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Whiteford high school football players Drew Knaggs, Ryin Ruddy, Jake Iott, Hunter DeBarr, Stepon Masserant, Kolby Masserant, Trent Olrich, and Jack Iott pose for a group photo before the first day of football practice at Whiteford high school football field on Aug. 7 in Ottawa Lake.
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2023 southeast Michigan football team previews: Whiteford eyeing repeat state crown

THE BLADE/JONATHAN AGUILAR

2023 southeast Michigan football team previews: Whiteford eyeing repeat state crown

As the Tri-County Conference continues to shrink around them, the Whiteford Bobcats have been seemingly unfazed since beginning the greatest football era in school history.

The defending Michigan Division 8 state champions, who won the program’s second state title in six seasons, appear ready to simply reload and chase another crown this season.

The Bobcats have posted a 107-24 overall record over the past 11 seasons, including a 27-9 mark in playoff action. They won their first state title (D-8) in 2017 under previous head coach Jason Mensing, who guided Whiteford to a 93-24 record in his 10 seasons at the school.

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The 2012 through 2022 stretch has also included five TCC titles.

Bedford Kicking Mules quarterback Lucas Gerber looks to pass in a high school football game against Dexter Sept. 9, 2022 at Bedford High School in Temperance, Mich.
The Blade
2023 local southeast Michigan football team-by-team schedules

Mensing also led the Bobcats to a D-8 state runner-up finish (13-1) in 2016 and to state semifinal advancements in 2015 (10-3) and 2021 (11-2) before stepping away to take the head coaching position at Michigan's Westland John Glenn High School.

The TCC is down to just five teams, with former member Adrian Madison having moved to the Lenawee County Athletic Association.

The TCC had eight teams in 2020 before the departure of Britton Deerfield, and had seven in 2021 until Morenci and Pittsford left. All three of those former TCC members are now playing in 8-man football leagues.

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Here is a look at the four southeast Michigan teams in The Blade’s coverage area.

BEDFORD

Coach: John Phillips, fourth season

Last season: 8-3 overall, 5-2 SEC Red

Top players: Seniors Nolan Laskey, 6-4, 220, TE-DE; Connor Green, 6-1, 225, OL-DL; Kyle Klocek, 6-3, 225, OL-DL; Hunter Poignon, 6-1, 175, FB-LB. Juniors Owen Przybylski, 6-4, 200, RB-DB; Lucas Gerber, 5-10, 175, RB-LB.

Outlook: The Kicking Mules will be led by a group of 18 seniors on their roster as they look to challenge for the Southeastern Conference Red Division title along with 2022 Michigan Division 2 state semifinalist Dexter and the two other teams that shared second place: Saline and Ann Arbor Huron. The highlight victory last season was Bedford’s 7-0 blanking of perennial SEC Red power Saline and Notre Dame-bound quarterback C.J. Carr. The Mules, who will again utilize their flexbone triple-option offense and 4-3 base defense, have their typical good roster numbers and coach Phillips liked the team’s offseason work output. The defense will be young but aggressive, according to Phillips. Although there were significant losses to graduation, he expects more consistency on both sides of the ball.

“Having lots of buy-in has us very excited to see what we can do,” Phillips said.

BLISSFIELD

Coach: Ron Estes, 16th season

Last season: 4-5 overall, 3-4 LCAA

Top players: Seniors Julius Brown, 6-0, 270, OL-DL; Zane Wolfe, 6-1, 330, OL-DL; Jack Deatrick, 6-0, 190, QB. Juniors Kassidy Lenz, 5-8, 165, RB; Kip Fisher, 6-2, 215, RB-LB.

Outlook: After a run of four straight postseason appearances closed in the pandemic-abbreviated 2020 season, when the Royals won a Lenawee County Athletic Association title and reached the third round of the playoffs, Blissfield posted back-to-back losing seasons. The Royals look to rebound in 2023 led by the 14 seniors on their 28-player roster. They have 16 returning letterwinners, including nine starters back on offense and seven on defense. Blissfield will use a spread offense and 3-4 base defense and will rely on size and experience as strengths to offset an overall lack of depth. The Royals will look to contend with LCAA favorites Clinton and Dundee and perennial power Hudson. Defending champ Clinton reached the Division 6 state semifinals last year. Hudson was the D-8 state champion in 2021. Deatrick was 87 of 159 passing with 10 TD passes in 2022, and Lenz rushed 138 times for 754 yards and 8 touchdowns.

“We expect to be a competitive team with a very challenging schedule,” said Estes, who is 97-56 entering his 16th season as Royals head coach.

ERIE MASON

Coach: Steve Bowers, third season

Last season: 6-4 overall, 2-2 TCC

Top players: Seniors Vaughn Brown, 5-11, 180, QB-DB; Cole Kreger, 6-0, 175, WR-RB-LB; Korbin Herrera, 6-2, 180, WR-DB; Blake Stanish, 6-0, 240, OL-DL. Junior Logan Goodin, 6-2, 170, RB-DE. Sophomore Cam Davis, 5-8, 180, OL-DL.

Outlook: The Eagles seem poised to contend in the TCC along with favored Whiteford, but staying healthy is a must with just 22 players on their roster. The good news is that 19 of those players are returning letterwinners, and Erie Mason has seven starters back on each side of the ball. Leading the way for Bowers’ squad will be Brown, who passed for 1,877 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, and Herrera, who had 37 catches for 754 yards and 9 TDs. On defense, Kreger (110 tackles) and Goodin (102 tackles) are expected to set the tone. The Eagles only have seven seniors, and many starting spots are manned by two-way players. Erie Mason is switching up its defense to a 4-4 look this fall.

“We return a lot of experience on both sides of the ball,” Bowers said. “We are excited about how our skill players have grown since last season, and look for them to provide leadership and production on offense. We have made some changes to our defense that will be essential to our success.”

WHITEFORD

Coach: Todd Thieken, second season

Last season: 14-0 overall, 4-0 TCC

Top players: Seniors Jake Iott, 6-1, 185, RB-LB; Hunter BeBarr, 6-1, 160, RB-DB; Ryin Ruddy, 6-2, 185, QB-DB; Drew Knaggs, 5-10, 205, FB-DT; Kolby Masserant, 6-2, 195, TE-S; Stepon Masserant, 5-9, 160, S-RB; Trent Olrich, 5-11, 205, DE-OL.

Outlook: Whiteford has returned 16 letterwinners included on its 46-player roster to provide leadership. The Bobcats have seven offensive and nine defensive starters back. The biggest loss to graduation was that of record-setting, four-year starting quarterback Shea Ruddy, an all-state selection and a standout on both sides of the ball. Iott (1,144 rushing yards, 21 TD, 198 total points, 202 tackles), DeBarr (1,212 rushing yards, 12 TD, 66 tackles), and Ryin Ruddy (126 tackles, 4 interceptions) are the marquee players returning. Iott and Ruddy were both first team all-state honorees on defense, and DeBarr was named second team all-state at running back.

“This group has tremendous potential with the number of returning starters for last year’s team,” Thieken said, “and some very solid newcomers added to our starting groups. We must make sure that we don’t get caught up in how good people say we can be, and make sure that our focus each day is to get better in every phase of the game.”

First Published August 23, 2023, 2:13 p.m.

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Whiteford high school football players Drew Knaggs, Ryin Ruddy, Jake Iott, Hunter DeBarr, Stepon Masserant, Kolby Masserant, Trent Olrich, and Jack Iott pose for a group photo before the first day of football practice at Whiteford high school football field on Aug. 7 in Ottawa Lake.  (THE BLADE/JONATHAN AGUILAR)  Buy Image
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