2005 Season: 7-4 (3-2 NEMC); lost in second round of playoffs

Head Coach: Andrew Pratley

Head Coaching Experience: 3 rd year (11-9, one playoff appearance)

Base offensive set: Veer

Base defensive set: 4-2-5

Returning starters: Matt Faiman, sr. (QB); Michael Noffsinger, jr. (RB/FS); Trevor Zettel, jr. (RB/LB); Matt Franklin, sr. (RB); Kyle Wangler, sr. (WR); Gio Roberto, jr. (WR); Scott Kimball, sr. (TE/LB); Tyson Dantzer, jr. (C); Kyle Shelley, jr. (OL); Carl Worthy, jr. (OL/DL); Alex Ecker, sr. (OL/DL); Andrew Howard, sr. (OL); Kevin O’Neil, jr. (LB); Anthony Betancourt, sr. (SS).

Other returners: Bruce Vermillion, sr.; Mitch Sapp, sr.; Anthony Pacione, sr.; Alex Henry, sr.; Nathan D’Arcy, sr.; Mark McPherson, sr.; Dean Clark, sr.

Outlook: Hopes are sky-high for the Falcons, whose young team came on strong at the end of 2005 to knock John Glenn out of the playoffs and return plenty of talent to try to improve on a 7-4 season. Eleven players who started at least part of last season return to give Ogemaw a potent attack that should score plenty of points.

With only all-league performer Brennan Beechum graduating off the offensive line, the Falcon backfield should be well-protected behind Dantzer, Shelley, Worthy, Ecker and Howard. Faiman, a third-year starter, can both throw and run, while Noffsinger, Zettel and Franklin provide plenty of options at running back and Wangler and Roberto each made big plays downfield last season.

“The challenge offensively has been finding the right mix of guys,” says Ogemaw coach Andrew Pratley. “We have so many kids who can play – 11 running backs, three quarterbacks – that we need to get a group that jells together well.

“I’m actually looking at our defense being our strength right now.”

Again, the Falcons are blessed with a lot of returning talent – seven who started at least one game last year – including Worthy and Ecker on the line, Kimball, Zettel and O’Neil at linebacker, and Noffsinger and Betancourt in the defensive backfield.

The Falcons seem poised to make a strong postseason run, provided they make the playoffs. Their schedule features the likes of defending state champion and top-ranked Flint Powers to open the season and a Gaylord squad in Week 8 that Ogemaw hasn’t beaten in eight tries. Plus there is the annual showdown with John Glenn, which usually has league title implications.

“We can’t take anyone in our league for granted,” Pratley says. “Three teams (Oscoda, Tawas, Pinconning) have new coaches, and all of them have some talented kids. I consider the league to be wide open and you can’t look past anyone.

“Every team goes out there hoping to win their opener, win the league, make the playoffs and play for a state title. We haven’t set specific goals like that, but if we go out and do the best we can every week, those things will take care of themselves.”