Here’s why Brighton is favored to win the 2022 KLAA West football championship – Daily Press & Argus

Livingston County QB1 candidates talk about upcoming football season

Livingston County quarterbacks talk about their position battles and outlook for the 2022 football season.

Bill Khan, Livingston Daily

NORTHVILLE Of the motivational tactics at Brightons disposal in 2022, playing the disrespect card isnt among them.

The Bulldogs missed the state football playoffs last fall, but they have the attention of Kensington Lakes Activities Association coaches heading into this season.

Brighton has been chosen by league coaches as the preseason favorite to win the West Division after tying for fourth place last year with a young roster.

No team in the KLAA has more experience, as the Bulldogs return nine starters on offense and eight on defense.

The coaches dont know anything, Brighton coach Brian Lemons said with a laugh Friday during the leagues annual media day. I just picked the coach I like the most; thats the one I picked to win. No, just kidding.

Lemons doesnt mind having a large target on his teams back. It beats the alternative of having low expectations.

They deserve that type of respect, for sure, he said. But the preseason poll is meaningless if they dont go out and put the time and the work in.

Brighton last won the KLAA West in 2018 with a 7-0 record. The 2019 team that reached the state Division 1 championship game was second to Plymouth in the division before going on its run to Ford Field. The Bulldogs were second in 2019 and 2020 before tying Novi for fourth last year in a division won by Hartland and Howell.

It might put a little pressure on us, Brighton senior linebacker Griffin Bell said. Our team knows how good we can be. Weve been saying this all year that it doesnt matter if you think youre gonna be good; if you dont do anything, it doesnt matter. We just come out there to work every day. We know what weve got to do to get the job done.

After Brighton, the predicted order of finish in the KLAA West is Howell, Canton, Hartland, Novi, Northville, Plymouth and Salem.

Novi is the second-most experienced team in the West with seven returning starters on offense and seven on defense.

Brian in Week 3 or 4 made this youth movement where you went and looked and almost everybody starting for him is an underclassman, Novi coach Jim Sparks said. I think hes got five former head coaches on his coaching staff. Not just retreads, were talking Hall of Fame-caliber coaches like Mark Thomas, Denny Hopkins. These are like the best of the best. I dont know if hes got NIL over there for coaches in Brighton or what. I know what Ill do when I retire.

Following is a rundown of the KLAA West teams:

This team could be as loaded as the 2019 state runner-up squad, with returning talent at nearly every position.

Colin McKernan led Livingston County with 1,506 passing yards last year, but is being pushed for the job by 2021 back-up Grant Hetherton. Whoever is quarterback will have three solid targets in Jack Gregorich, Mason Millhouse and Ashton Tomassi. Leading rusher Carson Shrader returns.

The linebacking group of Bell, Hunter Harding and Luke Frisinger could be elite.

Our group of seniors, as a whole, shares such a brotherhood that its changing the way weve been able to operation in the offseason, Lemons said. Theyve taken responsibility. Theyve taken everything straight to the front of the room.

Canton hasnt had a losing season since 1999, so the expectation is that the Chiefs will find a way to contend, despite returning only two starters.

Josiah West and Caleb Williams, who each play running back and receiver, are the only Chiefs who played regularly last year.

Its getting them the confidence and belief they can do this, Canton coach Andrew LaFata said. Just because you didnt start last year doesnt mean youre not better than that player was at Week 1 last year. You just werent in there.

The Eagles return the county leaders in rushing (Joey Mattord, 1,109 yards), tackles (Chase Kern, 128) and interceptions (Sam Clay, nine).

Clay may also double as the teams starting quarterback, as he did late last season. The skill guys should get protection behind veteran blockers Vincent Cox, Cooper Pyle and Jaxson Wilson.

Footballs a great game, Hartland coach Brian Savage said. It teaches a lot of life lessons. We at Hartland are always trying to do that. We use football as an extension of our classroom, of life.

"Obviously, weve got teams in here who have been to the ultimate life experience as far as football goes. Weve got some of us in the middle and weve got some of us on the other end now. Competing against these coaches and programs in this league is pretty impressive. Its got to be one of the top leagues in the state.

The Highlanders have a three-man battle going to replace two-year starter Nolan Petru at quarterback. Cole Quattlander will be the primary running back after getting some starts when Western Michigan recruit August Johanningsmeier was injured.

Guard Nolan Nelson leads a strong offensive line that will be called upon to run-block more often than not. The defense returns the top two tacklers from last year in linebacker Carter Kraft and safety John Lovich.

The goal for Howell this year is just to continue to improve, push for more, Howell coach Brian Lewis said. Thats a big thing for everybody in here, continue to push. … Were just trying to raise the bar in Howell.

Northville coach Matt Ladach had the quote of the day from the podium Friday.

I look around the room, he said. We dont have three cats who look like this over here from Belleville. We dont have farmers that are sprinkling the corn field with human growth hormone like theyve got over in Howell and Hartland. But what weve got is a bunch of ordinary dudes.

Luca Prior got some starts at quarterback last season.

He played quite a bit last year, so having him back is a big deal, Ladach said. Good experience and he throws the ball really well.

The Wildcats have the most experienced quarterback in the division in third-year starter Luke Aurilia, who threw for 1,080 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran for 451 and five scores last year.

The Wildcats return their three leading rushers in Aurilia, Cole Shires (433 yards, nine touchdowns) and Martez Langford (266 yards, three touchdowns).

The expectations are to compete and win every week, Sparks said. We just talked about it as a team; before a dream can come true, you have to have a dream. One thing I worked on pretty hard coming into Novi is we need to raise our expectations, so we can strive and that should spur on success.

Plymouth has gone 2-14 the last two seasons after winning the KLAA West in 2019, averaging only six points per game last year.

The Wildcats return four starters on offense and five on defense. With a small senior class, they could be building toward bigger things next season.

We grinded and the kids worked tirelessly and we really used that time to get better, Plymouth coach Greg Souldourian said. I think that played a huge role. If you look at our weight room numbers, were similar to the numbers as 2019. Numbers dont lie; they were 9-2. Well see what happens, but theyve put in the work.

Salem has a 4-30 record the last four seasons after qualifying for the state playoffs for only the third time in 2017. Its been a revolving door since then, with Brendan Murphy taking over as the Rocks third head coach in the last four years.

Quarterback Robert Ahlgren is one of five returning starters on offense to go with five on defense.

Its been a good install, so were not starting holy crap brand new right from day one. But it still is a learning curve, because its brand new from what theyve been doing the last couple years.

Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com.Follow him on Twitter@BillKhan.

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Here's why Brighton is favored to win the 2022 KLAA West football championship - Daily Press & Argus