Football preview 2023: Corunna, Ovid-Elsie and Ithaca chasing playoff returns

The Corunna, Ovid-Elsie and Ithaca football programs were playoff teams last season.

And both will try to get back to that stage once again.

With several key players back, Corunna will try to build on a season in which it reached a Division 5 district final, while Ithaca and Ovid-Elsie will try to overcome the losses of key players to again find success.

While the Cavaliers, Marauders and Yellowjackets are after playoff returns, several other programs are in pursuit of improved seasons.

Here's an overview of the Greater Lansing programs who are part of the Tri-Valley Conference, Flint Metro League, Mid-Michigan Activities Conference, Cascades Conference and playing independent schedules this fall.

ALMA

▶ Last season: 2-7, 2-5 Tri-Valley Central

▶ Coach: John Mimranek (2nd season)

▶ Playoff division: 5

SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 – at Shepherd

Aug. 31 – Frankenmuth

Sept. 8 – Birch Run

Sept. 15 – at Bay City John Glenn

Sept. 22 – Freeland

Sept. 29 – at Bridgeport

Oct. 6 – at Saginaw Swan Valley

Oct. 13 – Essexville Garber

Oct. 20 – at Big Rapids

CORUNNA

▶ Last season: 8-3, 4-1 Flint Metro Stars (2nd)

▶ Coach: Steve Herrick

▶ Playoff division: 5

SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 – at Fowlerville

Aug. 31 – at Pinckney

Sept. 8 – at Ortonville Brandon

Sept. 15 – at Owosso

Sept. 22 – at Lake Fenton

Sept. 29 – Goodrich

Oct. 6 – Clio

Oct. 13 – TBD Flint Metro crossover

Oct. 20 - Armada

▶ Top returners: Wyatt Bower (QB/DB), Tarick Bower (WR/DB), Jaden Edington (RB/LB), Parker Isham (RB/LB), Alan Mrva (OL/DL), AJ Brieger (OL/DL), Austin Oginsky (OL/DL), Bryce Edington (WR/DB)

▶ Other contributors: Kaden Cowdrey (WR/DB), Dayne Zeeman (TE/LB), Evan Cody (OL/DL), Brayden Andrejack (WR/K)

▶ Outlook: Last fall marked the highest win total for Corunna since 2016 when it went 9-3. The Cavaliers have several major pieces back from a team that reached a Division 5 district final. That includes twins Tarick and Wyatt Bower, who are committed to Saginaw Valley. The Bower twins are among nine returning starters on offense and eight on defense. Corunna hopes to navigate an early schedule that features five straight road games to open the season as it aims to challenge for a Flint Metro League title and more.

ITHACA

▶ Last season: 10-2, 4-0

▶ Coach: Jordan Hessbrook (3rd season)

▶ Playoff division: 8

SCHEDULE

Aug. 25 – at Homer

Aug. 31 – at Standish-Sterling

Sept. 8 – at Saginaw Nouvel

Sept. 15 – St. Louis

Sept. 22 – at Hemlock

Sept. 29 – Saginaw Valley Lutheran

Oct. 6 – at Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary

Oct. 13 – Carrollton

Oct. 20 – Shepherd

▶ Top returners: Owen Mikulka (WR/QB/DB), Noah Risner (RB/LB), Kaleb Hallock (WR/LB), Brandon Pass (OL/DL), Joe Dawe (DB/WR), Ryley White (WR/DB), Broden Peska (OL/DL), Nathan Mikesell (RB/WR/LB), Nicholas Mikesell (OL/DL), Jackson Conn (QB/DB)

▶ Other contributors: Lloyd Stoneman (OL/DL), Collin Thrush (WR/LB), Deacon Skinner (OL/DL), Parker Wood (OL/DL)

▶ Outlook: The Yellowjackets had their first season with double-digit wins since 2017 last fall while winning league and district championships. Ithaca lost several players who played key roles in that success and will look to several players to step into larger roles. The mission is to build on the experience gained last year as the Yellowjackets return five starters on offense and six on defense.

LESLIE

▶ Last season: 2-7, 1-3 GLAC

▶ Coach: Tim McCann (1st season)

▶ Playoff division: 7

SCHEDULE

Aug. 25 – at Dansville

Aug. 31 – Stockbridge

Sept. 8 – at Addison

Sept. 15 – Michigan Center

Sept. 22 – at Manchester

Sept. 29 – at Napoleon

Oct. 6 – East Jackson

Oct. 13 – at Grass Lake

Oct. 20 – TBD Cascades Conference crossover

▶ Top returners: Jayden Colby (QB/DB), Hunter Coltrain (TE/LB), Matt Dexter (OL/DL), Evan Dexter (RB/LB), Tanner Craft (OL/DL), Logan Demaray (OL/DL)

▶ Other contributors: Brogan Dodge (RB/LB), Jacob Phillips (WR/DB), Parker Franklin (RB/LB), Hudson Phillips (OL/DL)

▶ Outlook: McCann takes over a Blackhawk program he played in during the early 2000s and has coached in since 2009. He leads the charge as Leslie transitions from the GLAC to the Cascades Conference this school year. Leslie will lean on its offensive and defensive lines, which is where it has most of its experience. Colby is a third-year starter and will be a key to the Blackhawks’ offensive success.

OVID-ELSIE

▶ Last season: 8-3, 5-1 (2nd Mid-Michigan Activities)

▶ Coach: Travis Long (14th season)

▶ Playoff division: 6

SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 – Portland

Aug. 31 – Otisville LakeVille Memorial

Sept. 8 – at Durand

Sept. 15 – Montrose

Sept. 22 – Shepherd

Sept. 29 – at Chesaning

Oct. 6 – New Lothrop

Oct. 13 – at Mt. Morris

Oct. 20 – Standish-Sterling

▶ Top returners: Tryce Tokar (QB/DB), Carter Kelley (RB/DB), Clayton Fruchey (RB/DB), Cohen Brown (RB/LB), Jamison Custer (RB/DB), Cole Workman (RB/DL), Hunter Bates (TE/DL), Jake Bowen (OL/DL), Dawson Taylor (OL/DL), Braxton O'Bryant (OL/DL), Isaac Orta (RB/LB), Alex Lopez (OL/DL), Jaksen Jones (OL/DL), Brayden Leland (OL/DL), Brady Risinger (OL/DL)

▶ Other contributors: Tucker Loynes (TE/DL), Ben Wildes (TE/DE), Owen Long (RB/DB), Michael Bancroft (TE/LB), Cavan Mortinsen (RB/DB), Anthony Silva (RB/DL), Joe Zuniga (SP/DL), Brock Spitzley (RB/LB), Javen Belill (TE/LB), Brian Dennis (OL/DL), Trey Milner (OL/DL), Daniel Olger (OL/DL), Jaxon Ladiski (OL/DL), Troy Haynie (OL/DL), Harris Evans (OL/DL), Wesley Plowman (TE/DB)

▶ Outlook: Tokar and Custer return as starters on both sides for a Marauders team that Long said is young and enthusiastic. Several key players were lost to graduation from last year's team that was in contention for a league title and reached a Division 6 district final. Long said Ovid-Elsie has had some players step in and produce and believes winning the line of scrimmage will be key.

OWOSSO

▶ Last season: 1-8, 0-5 Flint Metro Stars

▶ Coach: Ron Tyner (2nd season)

▶ Playoff division: 3

SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 – Eaton Rapids

Aug. 31 – at Mt. Morris

Sept. 8 – at Clio

Sept. 15 – Corunna

Sept. 22 – Goodrich

Sept. 29 – at Ortonvlle Brandon

Oct. 6 – Lake Fenton

Oct. 13 – Flint Metro League crossover

Oct. 20 – at Macomb Lutheran North

▶ Top returners: Liam Patrick (QB), Hoyt Patrick (RB/LB), Daniel Wittum (WR/LB),, Caleb Fields (WR/DB), Santi Aguirre (DB/WR), Tegan Passinault (TE/LB), Paul Musson (OL/DL), Carter Miculka (OL/DL), Ben Neese (OL/DL), Joe Bodbyl (OL/DL), Cayden Shivley (DL), Weston Yoho (DB/WR), Carson Moore (DB/WR)

▶ Other contributors: Gage Davis (TE/DL), Austin Blaha-(WR/LB), Max Lazar (OL/DL), Kayden Lester (RB/LB)

▶ Outlook: After winning their season opener, the Trojans ended last fall on an eight-game losing streak. Owosso hopes for better fortunes this season and has plenty of experience back for Tyner in his second season in charge. The Trojans have 10 starters returning on offense and eight on defense. With that foundation, Owosso hopes to take a big step forward.

PERRY

▶ Last season: 3-6, 1-4 GLAC

▶ Coach: Jeff Bott (9th season)

▶ Playoff division: 7

SCHEDULE

Aug. 25 – Clawson (at Corunna)

Aug. 31 – Holton (at Corunna)

Sept. 8 – at Fowler

Sept. 15 – at Whitmore Lake

Sept. 22 – Flint Southwestern

Sept. 29 – Dansville

Oct. 6 – Stockbridge

Oct. 13 – at Lakewood

Oct. 20 – at Bath

▶ Top returners: Austin Poirier (QB/LB), Tanner Selbig (OL/DL), Cameron Doody (OL/LB), Brandon Ketchum (OL/DL), Timmy Hall (WR/DB), Keegan Brown (LB), DJ Jenks (DB/WR), Gabe Reeder (OL), Aiden Brooks (DB), Ricky Hardy (DL)

▶ Other contributors: Gavin Firtchett (OL/DL), Brayden Connell (WR/DB), Brady Burns (WR/DB), Blake Bawks (WR/DB)

▶ Outlook: Perry is in pursuit of its first winning season since 2019 when it finished 5-4. The numbers are low in the program but Bott believes the Ramblers potentially have the makings of a very talented football team. Perry has eight starters returning on defense with Hall, Selbig and Poirier being contributors since they were freshmen. Poirier also provides a dual-threat option under center for the Ramblers, who are playing as an independent this season before embarking on a CMAC schedule in 2024. Bott said Perry’s offense limiting turnovers and controlling the clock could go a long way toward the Ramblers finding success.

POTTERVILLE

▶ Last season: 1-8, 0-6 (7th CMAC)

▶ Coach: Jason Baker (1st season)

SCHEDULE

Aug. 31 – Genesee

Oct. 13 – at Genesee

STOCKBRIDGE

▶ Last season: 6-3, 1-3 GLAC

▶ Coach: Jeremy Killinger (22nd season)

▶ Playoff division: 6

SCHEDULE

Aug. 25 – at Springport

Aug. 31 – at Leslie

Sept. 8 – Manchester

Sept. 15 – Hart

Sept. 22 – at Bath

Sept. 29 – Saranac

Oct. 6 – at Perry

Oct. 13 – Whitmore Lake

Oct. 20 - Dansville

▶ Top returners: Drew Robinson (RB/DB), Zachary Rogozinski (RB/LB), Brock Rochow (WR/DB), Foster Pybus (OL/LB), Jalen Rogozinski (QB/DB), Joey Ballagh (WR/DB), Gary Killinger (RB/LB), Cameron Loveall (OL/DL), Travis Salyer (OL/DL), Zach Fletcher (TE/LB)

▶ Other contributors: Kameryn Gross (OL/DL), Braiden Royal (RB/LB), Shannon Henderson (WR/DB), Ethan Monaghan (WR/DB), Nick Graves (OL/DL)

▶ Outlook: The six victories last season for the Panthers were the most for the program since 2015 but that didn’t equate to enough points to reach the state playoffs. Stockbridge, which will play as an independent this fall after previously being part of the now defunct-GLAC, has eight returning starters on offense and seven on defense this fall. With the returning experience, the Panthers hope to find success and earn a trip to the playoffs.

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Football preview 2023: Corunna, Ovid-Elsie, Ithaca eye playoff returns