High school football seasons are annually memorable for anyone who’s involved, and the 2009 season was no exception.

There were four teams in the state semifinals, two teams at Ford Field for the state finals, one state champion and numerous other individual accolades that were earned by players throughout the county in the last few months.

All of those players are in this year’s 2009 all-county football team, which is listed below, starting with the Dream Team.



Offense

Tyler Scarlett, Clarkston Sr. QB — As good an all-purpose signal caller as there was in the state, Scarlett had a monster year to help lead the Wolves to the state semifinals. Scarlett completed 108 of 207 passes for 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns, and he ran the ball 195 times for 1,286 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“An outstanding leader and two-year captain,” Clarkston head coach Kurt Richardson said. “So much poise, no matter what the situation.”



Dakota Bender, Clarkston Sr. RB — The other half of the county’s best quarterback-running back tandem, Bender made plays the entire year, both on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield. Bender had 1,250 yards and 21 touchdowns on 226 carries and he had 26 receptions for 322 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 274 yards and a touchdown on kick returns.

“A pure athlete,” Richardson said. “He has the all-time record for touchdowns at Clarkston.”



Dae’Von Robinson, Southfield Jr. RB — Robinson filled in the hole vacated by the graduated Tim Keith, and then some. Taking over as the full-time starter, Robinson rushed for 1,401 yards and 22 touchdowns on 250 carries this year for the Bluejays.

“Dae’Von was our offense in the early part of the season,” Southfield head coach Tim Conley said. “We only had one returning starter back and a sophomore at quarterback. He then quickly became the focus of our opponents. However, with his determination and balance of speed and power, he was able to overcome this and help us get back to the postseason and earn a district championship.”



Kevonte Martin-Manley, Birmingham Brother Rice Sr. WR — As dangerous a deep threat as there was in the state, Martin-Manley closed out a fine high school career by catching 43 passes for 745 yards and 10 touchdowns despite facing constant attention from opposing defenses. For his three-year career at Brother Rice, the Bowling Green-bound Martin-Manley had 1,545 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.

“Kevonte is one of the best all-around athletes I’ve ever had at Brother Rice,” Brother Rice head coach Al Fracassa said. “He is a hard worker in the offseason and dedicated to continuous improvement. His knack for making the big play in crucial situations has helped us win many games over the past three years.”



Cameron Fields, West Bloomfield Sr. WR — There were not many better all-around threats than Fields, who had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards for the Lakers as a runner, receiver and kick returner. Fields caught 31 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns and had 23 carries for 307 yards and five touchdowns.

“He was the focal point of every team’s defense against us,” West Bloomfield assistant coach Jamie Thomas said. “That’s a testament to Cameron. He opened up a lot of things for the rest of the team. He’s the type of kid where every time he got the ball, you’d hold your breath.”



Dominique Shaw, Pontiac Sr. WR — The big-play threat for the Phoenix all year long, Shaw started to draw double- and triple-teams from opponents, but still managed to catch 30 passes for 667 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“He was our big-play player,” Pontiac head coach Greg Ganfield said. “Every time we needed a big play, he was the guy we went to.”



Jeff Sherman, Novi Detroit Catholic Central Sr. OL — A standout along both lines the last two years for the Shamrocks, Sherman was a big reason why Catholic Central running backs Anthony Capatina and Niko Palazeti had room to run. The anchor of the line as the team’s center, Sherman also had 38 tackles on defense.

“Jeff is very fast for a young man of his size and has great balance and footwork,” Catholic Central head coach Tom Mach said. “He is very powerful and agile.”



Nick DeMiro, Rochester Adams Sr. OL — For the second straight year, DeMiro earned a spot on the Dream Team following another year of running over opposing linemen. Offered a college scholarship by Navy and Hillsdale among others, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound DeMiro also had 35 tackles on defense.



Bryan Haslinger, Clarkston Sr. OL — An all-OAA Red performer the last two years, Haslinger was the center for an offensive line that paved the way for Scarlett, Bender and others throughout the year.

“The leader of our offensive line,” Richardson said. “A three-year starter who never missed a practice in those three years.”



Ben Walker, Lake Orion Sr. OL — A 6-foot-3, 270-pound pile mover, Walker was the leader of Lake Orion’s offensive line this year, and a catalyst behind a rushing attack that led the Dragons to a 7-3 record.

“He is a great athlete for his size and a physical player,” Lake Orion head coach Chris Bell said. “He is a tremendous all-around offensive lineman. There’s not an area he doesn’t excel in.”



Bryan Bell, Walled Lake Central Jr. OL — Showing why he is one of the state’s top recruits in the class of 2011, the 6-foot-5, 295-pound rock helped catapult Central to 3,000 rushing yards and an 8-1 record during the regular season. Bell should be a sought-after recruit over the offseason.

“He has great footwork that also allows him to get on the perimeter and attack next-level players,” Central head coach Bob Meyer said.



Defense

Kevin Harmon, Southfield Sr. DL — A pass-rushing monster all year, Harmon made a living in opposing backfields, collecting 21 sacks and 91 tackles. He also had three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

“He has a tremendous nose for the football and contributed in all areas of the game,” Conley said. “He was the one that opposing offenses had to account for.”



Niko Palazeti, Novi Detroit Catholic Central Sr. DL — Unblockable along the defensive line all year. Palazeti was named first-team all-state in Division 1-2 after making countless plays in opposing backfields. He was also nearly impossible to bring down offensively as a fullback, rushing for 1,279 yards and 24 touchdowns on 224 carries.

“Niko is one of the most outstanding football players we have coached at Catholic Central,” Mach said. “Niko is strong and fast, and runs with reckless abandon. He is a complete football player and his toughness and quickness make him an excellent defensive tackle. He has the attitude and mental toughness of a winner.”



Joe Snyder, Novi Detroit Catholic Central Sr. DL — Named honorable mention all-state in Division 1-2, Snyder bothered quarterbacks all year as an edge rusher. He had 8 1/2 sacks, but also was good against the run, registering 53 tackles. Snyder also was a guard on the offensive line.

“The best way to describe Joe is to say he is strong, fast and tenacious,” Mach said. “He has great feet and an attitude that makes him a real tough football player.”



Jordan Sanders, Rochester Adams Sr. DL — A three-year starter who was plagued by a knee injury last season, Sanders came back in full force this year to earn all-state honors. In addition to being a standout offensive lineman, Sanders had 49 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception return for a touchdown for the Highlanders.



Justin Cherocci, Birmingham Brother Rice Sr. LB — If people thought Cherocci couldn’t top last year, when he had 193 total tackles, they were wrong. Cherocci was even better this year, accumulating 220 tackles for the Warriors, 115 of which were solo. Named first-team all-state in Division 1-2, Cherocci also had four sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Cherocci led the team in tackles 22 games in a row over the last two years and has four of the top five single-game tackle totals in school history.

“Justin has been the mainstay of our defensive unit for the past two seasons,” Fracassa said. “He continues to improve and has dramatically increased his tackles for losses this year. He always seems to be the first guy to the ball, and our stopper in crucial short-yardage situations.”



Maurice Davenport, Southfield Sr. LB — The leader in the middle of the Southfield defense, Davenport was a play-making force all year. In helping lead Southfield to a Division 2 regional final, Davenport had 145 tackles, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three pass breakups this season.

“Maurice was a selfless leader for us,” Conley said. “He played offensive guard, running back, defensive lineman and linebacker the past two seasons. Wherever the team could benefit the most. In school he is a leader as well, with a 3.78 GPA.”



Earnest Thomas, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Sr. LB — Committed to UCLA, Thomas was a stopper in the middle all year long for the Eaglets with his speed, intelligence and strength. Named first-team all-state in Division 3-4, Thomas had 49.5 total tackles and four sacks defensively, and he also contributed on offense at running back with 479 yards and 13 touchdowns on 94 carries.

“He was a team leader on defense and three-year starter,” St. Mary’s head coach George Porritt said. “He played the game with great spirit and had a knack for getting to the ball.”



D.J. Lynch, Auburn Hills Avondale Sr. LB — The focal of point of Avondale’s defense all year long, Lynch in nine games had 49 tackles, 14 of which came for loss in being named honorable mention all-state in Division 1-2. Committed to Bowling Green, Lynch also rushed for 347 yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries and caught 19 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns on offense.



Vinnie Booker, Lake Orion Sr. DB — Lake Orion head coach Chris Bell called Booker the team’s best player this season, and for good reason. Booker did everything in the secondary, whether it was collecting 65 tackles, or a sack, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Booker also blocked three kicks and averaged 10 yards a punt return on special teams.

“He was our leader,” Bell said. “He made plays all over the field.”



Gary Hunter, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Sr. DB — What the 5-foot-8 Hunter didn’t have in size, he more than made up for in heart. The leader of the secondary for the Eaglets, the three-year starter finished off a fine high school career by collecting 38.5 tackles and five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Hunter also was a dangerous kick returner, amassing 547 yards and a touchdown on kickoff returns.

“He’s just tough as nails,” Porritt said. “You’re not going to get a kid that competes at a higher level.”



Andrew Schram, Clarkston Sr. DB — Just like Hunter, Schram is not very big at 5-foot-8. Despite that, Schram might have been the best player all year long on a much-improved Clarkston defense. Schram had 56 tackles, a fumble recovery and three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

“Not big, but a pit bull,” Richardson said. “A great tackler.”



Special teams

Howard Crippen, Clawson Sr. KR — Named to the Division 5-6 all-state team as a specialist, Crippen had 26 returns for 567 yards. He also ran for 1,022 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 612 yards as a receiver. Defensively, he made 75 tackles.

“Howard has been our most versatile player since his sophomore year,” Clawson head coach Jim Sparks said. “Howard has tremendous speed that allows him to play virtually any position on offense.”



Brent Regish, Farmington Hills Harrison Sr. P — A pleasant surprise all year for the Hawks, Regish frequently helped Harrison win the field-position battle by averaging 38 yards a punt and downing what Farmington Hills Harrison head coach John Herrington said were “numerous” balls inside the 20.

“He was a backup punter as a junior and we didn’t really expect he’d improve that much,” Herrington said. “He did a lot on his own. He just got better and better. We were very happy with him.”



Justin D’Agostino, Novi Detroit Catholic Central Jr. PK — Also a member of Catholic Central’s outstanding trio of linebackers, along with Mike Kinville and Butch Herzog, D’Agostino also made a mark on special teams. He kicked 59 extra points and seven field goals, two of which were over 40 yards.



Head coach

Greg Ganfield, Pontiac

It wasn’t an easy task to ensure not only team chemistry — with the merger of Northern and Central High Schools — but also success, since the two schools combined to win three games the previous year.

Not only did Pontiac jell as a team, but it won, producing a 7-2 regular season to earn a home playoff game for the first time in 10 years.



E-mail Keith Dunlap at keith.dunlap@oakpress.com



Second team

QB — Frankie Popp (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice

RB — Terrell Porter (Jr.), Berkley; Anthony Capatina (Sr.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central

WR — Aaron Burbridge (Soph.), Farmington Hills Harrison; Nate Saldivar-Garcia (Jr.), Birmingham Brother Rice; Jake Duzey (Jr.), Troy Athens.

OL — Phillip Schoof (Sr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s; Pat Fehlberg (Sr.), Lake Orion; Greg Keller (Sr.), Clarkston; Willie Beavers (Jr.), Southfield-Lathrup; Sean Grisan (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice.

DL — Matt Rea (Sr.), Rochester Adams; Jeff Deane (Sr.), Clarkston; Cortez Riley (Jr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s; Matt Judon (Sr.), West Bloomfield.

LB — Mike Kinville (Sr.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central; Tiann DeNysschen (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Drew Stokas (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Tim Hamilton (Jr.), Birmingham Brother Rice.

DB — Aaron Foster (Sr.), West Bloomfield; Jon Savakus (Sr.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central; D.J. Cook (Sr.), Farmington Hills Harrison

KR — Montrel Robinson (Sr.), Southfield-Lathrup

P — Corey Smith (Sr.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central

PK — Marco Iaderosa (Sr.), Farmington



Honorable mention (in alphabetical order)

OL/DL — Robbie Baker (Sr.), Hazel Park; Blake Bogart (Sr.), Birmingham Groves; Nick Burnham (Sr.), Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; Taylor Calero (Sr.), Southfield Christian; Joe Coyne (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Jacob Creech (Sr.), Auburn Hills Avondale; Andrew Clarahan (Sr.), Farmington; Darius Cross (Sr.), Oak Park; Nick Davis (Sr.), Rochester; Chris Eddins (Sr.), Birmingham Detroit Country Day; Michael Elzy (Sr.), Pontiac; Kyle Forman (Jr.), Berkley; Dana Harris (Sr.), Madison Heights Madison; Conor Hart (Jr.), Birmingham Brother Rice; Martin Hella (Sr.), Troy; Jake Hillenberg (Sr.), Walled Lake Northern; Jordan Jabbori (Sr.), Novi; Shafer Johnson (Jr.), Southfield Christian; Ryan Jok (Sr.), Novi; Joe Kury (Sr.), Auburn Hills Avondale; Blake Langenstein (Sr.), Auburn Hills Avondale; Austin Legant (Sr.), Holly; Michael Maltese (Sr.), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Alan Mencer (Jr.), Novi; John McCollom (Sr.), Royal Oak Shrine; Dominic Mencotti (Sr.), Farmington Hills Harrison; Keith Minbiole (Sr.), Stoney Creek; Cody Muirhead (Sr.) Milford; Pat Mullen (Sr.), Madison Heights Bishop Foley; Dylen Neill (Sr.), Berkley; Tom Norris (Jr.), Farmington; Dakota Ogles (Jr.), Hazel Park; Mario Ojemudia (Soph.), Southfield; Asher Parr-Bessemer (Sr.), Berkley; Emery Phillips (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Levi Richards (Jr.), Birmingham Brother Rice; Mark Ryda (Sr.), Troy; Jordan Scheffler (Sr.), Novi; Mike Schiano (Sr.), Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; Chris Schmidt (Sr.), Stoney Creek; D’Quan Smith (Sr.), Southfield; Kendall Smith (Sr.), Waterford Kettering; Michael Smith (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Andover; Travontay Smith (Sr. ), Pontiac; Mike Strehl (Jr.), Walled Lake Central; John Strine (Sr.), Walled Lake Northern; Rian Thomas (Sr.), Ferndale; Matt Walczak (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Leonard Welch (Sr.), Farmington; Michael Wille (Sr.), Madison Heights Bishop Foley.



WR/TE — Brian Brinker (Sr.), Troy Athens; Dustin Gamble (Sr.), Clarkston; Charles Holmes (Sr.), Rochester; Mitch Kozlowski (Jr.), Madison Heights Lamphere; Danny Larkins (Sr.), Madison Heights Madison; Shane Mahaffy (Soph.) Ortonville Brandon; Bertram Marks (Jr.), Royal Oak Shrine; Tyler Martin (Sr.), Rochester Adams; Dan Ney (Jr.), Lake Orion; Eric Palanca (Sr.), Lakeland; Bobby Pardun (Sr.), Troy; Justin Patrick (Sr.), Hazel Park; Alec Prechtel (Sr.), Rochester Adams; Evan Sassack (Sr.), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Chris Stewart (Sr.), North Farmington; Kalon Willis (Sr.), Southfield; Fred Williams (Sr.), Ferndale; James Wilson (Jr.), Farmington.



RB — Matt Andonian (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Andover; Devon Bailey (Sr.), Southfield Christian; Adam Beans (Sr.), Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; Cody Beck (Sr.), Milford; Jacob Brown (Sr.), Lakeland; Damon Brown (Sr.), Troy; Kim Bruce (Sr.), Lake Orion; Anthony Caiozzo (Jr.), Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; Dan Cobb (Sr.), Stoney Creek; Justin Davis (Sr.), Southfield-Lathrup; Paul Fry (Sr.), Waterford Kettering; Phil Galloway (Sr.), Royal Oak Shrine; Nick Garippa (Sr.), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Nick Gibby-Woods (Jr.), Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Brad Kittel (Sr.), Stoney Creek; Francois Mathews (Sr.), Auburn Hills Avondale; Dustin O’Malley (Sr.), Hazel Park; Colin Parson (Sr.), Birmingham Groves; Jimmy Pickens (Jr.), Birmingham Brother Rice; Jimmy Pitcher (Sr.), Novi; Brandon Pittman (Sr.), Ferndale; Valdez Showers (Jr.), Madison Heights Madison; Vince Simpson (Sr.), West Bloomfield; Curtis Thomas (Sr.), Southfield-Lathrup; Chris Wheeler (Sr.), Lake Orion; Dominick Wiggins (Sr.), Hazel Park.



QB — Robert Bolden (Sr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s; Kevin Bolhuis (Sr.), Stoney Creek; Nick Bradley (Jr.), Rochester; Phil Brown (Jr.), West Bloomfield; Joe Diamond (Sr.), Walled Lake Central; Rob Feeman (Sr.), Clawson; Mike Frakes (Sr.), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Andrew Hammett (Jr.), Rochester Adams; Branch Kampe (Jr.), Royal Oak Shrine; Erik Kelly (Sr.), Lakeland; Jonathon McKnight (Sr.), Pontiac; Adante’ Poindexter (Jr.), Oak Park; Jack Quigley (Sr.), Birmingham Seaholm; Vince Salatino (Sr.), Farmington Hills Harrison; Mike Sullivan (Jr.), Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; Bobby Wunderlich (Sr.), Troy.



LB — Joey Ashmore (Jr.), Ferndale; Matt Berkseth (Sr.), Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest; Lawrence Brown (Sr.), West Bloomfield; Jordan Clark (Sr.), Clarkston; Jarmar French (Sr.), Auburn Hills Avondale; Carthel Garth (Jr.), Southfield; Kane Hayes (Sr.), Lake Orion; Derek Head (Jr.), Farmington Hills Harrison; Chris Heald (Sr.), West Bloomfield; Butch Herzog (Sr.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central; Keontae Hollis (Sr.), Pontiac; Casey Humes (Sr.), Berkley; Percy Johnson (Jr.), Madison Heights Madison; Scott Kase (Sr.), Walled Lake Northern; Tyler Kerstetter (Sr.), Birmingham Seaholm; Ramonta Kimble (Sr.), Pontiac; Patrick Masopust (Sr.), Royal Oak Shrine; John Mattar (Jr.), Troy; Brian Miller (Sr.), North Farmington; Mitchell Musto (Sr.), Walled Lake Northern; Kyle Pennington (Sr.), Troy Athens; Jack Quigley (Sr.), Birmingham Seaholm; Jason Ray (Sr.), Birmingham Detroit Country Day; Zach Reed (Sr.), Stoney Creek; James Ross (Soph.), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s; Tarmazz Scott (Jr.), Oak Park; Phil Serzo (Sr.), Lake Orion; Isaiah Smith (Sr.), Southfield-Lathrup; Cody Thomas (Sr.), Hazel Park; Clinton Treadway (Sr.), Hazel Park; Jacob Wardach (Sr.), Waterford Mott; Gary Wurtz (Sr.), Oxford.



DB — Alex Benitez (Sr.), Birmingham Groves; Derek Booker (Sr.), Clarkston; Max Chapman (Sr.), Farmington Hills Harrison; Robert Dooley (Sr.), Pontiac; Dylan Easley (Sr.), Auburn Hills Avondale; Nate Good (Sr.), Berkley; Alonzo Graham (Sr.), Southfield; Gabe Grifka (Sr.), Oxford; Raymiel Hill (Jr.), Oak Park; Josh Houldsworth (Sr.), Holly; Brian Jones (Sr.), Oak Park; Jailin Kelly (Sr.), Farmington Hills Harrison; David Loveland (Sr.), South Lyon; William Lyons (Sr.), Southfield; Joe MacLean (Sr.), Birmingham Detroit Country Day; Jabari Martin (Sr.), Pontiac; Austin McClelland (Sr.), Rochester Adams; Jeremy Mims (Sr.), Novi; Keith Otterbein (Sr.), Birmingham Seaholm; Andrew Nelson (Jr.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central; Mike Nelson (Sr.), Lake Orion; Ryan Rosen (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Andover; Nick Roth (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Mitch Sanders (Jr.), Farmington; Martez Shelton (Sr.), Pontiac; Kevin Waksmundzki (Sr.), Farmington; Zach Washington (Jr.), North Farmington.



K/P — Brian Benway (Jr.), Clarkston; Kyle Braun (Soph.), Berkley; Jesse Haji’Sheik (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Central; Kyle Weslosky (Sr.), Troy Athens.