Outlook: On paper, Ogemaw Heights looks to be a relatively inexperienced squad.  Just four starters return on offense and six on defense. But Falcon coach Andrew Pratley says that is a bit misleading.

"We graduated a lot of starters, but a lot of guys that didn't start much saw plenty of playing time last year," Pratley says. "We had a lot of injuries last year. It hurt at the time, but if there was a bright side to it, a lot of kids played that might not have otherwise.

"So we're not as inexperienced as we look."

Senior quarterback John Hughes returns after splitting time with Eric Noble last year. Other than Tawas Area's Jesse Siwek, Hughes is the North East Michigan Conference's most experienced QB.

"He knows the system," Pratley says. "In our offense it's pretty key to be able to know what you're doing, to read what the defense is doing and make the right decision."

Jason Immel, a receiver last season, returns at running back for his senior season, as well as senior receiver Kyle Bellor and two-way lineman Anthony Zettel.

"As long as I'm around we'll be doing some form of option football," Pratley says. "So that won't be anything new. We want to spread the field out both horizontally and vertically, and I think we have the kids to do that."

On the defensive side, Zettel and Jarritt Orlando return at the defensive end positions, Earl Bennett is back at defensive tackle, Tyler Brindley and Lance Griffus return at linebacker and Matt Kavalunas is back at cornerback.

"I think our real strength is there," Pratley says. "We have a lot of great players back and we have some great defensive coaches.

"You don't see it in our point totals from last year, but we really only gave up five defensive touchdowns."

And therein lies where the Falcons hope to improve dramatically over last season. Untimely turnovers proved deadly on more than one occasion.

"We didn't have an abnormal number of turnovers," Pratley says, "but they seemed to come at the worst times and in the worst places. The difference between going 5-5 and having a real good season can come down to just a few plays

"It looks like we're going to have one of the most competitive league races I can remember. There's no real strong favorite. So it's a matter of minimizing those kinds of (negative) plays and battling every week. Because on any given Friday, anyone can knock you off."