trenton Trenton (7-4) lost to Inkster in the Division 2 playoffs and returns just three starters on offense and two on defense. "We'll be small and young," coach Bob Czarnecki said.
9. Taylor Kennedy Coach Chuck Hokey said his offensive linemen, including returning starters Joe Lozon (6-2, 225) and Mark Ziegler (6-3, 230), are big, experienced and intelligent.
10. Lincoln Park First-year coach Don McKenzie, who also is the wrestling coach, said his skill position players will be a strong point.
