Football preview 2022: Corunna, Carson City-Crystal aim to build off district titles
The Corunna and Carson City-Crystal football teams each had strong playoff runs last fall.
Corunna won its first district championship since 2016, while Carson City-Crystal captured a second straight district crown. The Cavaliers and Eagles will try to add to their success this fall, while Ithaca and Ovid-Elsie are chasing returns to the postseason as well.
Here's a look at the area programs competing in the TVC, Flint Metro League, MMAC and as independents.
ALMA
∎ Last season: 5-4, 3-4 TVC Central
∎ Playoff division: 5
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – Shepherd
Sept. 1 – at Freeland
Sept. 9 – Bay City John Glenn
Sept. 16 – at Birch Run
Sept. 23 – Saginaw Swan Valley
Sept. 30 – at Essexville Garber
Oct. 7 – at Frankenmuth
Oct. 14 – Bridgeport
Oct. 21 – Big Rapids
No information submitted
CARSON CITY-CRYSTAL
∎ Last season: 10-2, 2-1 MSAC
∎ Coach: Tim Swore (3rd year)
∎ Playoff division: 8
SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 - at Fowler
Sept. 1 - Morley Stanwood
Sept. 9 - Riverview Gabriel Richard
Sept. 16 - at Sterling Heights Parkway Christian
Sept. 23 - St. Charles
Sept. 30 - at Johannesburg-Lewiston
Oct. 8 - Leslie
Oct. 14 - at Muskegon Heights Academy
Oct. 21 - at Byron
∎ Top returners: Mason Smith (QB), Logan Hopkins ( C), Chris Avery (OL/DL), Michael Husted (OT/LB), Cade Bolen (RB)
∎ Other contributors: Grayson Ackels (WR), Gavin Reeder (WR), Jace Staff (OT/LB), Landon VanderBlucht (RB)
∎ Outlook: The Eagles are coming off a season that featured the program's second consecutive district championship and its highest win total since 2013. Carson City-Crystal, which opens the season ranked in Division 8 in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association's preseason poll, will play as an independent season after being part of the MSAC in recent seasons. The Eagles have five starters returning on offense and defense with Smith being one of the biggest keys. Smith threw for 1,649 yards and 24 scores during last year's strong run. Swore believes the trenches will be a strength for Carson City-Crystal, which has good size on its offensive and defensive lines. The Eagles hope to add to what's been one of the best stretches in program history.
CORUNNA
∎ Last season: 7-5, 3-2 Flint Metro Stars
∎ Coach: Steve Herrick (6th season)
∎ Playoff division: 5
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – Fowlerville, 6 p.m.
Sept. 1 – Pinckney
Sept. 9 – Owosso
Sept. 16 – Lake Fenton
Sept. 23 – at Goodrich
Sept. 30 – at Clio
Oct. 7 – Ortonville Brandon
Oct. 14 – (Flint Metro crossover)
Oct. 21 – at Ovid-Elsie
∎ Top returners: Collin Thompson (LB), Xavier Anderson (LB/RB), Jaden Edington (LB/RB), Tarick Bower (WR/Slot), Wyatt Bower (QB/DB), Jake Nichols (OL/DL), Nolan Carmody (DL), Peyton Termeer (WR/DB), Kai Heck (OL/DE)
∎ Other contributors: Austin Oginsky (OL/DL), Parker Isham (DB/RB), AJ Brieger (TE/DE), Alan Mrva (OL/LB)
∎ Outlook: The Cavaliers captured their first district title since 2016 during Herrick's first season back as head coach after previously leading the program from 2000 to 2004. Corunna gained valuable experience during its postseason run last year but will have a young team. Herrick believes several players on the Cavalier roster have the ability to become very good players and contribute to another strong season. Athleticism and depth on the line of scrimmage are strengths for Corunna.
ITHACA
∎ Last season: 6-4, 4-0 TVC 10-2
∎ Coach: Jordan Hessbrook (2nd season)
∎ Playoff division: 7
SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 – Homer
Sept. 1 – Standish-Sterling
Sept. 9 – Saginaw Nouvel
Sept. 16 – at St. Louis
Sept. 23 – Hemlock
Sept. 30 – at Saginaw Valley Lutheran
Oct. 7 – Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
Oct. 14 – at Carrollton
Oct. 21- at Shepherd
∎ Top returners: Bronson Bupp (QB/S), Noah Risner (RB/LB), Ethan Hull (WR/S), Charlie Martyn (WR/DB), Kaleb Peska (OL/LB), Jeffrey Lombard (OL/DL), Broden Peska (OL/DL), Mason VanCamp (OL/DL), Brandon Pass (OL/DL), Trenton Polash (DL/WR)
∎ Other contributors: Joe Dawe (WR/DB), Kaleb Hallock (WR/LB)
∎ Outlook: The Yellowjackets have had 16 straight winning seasons and have high expectations again with a large amount of experience returning. Ithaca has nine starters back on offense and eight returning on defense from last year's squad that overcame an 0-2 to start to find success. Hessbrook is excited for the Yellowjackets build off the improvements they made last season. Bupp rushed and threw for 1,000 yards last season and is among the key returners.
OVID-ELSIE
∎ Last season: 6-4, 6-1 MMAC
∎ Coach: Travis Long (13th season)
∎ Playoff division: 6
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – at Portland
Sept. 1 – at Byron
Sept. 9 – Durand
Sept. 16 – at Montrose
Sept. 30 – Chesaning
Oct. 7 – at New Lothrop
Oct. 14 – Mt. Morris
Oct. 21 – Corunna
∎ Top returners: Clay Wittenberg (TE/LB), Kevin Ley (OL/DL), Logan Thompson (RB/DB), Axel Newell (QB), Perrien Rasch (RB), Beau Price, Justin Cole (TE/DE), Kole Middleton (OL), Hayden Pontack (DL), Landon Stoneman (LB), Anthony Vanderlip, Colin Veith, Gage Kvalevog
∎ Other contributors: Hunter Bates, Caven Brooks, Cohen Brown, Jamison Custer, Austin Darling, Jaksen Jones, Carter Kelley, Breckin Kirby, Brayden Leland, Alex Lopez, Kamryn Middleton, Brayden Miller, Cavan Mortinsen, Isaac Orta, Brady Risinger, Drake Ritter, Braxton Stenger, Dawson Taylor, Orion Thomlison, Tryce Tokar, Kevin Torrey, Cohen Tyler, Cole Workman, Joe Bancroft, Jacob Bowen
∎ Outlook: Ley and Thompson are fourth-year starters and have earned all-league accolades, while Wittenberg is a third-year starter for the Marauders, who are coming off their first winning season since 2018. Ovid-Elsie has starters back on offense and five on defense, which expects to be tested by a tough schedule and will learn on senior leadership. Running the ball and playing strong defense are priorities for Ovid-Elsie as its aims to contend in the MMAC.
OWOSSO
∎ Last season: 3-6, 1-4 Flint Metro Stars
∎ Coach: Ron Tyner (1st season)
∎ Playoff division: 3
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – at Wyoming Kelloggsville
Sept. 1 – Charlotte
Sept. 9 – at Corunna
Sept. 16 – at Goodrich
Sept. 23 – Brandon
Sept. 30 – at Lake Fenton
Oct. 7 – Clio
Oct. 14 – (Flint Metro League crossover)
Oct. 21 – Adrian
∎ Top returners: Hugh Doyle (QB), Alex Krawczyk (OL/DL), Isaac Williams (DL), Taylor Lange (TE/LB), Hoyt Patrick (RB/LB)
∎ Other contributors: Paul Musson (OL/DL), Daniel Wittum (WR/LB), Tegan Passinault (TE/LB), Santi Aguirre (WR/DB), Weston Yoho (WR/DB), Cayden Shivley (DL)
∎ Outlook: Tyner brings college coaching experience with him as he takes over the Trojan program that had its highest win total since 2012 last fall. He said players have bought into the new culture he's trying to establish. Owosso is focused on playing hard-nosed and physical football. A talented defensive line will be key, while Doyle has got a grasp on a new offensive scheme. Winning the touchdown and turnover battle are keys if the Trojans want to improve their win total again.
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Ithaca, Corunna, Ovid-Elsie, Carson City-Crystal seek playoff returns
