Future Teams Football Early Thoughts.

Written Wednesday August 12th at 10:03 AM

This my outlook for the future five teams coming into the OAA next season. There will be more on these teams preview blog and preview show with Davison, Grand Blanc, Clawson, Novi, and Northville. This is an early summary surrounding these five teams.

These are some thoughts on the rest of the teams in the Macomb Area Conference Bronze, the Saginaw Valley League South/Red, and the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Black Division this season.

Macomb Area Conference Bronze

Clawson is a team that made the postseason falling to Marine City in the first round. The Trojans were third in the Bronze behind Hazel Park and Madison Heights Madison last season. Clawson has depth and program strength concerns which is something to watch for Coach Steve Haney. The Trojans should be a program to watch. If they stay healthy, they could be a factor in the Bronze this season.

New Haven really struggled on both sides of the football in 2025. They allowed 275 points and allowed 40 points or more three times last season. The Rockets have a new offensive coordinator in Jeff Glynn. Glynn has been everywhere throughout the State. He should help big time on the offensive side of the football. New Haven will look to have a much better year this season.

Algonac is a new school that is coming into the Macomb Area Conference from the Blue Water Area Conference. They really struggled going 1-8 and allowing 38 or more points in five games but hung tough with Madison Heights Madison falling 38-34 in week nine last season. The Muskrats should be much improved and could be a factor in the Bronze this season.

Eastpointe really struggled on both sides of the football in 2025. The Shamrocks scored 64 points and allowed 34 or more points in each game last season. Depth and program strength are question marks for Eastpointe. It could be a long year for the Shamrocks.

Warren Lincoln has struggled on both sides of the football in 2025. They scored 80 points and allowed 275 which were both the worst in the Bronze last season. The Abes could struggle with depth and program strength this season.

Madison Heights Madison: The Eagles were in the OAA but left along with Madison Heights Lamphere and Clawson in 2005. Madison Heights Madison was a scoring machine scoring 502 points which is the second most in school history along with winning the Bronze and were solid defensively. The Eagles fell 34-32 to Allen Park Cabrini in the regional finals. Madison Heights Madison should be the team to beat in the Bronze with the athletes they have coming back but program strength is a concern.

EARLY THOUGHTS: The Bronze is a division that could make some head waves in the Macomb Area Conference. Madison Heights Madison is the early favorite to win the Bronze for the second straight season. The Eagles made it to the regional finals last season. Clawson was a postseason team falling to Marine City. The rest of the Bronze really struggled. This looks like it's a two-team race between Clawson and Madison Heights Madison, but Algonac is the sleeper and could play spoiler.

EARLY PROJECTIONS: 

Bronze

1. Madison Heights Madison, 2. Clawson, 3. Algonac, 4. New Haven, 5. Warren Lincoln, 6. Eastpointe.

Silver

1. Marine City, 2. Hazel Park, 3. St. Clair, 4. Clinton Township Clintondale, 5. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 6. Center Line, 7. Warren Woods Tower.

Gold

1. Marysville, 2. Warren Fitzgerald, 3. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 4. Madison Heights Lamphere, 5. Grosse Pointe North, 6. Sterling Heights.

Blue

1. Warren Cousino, 2. Port Huron, 3. Utica Henry Ford II, 4. Fraser, 5. Mount Clemens, 6. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North.

White

1. Roseville, 2. St. Clair Shores Lakeview, 3. Utica, 4. Port Huron Northern, 5. Warren Mott, 6. New Baltimore Anchor Bay.

Red

1. Romeo, 2. Macomb Dakota, 3. Utica Eisenhower, 4. Chippewa Valley, 5. Grosse Pointe South, 6. Sterling Heights Stevenson.

Saginaw Valley League South/Red

Grand Blanc has been clearly the frontrunner in the SVL South/Red the last two years. The Bobcats scored the most points in school history last season but it's a different Grand Blanc team with a new quarterback but the Bobcats should be able to put up points for Coach Kaleb Forr. The defense is the key for the Bobcats, and they have a tough schedule which includes Macomb Dakota and Belleville. It's going to be very interesting to see what happens with Grand Blanc, but they could have some growing pains early.

Davison should be in the conversation in the SVL South/Red but the defense has some questions, and they have to replace some key pieces on offense. The Cardinals rushing attack should be the strength along with a proven quarterback and an experienced line on both sides of the football. Davison has a very tough schedule for Coach Jacob Weingartz which includes Roseville and Novi Detroit Catholic Central. The Cardinals could finish third in the SVL South/Red if they aren't careful.

Lapeer has had a rough two years going 7-12 and missed the postseason for the first time in school history. Enrollment and program strength are big concerns with the Lightning. Lapeer is in Division Two for the postseason. The Lightning scored 27 points in the final five weeks of the season with three shutout losses last season. Depth, attrition, and program strength are question marks for Lapeer this season.

Saginaw Heritage could be a sleeper in the SVL South/Red. The Hawks had a 0-4 start which cost them a trip to the postseason but went 4-1 down the stretch and put 31 or more points six times. The defense will be key for Saginaw Heritage as they gave up 14 or more points in every game and four of those were 42 or more points which were losses last season. The Hawks have three very talented players in Kingston Wright, Anthony Frias, and Kinsgton Ware that could make some noise. Saginaw Heritage could make the next step this season.

Flint Carman-Ainsworth has really struggled for a while, and a big reason has been program strength. The Cavaliers have some experience coming back which should help but there are questions at the skill positions among others for Flint Carman-Ainsworth this season.

Saginaw merged with Saginaw and Saginaw Arthur Hill in 2024. The Phoenix struggled going 4-14 in their two years as a school. Saginaw will look to have a much better year this season. Direction will be key for the Phoenix going forward.

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is going to be very interesting with Davison and Grand Blanc leaving the SVL at the end of the season. Saginaw Heritage is a team to watch going 4-1 in their final five games last season. It's possible they could be a threat to Davison even though the game between the two is at Cardinal Stadium. Lapeer has numbers and program strength concerns. Saginaw has been up and coming and its year three for the program. Flint Carman-Ainsworth could struggle again this season. The SVL North/Blue will be very interesting. Traverse City Central should be favored along with Midland Dow, Traverse City West, and Mount Pleasant. Midland is a wildcard while Bay City Western and Bay City Central who has a new coach could struggle this season.

EARLY PROJECTIONS: 

Red/South

1. Grand Blanc, 2. Saginaw Heritage, 3. Davison, 4. Lapeer, 5. Saginaw, 6. Flint Carman-Ainsworth.

Blue/North

1. Midland Dow, 2. Traverse City Central, 3. Midland, 4. Traverse City West, 5. Mount Pleasant, 6. Bay City Central, 7. Bay City Western.

Kensington Lakes Activities Association Black.

Northville is a team that doesn't have a ton of star names, but they just love playing together and love playing for each other. This is what makes Coach Brent Luplow's team really dangerous this season. There is no clear-cut star on this roster. There is a reason the coaches picked the Mustangs over the Belleville and Dearborn Fordson. Team ball is the reason why Northville is a serious player in the KLAA Black.

Novi is out to prove that they are back under first year Coach Logan Pawloski. This is a program that is more than capable of having a bounce back season. The Wildcats have experience, but they need to just execute. The coaches had Novi projected to be fifth but the recent news at Plymouth with their coaching change might change things. I had the Wildcats fourth in the KLAA Black, but they could be third with Dearborn Fordson going through a transition period. Novi should be a force in the KLAA Black with experience, but they need to clean up some things if they want to get back to the postseason.

Belleville is out to prove that last season's collapse was a distant memory. They had a 57-36 blowout loss to Howell in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association title game and a shocking 30-29 upset loss to Brownstown Woodhaven in the first round. The Tigers defense is a big question mark allowing 20 or more points seven times and 30 or more three times (Clarkston, Howell, Brownstown Woodhaven, all losses.) They have proven talent along with a sophomore quarterback in Kendall Franklin and a star wide receiver in Charles Britton. Belleville's defense is very hard to trust and the stats prove it. 

Dearborn Fordson was a postseason team falling to Detroit Cass Tech in the district finals. They have a new coach and a transition period ahead of them. The Tractors have proven experience, but coaching stability is a concern.

Plymouth really struggled winning three games last season. The Wildcats have a new coach along with a transition period ahead of them.

Plymouth Salem lost a lot of talent from last season getting to the postseason falling to Saline in the first round. The Rocks have a ton of questions heading into this season.

Plymouth Canton struggled last season. The Cobras have a ton of questions if they want to get back to where they were in the past. It could be another struggle again for Plymouth Canton.

EARLY THOUGHTS: The newly created KLAA Black is very interesting. Northville and Novi should be very competitive in this new division. Belleville has the balk of their offense coming back but there are a ton of questions especially defensively. Dearborn Fordson has a new coach and a transition period ahead of them, but they should be very good. Plymouth had a lot of changes in the past few weeks. Salem lost a ton of proven talent from a team that made the postseason. Canton has struggled and should be better this season. The other side of the KLAA is the Gold. Howell, Brighton, and Hartland should be strong. Dearborn has some questions with a new coach and a transition period ahead for them. I'm not sure about Dearborn Heights Crestwood, and Westland John Glenn is solid.

EARLY PROJECTIONS: 

Black

1. Northville, 2. Belleville, 3. Dearborn Fordson, 4. Novi, 5. Plymouth, 6. Salem, 7. Canton.

Gold

1. Howell, 2. Brighton, 3. Hartland, 4. Dearborn, 5. Westland John Glenn, 6. Dearborn Heights Crestwood, 7. Wayne Memorial