A look at the prospects for the Lakes Valley Conference football teams for the 2026 season:
LAKELAND EAGLES
Coach: Jim Calhoun (5th year)
Division: 2
Last Year’s Record: 7-3, 6-2
Key Returners on Offense: Jackson Schneeman (WR, Sr.), Wyatt Robertson (WR, Sr.), Jacob Prater (OL, Sr.)
Key Returners on Defense: Drew Alvis (LB, Sr.), CJ Zonneveld (LB, Sr.), Zach Nelson (DB, Sr.)
Strengths: Large senior class, athletic and experienced skill group
Areas to Improve: Consistency and execution, new staff and system
Outlook: Lakeland had a real good year in the fifth and final season under previous head coach Jim Calhoun, but fell just short to East Lansing, 26-20, in its playoff opener. Scheffer, part of the title-winning staff for West Bloomfield in 2020, has also had stops at Westland John Glenn (where he was a two-year starting QB) and Plymouth Salem, and feels good about a large senior class that has taken ownership of “what they want Lakeland football to look like.” There’ll be big shoes to fill at QB with the graduation of Carter Travis, who left with the school records for rushing yards and passing TDs.
MILFORD MAVERICKS
Coach: Andrew Micovich (5th year)
Division: 2
Last Year’s Record: 4-5, 3-5
Key Returners on Offense: Hudson Smith (QB, Sr), Bryce Marszalek (WR, Sr.), Ben Vanderlist (OL, Sr.), Tyler Frankovich (OL, Jr.), Landon Muller (TE, Jr.), Zach Tegler (WR, Jr.)
Key Returners on Defense: Juliano Iljazi (LB, Sr.), Bryce Marszalek (DB, Sr.), Nolan Wolcott (DL, Jr.), Luke Perkins (LB, Jr.), Billy Ochadleus (LB, Jr.)
Strengths: Passing attack on offense; LB core on defense
Strengths: Athleticism, football IQ, and team chemistry
Areas to Improve: Trench play
Outlook: Micovich was honest in his assessment of last season, calling it a season that “did not meet the standards.” That includes losing a pair of games by a combined four points, any of which would have likely put the Mavs into the playoffs and extended their streak of winning seasons to six. However, there’s reason for optimism with the majority of their key pieces coming back. That includes Northern Michigan commit Smith, who commanded the passing game last year to the tune of 2,700-plus yards and 26 TDs. The linebacker unit also is intact on the other side of the ball. Micovich emphasized a renewed commitment to offseason weightlifting and conditioning that he believes will pay dividends along the lines, which are highlighted by Venderlist, a three-year starter, as well as Frankovich, John Humphries and Wolcott. They’ll have a chance to display that turnaround in their season opener at “The Big House.”
Milford quarterback Hudson Smith (2) attempts a pass in a 28-27 loss at Waterford Mott Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (BRYAN EVERSON – MediaNews Group, file)
SOUTH LYON LIONS
Coach: Jeff Henson (11th year)
Division: 2
Last Year’s Record: 10-1, 8-0 (LVC champs)
Key Returners on Offense: Tyler Newton (RB, Sr.), Jack Minke (OL, Sr.), Carter McGlinch (QB, Sr.), Jacob Stoyanovich (RB/K, Jr.), Gannon Limotte (RB, Sr.)
Key Returners on Defense: Gannon Limotte (LB, Sr.), Carter McGlinch (DB, Sr.), Rylan Oja (DB, Sr.), Jacob Stoyanovich (LB, Jr.)
Strengths: Experience, winning mentality of senior class
Areas to Improve: Replacing defensive starters
Outlook: South Lyon returned nine starters on the ball heading into last year, and that experience resulted in pulling out the tough ones in the league, including beating rivals SL East, and then having to repeat that feat again in the playoff opener against the Cougars. While the team graduates some good players along the offensive line, Henson has back his quarterback and backfield, and believes the mix of a senior class that hasn’t lost a regular season game in their careers combined with a junior class full of athleticism makes for the right ingredients to go about competing for an LVC Championship once again.
SOUTH LYON EAST COUGARS
Coach: Mark Nowicki (1st year)
Division: 2
Last Year’s Record: 4-6, 4-4
Key Returners on Offense: Patrick Mazur (OL, Sr.), Zac Clay (RB, Sr.), Ben Frasier (WR, Sr.), Anthony Shaieb (WR, Sr.), Gavin Shattuck (OL, Sr.)
Key Returners on Defense: Carter Yurkunas (DB, Sr.), Nolan Parks (DL, Sr.), Chase Hamilton (LB, Sr.), Sam Johnson (DL, Jr.)
Strengths: Cohesion, returning experience and production
Areas to Improve: Consistency, execution on both sides of the ball
Outlook: The Cougars started strong by taking care of business in games they may have been favored in, but they couldn’t take the momentum of a 4-2 start and knock off some of the top teams in the LVC, including their rivals in the playoffs. Nowicki arrives with a ton of experience, including at South Lyon, as well as stops at Wayne State and Eastern Michigan. Behind a senior class that has a lot of varsity experience, particularly on the defensive side, Nowicki believes the Cougars should by highly competitive in his first year despite the rigorous schedule.
WALLED LAKE CENTRAL VIKINGS
Coach: Jeff Penrod (3rd year)
Division: 2
Last Year’s Record: 2-7, 1-7
Key Returners on Offense: Henry Rancour (WR, Sr.), Noah Keast (WR, Sr.), Michael Lipinski (OL, Jr.), Lucas Wright (OL, Jr.), Jack Bland (OL, Sr.)
Key Returners on Defense: Jayden Evans (LB, Sr.), Michael Lipinski (DL, Jr.), Henry Rancour (DB, Sr.), Amar Ellis (LB, Jr.)
Strengths: Offensive line, running back unit
Areas to Improve: Special teams, running game
Outlook: Penrod believes his team will have to improve in all areas in order to challenge for a playoff appearance, something the program hasn’t done since 2017. They’ll be looking to do so with a new signal-caller after graduating quarterback Brendan Grimes. The Vikings will look to get off on the right foot at home in their lone non-league game against Dearborn Heights Crestwood.
WALLED LAKE NORTHERN KNIGHTS
Coach: Josh Perusse (2nd year)
Division: 1
Last Year’s Record: 3-6, 3-5
Key Returners on Offense: Kilien McConnaughey (OL, Sr.), Riley Williams (OL, Jr.), Xavier Saldana (OL, Jr.), Nate Hogan (WR, Sr.), Bradyn Veliu (QB, Jr.)
Key Returners on Defense: Quentin Lorincz (DB, Sr.), Chace Eckhout (LB, Sr.), Adrian Grumowicz (DL, Jr.), Max Kreps (LB, Sr.)
Strengths: Competition at nearly every position, varsity experience of junior class
Areas to Improve: Getting sophomores ready to contribute immediately
Outlook: Credit Perusse, because WL Northern’s offense was the most productive its been in a few years, and that translatted into winning multiple games for the first time since 2021. He maintains that the Knights need to improve statistically across the board to make a jump, and emphasized that without “star power,” it’s going to take selfless, team-first football in all phases. “We certainly have the ability to surprise some people and be far more competitive than last season,” Perusse said. “Our conference is tougher this year, so we will have to earn any success that comes our way.”
WALLED LAKE WESTERN WARRIORS
Coach: Kory Cioroch (6th year)
Division: 2
Last Year’s Record: 7-3, 6-2
Key Returners on Offense: David Krall (QB, Sr.), Timon Dogan (WR, Sr.), Michael Walker (RB, Sr.), Joni Batha (OL, Sr.)
Key Returners on Defense: Sam Wallace (DB, Sr.), Wyatt Robertson (DL, Sr.) Austin Barnett (LB, Jr.), Kam Flowers (LB, Jr.)
Strengths: Skill positions, experience
Areas to improve: Finishing close games
Outlook: A playoff streak that dates back to 2010 didn’t come to an end in the Warriors’ jump from Division 3 to D2, but last year was a small step back for the Warriors, typically accustomed to great success. under Cioroch. Despite graduating the program’s latest NCAA D1 export at RB in Donovan Triplett (Western Michigan), there’s plenty of good news for Western. All their losses last year, including their playoff opener against Brother Rice, came by just one score, and the hunger to turn those defeats into wins should remain present with seven starters returning on each side of the ball, including Krall, a third-year starter who passed for 1,490 yards and 14 TDs as a junior and is committed to Grand Valley State.
NORTH FARMINGTON RAIDERS
Coach: Jon Herstein (8th year)
Division: 2
Last Year’s Record: 6-4, 5-1
Key Returners on Offense: Eli Cobb (QB, Sr.), Jonathan Majcher (TE, Sr.), Elijah Moore (OL, Jr.), Jeremiah Larkin (WR, Sr.)
Key Returners on Defense: Manny Mitchell (DL, Soph.) Gabe Jankowski (DL, Sr.) Jamir Renti (DB, Soph.) Rashod Bridges (DB, Sr.)
Strengths: Experience at skill positions
Areas to improve: Program depth
Outlook: The Raiders were solid on both sides of the ball last season, their last in the OAA. They won all their games in the Blue Division except the one against rival Farmington, and otherwise suffered quality losses (WL Western, Oxford, and eventual D2 state champs Orchard Lake St. Mary’s). They return a great dual-threat QB in Cobb, who accounted for almost 20 total touchdowns as a junior, and a big two-way talent up front in Jankowski, a Wayne State commit. The season opener against Birmingham Groves at Wayne State should provide insight as to whether the Raiders may be a potential dark horse in the LVC race.
FARMINGTON FALCONS
Coach: Kason Dickerson (1st year)
Division: 1
Last Year’s Record: 7-3, 6-0 (OAA Blue champs)
Key Returners on Offense: Christian Gillings (WR, Sr.), Donte Lynch (QB, Jr.), Brandon Johnson (WR)
Key Returners on Defense: Myles Smith (DE, Sr.), Jaden Chase (DB, Sr.), Christian Gillings (DB, Sr.), Brandon Johnson (DB)
Strengths: Balanced offensive attack, defensive cohesiveness
Areas to improve: Acclimating to first year under new staff
Outlook: Farmington’s offense made a great leap last season. The Falcons averaged 37.2 points in their six league games — they ran the table to win the OAA Blue — though they loss their playoff opener to Dearborn Fordson. Now, they’ll begin anew in the LVC with a new head coach in Dickerson, a defensive (and track) standout at Detroit Northwestern who later played at Eastern Michigan and Wayne State and has made coaching stops at championship programs (West Bloomfield, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s). Lynch has a top returning target in Gillings, who hauled in over 50 catches for 1,200 yards and 15 TDs in addition to his impact on defense (four interceptions) and special teams (two blocked FGs, 350 return yards). Smith, one of the county’s premier players off the edge, is committed to Indiana. Future aside, there’s no question the Falcons and Raiders will immediately raise the level of their new league.
Football preview: 2026 Catholic High School League team capsules