First Game Started: I have played two seasons on the Varsity Squad with the Canton Chiefs starting all games, including play-offs.

Position(s): OL/LS 

#1 Most Memorable Game: All the games that I played the last two seasons have been memorable to me. There were highs and lows that I will take with me beyond high school. However, if I had to pick one game, then I would say this year’s team victory over Plymouth in Pre-Districts, which was an amazing team win. It took the entire team’s effort to win the day!

Pregame Traditions: Nothing much, except to take a nap before the game.

Post-game Traditions: Hanging-out with my teammates after our wins or losses.

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around: Michael Oher. He is an exceptional player. He has a great finisher attitude, like I do.

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Since the playoffs have ended with Canton what have you been up to, to prepare for the upcoming 2012 season?

Cameron Dillard - “Training with Mike Barwis and his staff (5) days a week to become more athletic and explosive player for my senior season.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What are some key dates coming during the winter, spring, and summer?

Cameron Dillard - “Junior days are going to some key dates this winter as well as some Senior Camps at various colleges this spring and summer.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - You are already at 16 offers, what does that mean to you?

Cameron Dillard - “I feel blessed about all the schools that have the faith in me to extend verbal offers to their programs.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Of those 16 offers which ones stand out to you and why? And which one’s are you expecting / looking forward to in the future?

Cameron Dillard - “All the programs that have extended offers stand out to me. Over the next few months, I am going to sit down with my parents to weigh the advantages of each program and how I could possibly fit in their system. As far as the future, I can only control what I can control.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - A few weeks ago you visited Clemson. How that visit and what was were some interesting things you noticed while visiting Clemson?

Cameron Dillard - “The Clemson visit was very enjoyable considering it was 60 degrees when I was there compared to 28 degrees when I got back to Michigan. Clemson is making huge strides to improve their facilities including their dining hall as well as building an indoor practice field.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How is the Canton team’s outlook on the upcoming season as of now? 

Cameron Dillard - “We are going to fast on offense once again. As far as defense, we are going to be bigger and smarter compared to the prior year.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What must you and the rest of the offensive line do to ensure the offense is successful in 2012?

Cameron Dillard - “Execute…Execute..Execute! We must finish our blocks with intensity and desire to win the day.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Are there any games on the schedule that you guys are all really fired up about?

Cameron Dillard - “All of our games are going to be competitive and equally matched. However, if I had to suggest a couple of games, I would say the opener against Midland Chemics as well as the Plymouth game.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What are keys to success for 2012 and some other players on the team to keep an eye on?

Cameron Dillard - “It is going to be important that every member of the team trusts each other to get their assignments done on each and every play. Also, we need to make sure we play non-stop for 48 minutes. Every member on the team is going to be critical to our success, but if I had to name a few players, I would say Kenny Scott, Matt McKoy, Mike Ditzler, and Daniel DeRoso.”

First Game Started: The first game I’ve ever started on varsity was against Warren Mott high school, I started both ways.

Position(s): I play Running back and Linebacker.

#1 Most Memorable Game: My number one most memorable game was the game against Romeo in the first round of the playoffs and this game went into 5 overtimes! Even though I couldn’t play because I tore my ACL two games before, I stood on the sidelines and was just rooting my team on as much as I could!

Pregame Traditions: Our team has a pregame tradition we do our chants and I’m the hype man so I get the team ready and fired up and that’s a tradition I’ve had as long as I played ball!

Postgame Traditions: Some postgame traditions is, my team and I go out for a celebration dinner or it’s the occasional icing my legs.

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around: I look up to Ray Lewis as a role model for my linebacker position and to play like him and go all out every play but on the other side of the ball I’d look to be more like Reggie Bush I even got the number 25 because if him and my nickname is either little Reggie Boobie Miles or Incredible Hulk on the field!

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Even though you were unable to play in the playoff game against Romeo which went in five overtimes. How much pressure was there on your teammates during each timeout and end of each overtime?

Lonnie Jaynes - “There was a ton of pressure on everyone in this game because it was really all or nothing. We figured if we came all the way this far why stop here? Let’s go all out! But we unfortunately didn’t get the job done.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Even though Troy Athens was unable to pull out the win. It was the first time the Red Hawks had 7 wins in the regular season since 1992. What can you take away from that major accomplishment?

Lonnie Jaynes - “What set our team apart from the other teams in the past was the chemistry our team established during off season and summer workouts, we were a bunch of brothers going out every Friday night fighting for one another and getting the job done week after week. We really lived by our motto this year which was “I’ve got your back” and I truly believe my teammates and I had each others back throughout the season! But I can’t take any credit away from our incredible coaching staff that prepared us every week to go out and do what we did best.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Was that due to strong leadership from captains? If so how do you guys continue that chemistry in 2012 and beyond?

Lonnie Jaynes - “Yes I believe so the strong leadership from our captains and coaches lead to very successful Red Hawk season and I believe that in order for us to continue what was started by our seniors and carry it on for years to come is to build chemistry right from the start and build a mindset that no one can stop us and I truely believe that we will be the only ones that is able to stop us.” 

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - This past season you had a lot of carries despite two phenomenal Senior runningbacks in Lonnie Bolden and Kris Gervin. How do you prepare for the more expanded role for your Senior season?

Lonnie Jaynes - “I prepare to have a good offseason, work hard, and when season rolls around just put on a show!”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Have you been committed to an offseason plan yet or has the injury kept you from getting to work yet?

Lonnie Jaynes - “Its been difficult to stick to a plan cause I’m not able to do everything I’m wanting or needing to do but I’m doing everything I can to prepare me and get me in the best shape for next season.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Besides conditioning and work out’s are there any camps or anything you plan on attending leading up to the season?

Lonnie Jaynes - “Last summer I went to camps combines and workouts to get exposure and more skill.  I plan on doing the same this offseason.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - On defense you had 47 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. The 47 tackles was third most on the team. What do you take away from your performance during 2011?

Lonnie Jaynes - “It was a fairly decent performance because we had some absolute freak athletes on the team and being in the top three highest tacklers on the team is a very acceptable accomplishment.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Looking ahead to the 2012 season what are some big games you expect to be on the schedule and why?

Lonnie Jaynes - “Two big games I’m looking forward to next year is against Clarkston and Lake Orion. We fell just short of beating these teams last year and if we get a chance next year I believe we could very well come out with two hard fought victories!”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What will be keys to winning the OAA Red title in 2012 and who are some other Red Hawks to keep an eye out for?

Lonnie Jaynes - “A warrior mentality and a strong bond with the players on your team and above all, just the love of the game/ passion! Some players to look out for next year is our returning leading rusher Sammy Haskell, our WR/RB Joe Shields and our Right Tackle Jalen Thomas! These kids are always threats on the field and all I have to say is I’m glad there on my team and not my opponents.”

Michael Bouchard of Brother Rice could not of dreamed of a better final high school football game to play in.  Not only was playing in his final game the best game his team played but the Warriors were also able to completely shut down, west side power, Lowell in the State Championship game.  Brother Rice was the first and only team all season long to stop Lowell’s quarterback Gabe Dean.  A big part of that was due to the Senior linebacker, Michael Bouchard who finished with 3 sacks, an interception, and 7 tackles during that Lowell game.  Bouchard was able to share his thoughts about the future of the program and reflect upon the past memories of the 2011 season.

First Game Started: The first game I started was last year against Detroit King.  It was the first game of the season and they came back down from 17 and beat us. That stung as a first game as a starter on varsity.

Position(s): The past 3 years I’ve played Safety, Linebacker, Defensive End, And Defensive Tackle. The one I played the most was linebacker though. It would change depending on who we were playing. 

#1 Most Memorable Game: At Rice we’ve played in some crazy games. Last year we beat CC at Wayne State. And then a few games later we beat Saint Mary’s on a goal line stand at Ford Field. And this year beating Harrison after last years game was unreal. The whole offseason I worked to get some revenge for my teammates from last year. And of course winning the State Championship was one of my best experiences ever.

Pregame Traditions: Before the game the whole team would go to mass, and then some of boys would go to Leo’s to get a little pre game meal. And then I’d go home and sleep.

Postgame Traditions: After the game, if we won we would do a battle field chant in the locker room, if we lost we’d probably just hit our lockers and be pissed. Then after we’d go to a friends house with some of the team.

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around: The player I try to be like definitely is Ray Lewis. This guy is a freakish athlete and is crazy. He plays with a mean attitude. But he’s also a very good leader. No matter if its a win or loss he’s all about the team, and never points the finger. And also no one will out work him. I mean this is a guy who makes everyone around him a better person and athlete.

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Even though the State Championship win was nearly 3 months ago, what does that title mean to you and is there a day that goes by where you don’t think of that win?

Michael Bouchard - “Well its something no one can ever take from us. Last years loss to Harrison really hurt us. We loved those seniors and we believed in that team. But after the loss we started working non-stop to be the best team we could be. And then this season going 5-4 a lot of people thought we wouldn’t make the playoffs and doubted us. But we believed in each other and how hard we had worked. And each play off game we got one step closer to our main goal which was to be State Champions. Its something I will think of everyday because it shows you that if you work hard enough and you believe in each other nothing can stop you. Our motto this year was anything is possible. And it really turned out to be true.” 

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Prior to the Chandler Park game when you were 4-4, how was the team feeling and is that when the leaders stepped up?

Michael Bouchard - “We were actually confident. We always believed in each other, and we also knew every game we lost we were in until the last few minutes. But once we got our kicking game on track, we had a feeling we could play with anybody. That was a big strength of our team, we had good leaders the whole year. We stuck together through the ups and downs. And by playoffs we weren’t just a team we were a family. And no one could beat us when we were that close.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - During that Lowell game it seemed like they could do nothing. Their star player, Gabe Dean was unable to consistently move the ball besides when the game was out of hand. What were the keys to shutting him down and how did you guys execute that plan?

Michael Bouchard - “The biggest advantage we had was our defensive coordinator. The guys a genius. He made us look a lot better then we are. Gabe Deans a great player and they have good coaches but our coaches simply put us in a better position to win. And it didn’t hurt that we all seemed to have our best game of the season. We also knew if we forced them out of the veer that we would be able to blitz a lot and disrupt their passing game. And that worked. We had like 7 sacks and 3 interceptions as a defense.” 

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Which were some of your favorite moments while on the varsity team?

Michael Bouchard - “Last years goal line stand to win the game was crazy, but when we stopped King and basically the game was over we realized we were actually going to be in the championship. That was unbelievable. But nothing can top winning it. Those final minutes of the championship game was awesome. But it was also sad that my career at Rice was over after that.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Do you have plans to continue playing football?

Michael Bouchard - “Yeah, I’m still talking to a number of D2 schools, Michigan State about potentially walking around, and currently I have 2 offers from William Penn and Siena Heights University.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What kind of an example do you think you set for the younger players at Brother Rice?

Michael Bouchard - “As a team we showed them that they needed to work together, and also to be in the weight room and training all through the off season. Personally I think I set an example of never quit, and do whatever the team needs. The teams bigger then you, so if every one takes that into account then the team will be successful. We have a lot of talent and leaders returning next year, I’m excited for them.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How do you see the future of Brother Rice football shaping up and who are the younger players to keep an eye out for?

Michael Bouchard - “It’s going to be exciting. Their team is stacked all around. And Coach Fracassa is coming back! But in the future theres other good coaches he has groomed for the job. It has a bright future and I’ll always be a Warrior at heart. Some players would be Jon Reschke, Marsh, Deshaun Brown, Brian Walker, Sergio Perkovic, Kevin Henry, Lucas Cherocci, Delimonte, Shaun Jones. Like I said they’re stacked.”

First Game Started: Memphis in 2011.

Position(s): RB/FB/LB/PR/KR

#1 Most Memorable Game: Yale, win in overtime (15-12) and best game of the season.

Pregame Traditions: Listen to music and don’t talk to any teammates until we are all together in locker room.

Postgame Traditions: Come home, discuss game, make extreme amounts of food, and go to sleep.

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around: Trent Richardson

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - This past year Armada won 5 games which is the most since 2004. How was the feeling having that winning season and what does the team take away from that accomplishment?

Ross Querro - “Everyone on the team was extremely proud, but we felt like we were so much more than that. Up until that point we had gone almost undefeated every year. Having only 4 seniors on the team wasn’t a good excuse, we want to work harder because we had that winning season and because we didnt quite get what we wanted.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - With 4 graduating players, it brings back a lot of experience but probably a lot of expectations, what are some early goals and objectives the team wants to accomplish in 2012?

Ross Querro - “Oh man, we want it all!  We are expecting to make it real deep into the playoffs. We aren’t getting ahead of ourselves though, us juniors have had a lot of experience from this past year and hopefully we can use that to our advantage. As far as early goals go, everyone is focusing on lifting and getting faster as of now.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Are there any offseason plans coming up for you individually and/or the team?

Ross Querro - “Well I know that the teammates doing power lifting right now are trying to meet their goals and be state qualified. Right now, I’m focusing on getting better at basketball, but at the same time doing drills and lifts on my own time to prepare for football. But once spring time rolls around, I plan on going to as many combines/camps as I can to get my name out there and show college coaches what I can do.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Have college coaches began showing interest in you, if so which ones?

Ross Querro - “To be honest, no not really. I have an NCSA profile where a few D3 and D2 colleges from the state, Indiana and Illinois have looked at it along with a few emails but nothing major just yet.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - This upcoming season you play Almont in week 2 which begins the Blue Water Conference and Week 8 you play Croswell Lexington which is the final Conference game. How important will it be this year to start off well and finish too?

Ross Querro - “Both of those games are extremely important, because those teams are always excellent, well executed teams that know how to play. But we are mostly focused on the first game of the season which is Flint Powers (according to my coach and athletic director). Being the division 5 champions this past year, we aren’t focused on anyone else besides them. But without a doubt, we want revenge on both teams!”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Which other games will be big during the season such as grudge match or a rivalry game?

Ross Querro - “Without a doubt, Richmond has and always will be Armada’s biggest rival. No matter the records either team has, we always seem to have it out and its a close game. But we treat every team in the BWAC as our rival, and they all seem to get that vibe about us as well.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What are some personal objectives you want to meet during the 2012 season?

Ross Querro - “I think 1,200 yards rushing, and near 100 tackles would be realistic. But what I am really aiming for is the All-State title. I would do anything for that title.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What are some keys to the teams success and some other player’s to keep an eye out on?

Ross Querro - “Our keys are team unity and just knowing everyone’s role and being able to rely on that. But on offense Zach Sand is a fantastic back, broke the school 100 meter dash record last year and has great vision. On defense my partner in the back with me is Bobby Malburg, the kid is just an all out maniac and will do literally anything to get to the football.”

The Frederick Douglass Hurricanes have just finished their most successful season since the school opened in 1997.  Frederick Douglass finished with a record of 9-2 with their first ever playoff win over Southwestern and winning the PSL Division 2 championship.  The Hurricanes had several key members on the team who will graduate in 2012 but next season, the Hurricanes return one of the best runningbacks in the state and the Midwest region.  The 5’9 and 195 pound runningback also has 3.5 GPA so you can safely speculate he will be playing big time college football next season.  Demetrius Stinson is one of the first player’s in the state I have been following since I began covering football during his Sophomore season in 2010.  Stinson was able to take some time on this hectic Super Bowl Sunday to talk about his future.

First Game Started: My Sophomore year, week 1 against Southwestern.

Position(s): RB/DB/P/KR

#1 Most Memorable Game: Game #2 against Denby my first 100 yard (rushing) game and first high school career touchdown.

Pregame Traditions: Listen to my iPod and watch videos of my most favorite players such as Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders, Jahvid Best and Peter Warrick.  Along as watching Friday Night Lights and The Program.

Postgame Traditions: After the game I just go home and pass out unless there is another high school game in the area.

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around: I’d have to say a mix between Deion and Barry Sanders.

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - The season for Frederick Douglass ended about 3 months ago, what have you been up to since that Grosse Ile loss?

Demetrius Stinson - “I have been in the weight room A LOT and doing speed and agility as well with my trainer.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What are some key moments coming up prior to start of the football season?

Demetrius Stinson - “A visit to Bowling Green and attending some camps such as Michigan State, Iowa, etc.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Which positions are college coaches interested in having you play at and why?

Demetrius Stinson - “Running back because of my combination of size and speed.  They also say they wouldn’t be hesitant to put me at a second position as well.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Which colleges now are showing the most interest and which one’s are you interested in as well?

Demetrius Stinson - “Toledo, Bowling Green, Michigan St, and Wisconsin.  I’m interested in all of them, everyone is an option as of now.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - This past year, Frederick Douglass won the first ever PSL Division 2 title after the league switched up the format and also won the schools first ever playoff game when you beat Southwestern, what do you take away from those 2 accomplishments?

Demetrius Stinson - “We feel pretty good about it but we are really striving for a state ring we know we have the skill and coaches to do it.  I enjoyed both accomplishments it was a great feeling to be the first in school history.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Next season the schedule is not out yet but you know you have Redford Thurston and some other PSL – 2 teams. Which games are you looking forward to, rather it being a rivalry or just a grudge match?

Demetrius Stinson - “Most definitely Redford Thurston one of my former little league teammates plays for them as well as Henry Ford they are a rival now but I know they are very talented this year as well.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Since you are the PSL – 2 defending champions, you will have a big target on your back, does that mean anything to you or just keep working to become the two time defending champions?

Demetrius Stinson - “Just keep working hard to become two time champs I know teams are targeting us but when it comes to it, you have to get on the field and play.” 

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What are some keys to success this year and some players on the team who will have a big year?

Demetrius Stinson - “I will say we’ll just have to be focused and more discipline this year and play as a team.  Some key players will be our returning corner Omari Taylor, Mark Pearson starting linebacker, new safety from Loyola, Darrell McIntyre and our guard Nolan Neal.”

The Miami Redhawks received big news a few weeks ago when Orchard Lake Saint Mary, runningback, Spencer McInnis verbally committed to Miami.  This week McInnis was able to sign his letter of intent with Miami.  McInnis concluded his 2012 season with over 1,500 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns.  Miami Redhawks head coach Don Treadwell commented on McInnis, “”One of the positions we want to improve is at running back. You can’t get much better of a program than Orchard Lake St. Mary. Their players are disciplined and unselfish, and they understand their role. He comes from a great family and you understand why Spencer is the type of quality young man that he is. He’s a no-frills player who always goes north and south.”  McInnis was able to share his thoughts about his future at Miami and his previous experiences at Orchard Lake Saint Mary.

First Game Started: My first game that I started was in 2009 my sophomore year against East Grand Rapids. I played on every special teams play. I didn’t get the ball until next game against Highland Park. I scored my first touchdown that game and the teams first touchdown it was a 45 yard TD. I Had just about 100 yards that game.

Position(s): Runningback

#1 Most Memorable Game: Besides the state championship game, I’d say Catholic Central at their field and it was senior night for them. They missed the extra point to tie the game and we won the Central Division that game. That was this year.

Pregame Traditions: I sit in a hot tub and I go over plays in my head, then I watch a film on any good running back like Barry Sanders or LT. Then when I get to the field, me and a few other guys have a competition on who can hit the goal post cross bar with a football the furthest away, me and Dan Clements are tied at the 50 yard line.

Postgame Traditions: Depends on if it’s a win or not. But if it’s a win, I usually go to Ginos and eat with the family but after that I just go out and hangout with friends. If we lose I go home and think about the game, watch film, and sleep.

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around: John Wendling, plays for the Detroit Lions. He is one tough player. He is one of those special team players, however he has played safety and made a few tackles this year. He never quits on the play. Kyle Vandenbosch, you watch him at practice and he hustles to the ball every play and it doesn’t matter if it was a pass 40 yards down the field, he runs to the ball every play.

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How did it feel getting that Miami offer and accepting it?

Spencer McInnis - “When I went down for a junior day camp at Miami I went on a tour and saw the atmosphere, the beautiful campus, and saw many trophies that the football team has earned. After that visit I knew that Miami would be a great fit for me. And after I went on other visits around the MAC I knew that Miami would be the best fit for me. When I was offered the scholarship I couldn’t have been any happier because I knew that Miami was the best fit for me out of all the other schools. After excepting it, it was a relief. Just to finally commit to your school that you know your going to be happy at.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How were you feeling earlier today, when it was time to put the pen on the paper, knowing that signature instantly tied you to the Redhawks?

Spencer McInnis - “Very excited! I am ready for that next chapter in my life and for a new challenge. I love being challenged. The running back spot at Miami is currently open due to players graduating, leaving the team and injuries. So this off season is a very important one if I want to play right away.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - I was going to ask about you starting as a true Freshman, but more specifically what must you do, to get that #1 spot?

Spencer McInnis - “I have to gain some pounds and I have to keep working on my speed and quickness. I’m currently at 185 I want to get to at least 195 or 200. But most importantly, when I get to Miami, I have to learn the playbook. A lot of people have told me that’s where true freshman struggle.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Has Don Treadwell and the offensive coordinator at Miami started to share the playbook with you or were they waiting until you signed until they officially began showing you the playbook?

Spencer McInnis - “When I went on my official visit they showed my their offense and how they run the offense. But I won’t get into the playbook till June 20th.” 

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What are thoughts on playing in the MAC, when the school is not too far from home and playing against former opponents in high school now in other MAC schools?

Spencer McInnis - “It’s awesome that my family will be able to make it to most of my games, it’s only about 4 and half hours away. It’s always a great feeling to know that some guys that you played against in high school is your opponent in college. I have a lot of respect for the guys that I have played against every year, like Brother Rice and CC. I played against a lot of those guys since elementary school.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Now in your Redhawks class you are the player from Michigan, does that mean anything to you or you figure you will fit in quickly?

Spencer McInnis - “Well you have to always represent your state, but I get along with anyone. Already met a lot of cool guys on my visit. I do also have the Semmes brothers to back me up too, you don’t want to mess with those guys.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Can you describe what you think you bring to the Miami football program?

Spencer McInnis - “Hopefully I bring a better running game. That’s what they were lacking last year but also I am a very versatile player and I’m down to play any special teams. I’m there just to do whats best for the team.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Can you talk about the season, even though you lost in the Catholic League Championship game, Orchard Lake Saint Mary was able to click on every cylinder through the playoffs and blew away everyone?

Spencer McInnis - “Yeah this season couldn’t have gone any better. We won the Central Division which is no easy task. The playoffs, as you probably know, is like a whole new season. Everyone on the team knew that teams play different when they have everything to lose, that’s why we never took a team lightly. Many of the seniors lost in a state championship, if not one but two state championships. So we were hungry for one.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Which were some of the biggest moments or memories you will cherish while playing as an Eaglet?

Spencer McInnis - “The state championship and two a days were always fun hanging with the guys. The trip to Columbus this year really brought us together as a team.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What kind of impact do you feel left at Orchard Lake Saint Mary, what’s the team capable in the upcoming seasons, and who are some players to keep an eye out for in the future?

Spencer McInnis - “We ended a 11 year drought at St. Mary’s. I think the underclassmen have experience with winning, and when you have that experience and you keep a leveled head, not getting cocky or the big head, you put that with great talent then you can have a great team. Parker McInnis, Grant Niemiec, Jeff Robinson, Austin Johnson, Andrew Katerba and Jalan Watts Jackson.”

The Grand Valley State Lakers received a very important fax yesterday afternoon.  That fax was from Lahser High School, when the versatile athlete, Nate Cole submitted his letter of intent to Grand Valley State University.  Although it was not in doubt that Nate Cole would sign with Grand Valley State, it’s pretty obvious the Lakers coaching staff was proud to have the Lahser’s playmaker’s signature as well as seven others from the Southeastern Michigan region.  Nate Cole was able to discuss his decision on Grand Valley State as well as reflecting on his past while at Lahser.

First Game Started: My first game on varsity was during playoffs of my freshman year.

Position(s): DB, WR, KR, LS, and QB

#1 Most Memorable Game: Sophomore year at Freemont Ross (OH)

Pregame Traditions: Walk out to the field and play catch with a teammate or by myself and reflect on everything up to that point.

Postgame Traditions: Either go to the Moose to eat with friends, hang out at a friend’s house, or sleep.

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around: Chad Ocho Cinco- confidence. Ray Lewis- enthusiasm. And Eric Berry/ Louis Delmas/ Ed Reed/ Brian Dawkins/ Troy Polamalu- hunger and non-stop energy.

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How is the feeling signing to a school in Grand Valley State who has had plenty of success in recent years?

Nate Cole - “It feels very optimistic coming into an establishment like GVSU. They have definitely shown their success through all the National Championships they have won. I am confident that in my four or five years we will win at least one National Championship.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How long had Grand Valley State been recruiting you for and what were some of the main reasons why you choose GVSU?

Nate Cole - “They came to my school last spring time and brought up the idea of coming to GVSU. I worked with Coach Postma at Central Michigan’s camp and saw him again at the Sound Mind Sound Body camp a couple weeks later, which made me interested. What sold me most though was how confident Grand Valley was in me and was willing to give me the opportunity to compete at a high collegiate level. I was also extremely impressed with their indoor facilities as well as the people who go there. Downtown Grand Rapids is right down the street and I like that about GVSU as well.”

 
The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Since you literally play almost all the positions, which position / role will you be playing as a Laker?

Nate Cole - “Whatever it takes for us to win! I am right now offered as a Cornerback, I also know Free and Strong Safety too. I have been working all of last off season and this off season as DB. My role is going to be however I can help the team, I have trust in the coaching staff to put the right guys in the right spots.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Since GVSU has sent some players to NFL, did that influence your decision at all or was it just their football and academics that was able to bring you in?

Nate Cole - “It definitely influenced me. I have a dream to be in the NFL four or five years from now and I believe that the coaches, facilities and people I meet will only help my chances. Coach Ralph Thompkins is a coach at Farmington Harrison that I work with. When he was at Grand Valley he roomed with Brandon Carr who played with the Kansas City Chiefs. I’m hoping to have lunch and/or work out with Mr. Carr and get an insiders perspective on what it takes to play at that kind of level.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How is your relationship with any other members of the 2012 GVSU class, what are your thoughts on the class, and what are they saying about it too?

Nate Cole - “I have worked with Gabe Sanders from Michigan Collegiate last summer on a 7 on 7 team down in Dallas, TX. I’ve known Sean Charette since the 8th grade. And I also know Joey Warner from Brother Rice, we talked a little before our basketball game earlier this season. I’ve visited with Joe Robbins from Petosky and had a great time with him. I’ve also played against Jake Vento from Farmington Harrison my freshman year. I would say our relationships are good and we all feel like we have chips on our shoulders.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What were some of your favorite moments while playing at Lahser?

Nate Cole - “The atmosphere of a high school football game was indescribable. Just the feeling of the marching band, the student section, and the community all coming together for that one Friday night under the lights…  I’m gonna miss it.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How was the feeling this year getting Lahser into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Was everyone real proud of reaching the post season?

Nate Cole - “It was a great feeling to give back to Coach Loria. He has worked so hard to shape his players into young men and taught us all life lessons along the way. I think by getting into the playoffs we reached out our gratitude for all of his commitment to the program. All the players and coaches were proud of reaching the post-season and we will never forget this past season.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What kind of an impact do you feel you left at Lahser, how do you see the program shaping in the future, and who are some younger players that will be making some noise in the upcoming seasons?

Nate Cole - “I want to leave behind the knowledge to the younger kids that all you can be is yourself. Trust your instincts and do not get discouraged from all the negativity in the world, rather use it as fuel to motivate yourself and believe in yourself.

I see the program on the up-rise for sure, it will be interesting in the next few years though because the two schools will combine, but I have confidence in the younger guys to become leaders. 

Look for Andrew Gikas (OL/DL), Reilly Manz (LB), Spencer McCourt (QB), and freshman Nate Emery (DB/QB)

This week Lahser linebacker, Tyler Roth would sign his college letter of intent with the University of Pennsylvania.  About a week earlier, Roth verbally committed to the Quakers.  Leading up to signing day, Roth was able to talk about his future at Penn as well as his past experiences while at Lahser.

First Game Started: I started against Farmington Hills Harrison my sophomore year as a defensive end.

Position(s): LB, DE, and FB.

#1 Most Memorable Game: Most memorable game was Avondale this previous year. I hit the winning field goal with 2 seconds left from 37 yards out.

Pregame Traditions: My favorite pregame tradition was our “Do That Right” chant.

Postgame Traditions: After the games my buddies, parents, sometimes coaches, and I would go to the Moose Preserve on Woodward and Square Lake. They served good food until midnight and it always hit the spot.

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around: I do not build my game around any specific athlete. I have very high expectations of myself and I push myself as hard as I need to in order to accomplish them. Aside from that, I simply do exactly what my coaches tell me to do.

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How does it feel committing to Pennsylvania?

Tyler Roth - “It feels surreal. Four years ago I never thought I would be playing football, let alone at a school with the academic and athletic reputation of Penn. I am blessed to have such an amazing opportunity. It is just starting to set in that I am heading off to Philadelphia in a few short months.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How did you decide on Penn and which other schools were involved?

Tyler Roth - “I decided on Penn because it is a school that has everything that I am looking for. Their football program is unparalleled in the Ivy league; the facilities are exceptional, the other players and coaches in the program are great guys that I connected with, and I know that I will be leaving with an Ivy League Championship ring. Academically, the Wharton School of Business (where I am attending) is the best in the nation. Penn offered me far more than any other school could. Some other schools that I was involved with were mostly other Ivy League schools and Hillsdale.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What about playing on the oldest field in the NCAA, Franklin Field?

Tyler Roth - “The field is one of the most unique structures I have ever seen. It’s urban location, design, and size make it something that is different from any other stadium. There is so much history inside the walls of Franklin Field I am honored to play there. Just a few years ago Usain Bolt ran on the track during the Penn Relays. The Eagles have also played there too. It is really a special part of UPenn and Philly as a whole.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How does Penn plan to your utilize your skills?

Tyler Roth - “I feel I am a player who plays the linebacker position exactly how Penn wants a linebacker too. I play downhill and have good quickness. I expect Coach Wood to develop me at inside linebacker for the next few years. I think they will have a tough time keeping me off of the field.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Have you set any goals or objectives for Penn yet?

Tyler Roth - “In my mind I have a lot of goals for myself at Penn. Firstly, and most importantly I expect myself to graduate from Wharton and have prepared myself for the business world. I also hope that I will develop as a person in every way. As a football player, I expect two things: to become a better player and to win. I am confident that Penn will be the best place for me to achieve both.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - A lot of people will say the OAA is one of the toughest conferences in the state. Looking at it today, do you think the level of competition has helped prepare you for the next level?

Tyler Roth - “Looking at the numerous, high caliber college players that have come out of the OAA, I think that the level of competition has definitely helped me. This past summer, when I made my trips to a half dozen one day camps to showcase my talents, I knew that the I was prepared to go up against any other player in the country. This same preparation and level of competition is something that I feel will allow me to also compete within the Penn football program to prove myself as a top notch linebacker.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - It does not appear anyone else from the 2012 Penn class is from the state of Michigan. So how familiar are you, with the rest of the class?

Tyler Roth - “On my official to Penn I had the privelage of meeting several of the guys that will be coming in next year too. I don’t know any of the guys too well but I am confident that they will all be guys that I will work well with. The caliber of football players but also people that Penn recruits makes for a team that has a very strong relationship. The high character of Penn football players is one of the reasons that I chose the school in the first place.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What were some of your favorites moments and plays you had while at Lahser?

Tyler Roth - “It is hard to pick a single moment that was a favorite at Lahser. My entire career at the school and on the football team was something that I cherish. If I had to narrow it down though, my senior season as a whole was exceptional. I grew incredibly close with all of my coaches as well as my teammates. The camaraderie on the team was something that I have never experienced before.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How about getting into the playoffs as a Senior, following two losing seasons?

Tyler Roth - “It was a great feeling. My sophomore season I thought that with all of the talent we had that we were a shoe-in. But we fell short. This year, after our opener with Groves, I knew that we were headed to the playoffs. Our young quarterback and other young starters stepped up big and proved to everybody that they could play. Post season was unfortunately short lived for us but at the end of the day, we ended with a winning season and left a desire for the underclassmen to come back next year and go all the way.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What kind of an impact do you feel you left at Lahser, how do you see the program heading in the future, and who are some younger players to keep an eye out for?

Tyler Roth - “I don’t know the impact that I have had on Lahser just yet. Next year when I am not there, it would be interesting to know how things have changed. Lahser and Andover will unfortunatly be combinding in as soon as two years so Lahser may not be around for too much longer. This merger has made the team eager to win a state title before Lahser is gone. Some of the young guys on the team to watch out for are Reilly Manz at Linebacker, Andrew Gikas at D-End, Spencer McCourt at QB, and Nathan Emery. Nathan started at corner as a freshman for us this year and is one of the most athletic kids I have ever seen.”

First Game Started: Troy Athens in 2010

Position (s): CB/WR

#1 Most Memorable Game:  Dakota in 2011

Pregame Traditions: Hanging out with friends right after school and watching highlights of our games to pump us up.

Postgame Traditions: After a win, going out to eat. 

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around: For RB I like to be more elusive, I really like Ladanian Tomlinson. And for WR, I wanted to be more like Steve Smith, a short play-maker.

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How does it feel committing to Ferris State?

Jamel Lockett - “It felt great, it was hard having to make a decision about my future, but I feel confident about it.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How excited were the Ferris State coaches when you committed?

Jamel Lockett - “Ferris State coaches were pretty excited, they really liked my abilties as an athlete, and as a student.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Which position will you be playing while at Ferris State and how long until you think it will be until you are on the field?

Jamel Lockett - “I am not sure yet what position I will be playing, they believe that I can have a great effect on either side of the ball, or special teams. Depending on how my summer workouts go and how I practice with the team I could see some playing time my freshman year. I believe that I can compete for a starting position freshman year.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Thoughts on the campus and the distance from your friends and family from down here?

Jamel Lockett - “I feel good about this campus, it feels like home.  It’s not too big or too small. The distance from my family isn’t too bad, they should be able to visit at least once or twice a month.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Which other schools were involved besides Ferris State?

Jamel Lockett - “Two Ivy league schools, Pennsylvania and Columbia came to visit me in person. And I also got an offer from Michigan Tech.

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What has playing in the MAC Red done to help you for college football?

Jamel Lockett - “I believe that the MAC Red is a very tough division, and to be able to hang with some of the best competition showed how much talent Warren Mott carried. Playing at this level should make the transition to college ball a little easier.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What about your most exciting games and moments while at Warren Mott?

Jamel Lockett - “My most exciting moment was beating Cousino to get my first playoff win, and my two most exciting games were against Dakota and Stevenson senior season.” 

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How will the future of the Marauders be with the drop to the MAC White and some players to keep an eye out on?

Jamel Lockett - “I am a little disappointed that they can’t play in the MAC Red, but they should be a threat next year in the playoffs. Players to watch for: Deshawn Burley CB, Jack Steel LB, and our whole offensive line will be more experienced.”

The Wayne State Warriors continued their recent surge with another big addition to their recruiting class.  Today, Dakota linebacker, Jon Jarvie ended speculation on where he will be playing his collegiate career.  Jon Jarvie’s recruiting process was slow but following a camp in December, Jarvie was a marked man by college coaches.  Scout.com’s Midwest analyst, Allen Trieu added this on the future Warrior, “Good pick up for the Warriors. Kid can play.”  Jon Jarvie was able to take some time tonight to discuss his future at Wayne State and some past memories while at Dakota High School.

First Game Started: Anchor Bay 2009.

Position(s): Either Strong Side or Middle Linebacker.

#1 Most Memorable Game: Junior year against Muskegon.

Pregame Traditions: Get Subway with some of the teammates.

Postgame Traditions: Go out to eat with the teammates.

Athlete (NCAA or NFL) you try building your game around:   Athlete I look at is Ray Lewis, because of his enthusiasm and aggressiveness on the field.

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - How has the recruiting process been and how does it feel to have it conclude with the commitment to Wayne State?

Jon Jarvie - “The recruiting process for me was really slow at first. Once I attended the Midwest Elite Unsigned Day, it gave me a lot of exposure and extremely helped me. Just had to be patient and wait for the school I felt right at.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What felt right about Wayne State?

Jon Jarvie - “The coaches are great guys and treat you like a son of their own. I got a chance to meet some of the current players and they’re just good all-around guys. I know family is a term used a lot for sport teams but these guys really act and bring you in like your a family.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Can you talk more about the Midwest Elite Unsigned Camp? Was it night and day compared to before and after you attended the camp?

Jon Jarvie - “Yeah, we worked on position work, 1 on 1′s, and 7 on 7′s and a lot of coaches pulled me aside and said they liked what they saw, including Wayne States LB coach Mackenzie. It really was a great experience and I encourage underclassmen to attend the camp.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Are you coming in right away to play at Wayne State or will you be redshirted?

Jon Jarvie - “Redshirted. Even though it’ll be tough watching from the sidelines, it will give me an extra year to become stronger, bigger, and smarter with the playbook so I don’t mind at all.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What about the distance from Wayne State from Macomb County, it’s a quick drive down I-75 for friends and family. How will it feel knowing every game your family and friends will be watching you?

Jon Jarvie - “Being only 30-45 minutes away is great for many reasons. I can go home and visit the family mostly anytime I want and even better having them come down and see the games. I know no matter where I would of gone my family and friends would be there to support me.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What has playing in the MAC Red Division and Dakota done to help you play at the next level?

Jon Jarvie - “MAC Red in my opinion is one of the hardest divisions in Division 1. The competition level has prepared me going into my freshmen year at Wayne State. Dakota’s coaches are the smartest coaches I’ve had experience with and taught me everything I know about the fundamentals about the game. Everything I learn down at Wayne State won’t be entirely different, thanks to them.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Which were some of your favorite memories while playing at Dakota?

Jon Jarvie - “Just being with the guys on and off the field. Messing around at points and then again getting down to business when we needed to. I’ll always look back and know I played with a great group of guys I consider my brothers.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - Which games will you remember?

Jon Jarvie - “My first game Sophomore year against Anchor Bay and Junior year defeating Muskegon at our place.”

The D – Zone / Friday Night Titans - What kind of impact do you think you left at Dakota and who are some players to keep an eye out for?

Jon Jarvie - “I tried my hardest setting the right example for the underclassmen as a captain, player, and a person as well both off and on the field. Some players I would look out for is Richmond Render, Nick Cattaneo, Clay Prickett, David Basirico, Angelo DiMaggio, Matt Crossely, and Brandon Lozon.”