In a matter of less than five years, tiny Southfield Christian went from not having a football program to becoming a factory of gridiron talent that equals schools 10 times its size in enrollment, facilities and exposure.

 

Over the past 12 months, the Eagles - holding 20 players in its entire program, less than 125 boys in the entire school - have placed three players at the Division 1 level and currently have a slew of others getting serious looks, with potential offers coming soon.

 

During the 2008 season, the team's third ever in existence, the Eagles made the playoffs, led by future D1 talents, Taylor Calero (DE) and Devon Bailey (RB). Last fall in their senior campaignn Calero and Bailey were both hindered by injuries and they played less than two games between them. Nonetheless, the resourceful SC'ers still managed to finish about .500 for the second straight year at 5-4, just barely missing the postseason.

Calero accepted a scholarship offer from head coach Mark D'antonio and his staff at Michigan State prior to the start of the 2009 season. Bailey, who had offers from a pair of MAC schools, chose to come on board as a preferred walk-on at Northern Illinois over joining Calero up in East Lansing in that same capacity.

 

Other players from the '08 and '09 teams that are playing college ball right now are former quarterback and wide receiver Connor Michaels (Heidleberg University in OH) and former lineman ,Justin Milne (Alma). Even though AD Tim Fracassi elected to step down as head coach and promote tenured position-coach, Harold Macks as his replacement, the stability factor is still in place with a bulk of last season's squad returning.

 

The Eagles defensive front will be stout and steady with seniors Shafer Johnson (6-1, 305 lb), who will be plugging the gap in the middle at nose tackle and nose guard and Adam Peterson (6-2 230) and Ryan Ford (6-4 275 lb), who will be lining up beside him on both sides of the ball.

 

A transfer into SC as a junior after spending his first two years of high school at AH Avondale, Johnson was named first team all-state in his first year playing varsity football last season. To say he was a fast learner would be an extreme understatement. Johnson absolutely ate up the competition, racking up Reggie White/Charles Haley-type numbers - 11 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 5 blocked field goals - and gaining attention from college recruiters. Last month, Johnson achieved his dream of earning a DI football scholarship, verbally committing to Indiana of the Big Ten Conference.

 

Watson and Peterson are both getting looks from the local Mid-Majors and with Johnson anchoring things up front again, they should each benefit greatly in the stat department, which will be nice resume-builders for the scouts.

 

Several new and intriguing players and coaches are in the mix at SC as well and when you combine that with the Big League skill coming back, the Eagles are poised for a return to the playoffs in 2010 and appear to have a legit shot at a D8 conference crown, not to mention a trip to Ford Field in November.

 

Besides a new coach, SC has also brought on board a new offensive coordinator in former Sterling Heights High School OC, Nick Marogy, a young and on-the-move 'X&O' guru, known for his mastery of the vertical passing game. Marogy will have plenty to work with this year as the Eagles have speed and size in all of their offensive packages.

 

Starting at quarterback will be sophomore Jason Fusco, a jet-quick double-threat who will be fast to make a name for himself in the county ranks before the fall is complete. Fellow sophomore, Justin Pritchett will be taking the bulk of the team's carries at the tailback spot and a bunch of those will likely be in draw situations (look for Pritchett to be used in the short passing game as well).

 

The receiving corps should be another strength for SC this season. At the top of the list is D1 recruit, R.J. Hoover, a raw talent that is ranked very high on state recruiting charts but as yet to play a down of varsity ball. Hoover, (6-2, runs a 4.6, has 30 inch vertical), will split out wide in a big chunk of the team's sets, however, defenses can't overplay his speed because he has shown the ability to come across the middle too. On the other split end, will be transfer Carlton Wu, a shifty speedster who was at the school as a middle schooler, moved to North Carolina and returned last winter and in the slot will be Cameron Campbell, a tough and reliable possession receiver with underrated afterburners. The Tight End spot will be manned by Josh Macks, who is solid catching the ball in the flat and who will also see time at linebacker on defense.