Despite graduations, Rogers City aims to return to playoffs

ROGERS CITY -- In its first two seasons of eight-player football, things have seemingly come easy to Rogers City, with a 17-3 record and two playoff berths as proof of the Hurons' success.

Time will tell if the Hurons earn a third consecutive playoff berth for just the second time in program history, but it may not come as easily during the 2023 season.

"We actually have a pretty young team this year," Rogers City coach Jesse Fenstermaker said. "We graduated 12 seniors from last year, so a lot of our experience is gone. We do have six seniors this year, two of which are brand new to football. Every year, you want to go out and do better than the year before, and these guys are no different. They want to outdo the seniors from last year."

Young team or not, Rogers City will be the team other teams in the North Star's League's Little Dipper division are gunning for. The Hurons won the division with a perfect 4-0 record last season, one game ahead of second-place Alcona.

Rogers City's six seniors are Austin Fenstermaker, Connor Muller, Justin Romel, Landon Mertz, Isaac Paull, Josh Altman, and Caden Famer.

Paull returns to Rogers City's lineup after a record-setting campaign in 2022. He was a North Star League first-team selection and set a new school record with 1,471 yards and 19 touchdowns on 119 carries.

The Hurons are hoping for big numbers from Paull again after the team set a new program record for points with an average of 37.8 per game.

Paull will be joined in the backfield by Austin Fenstermaker, Muller, Farmer, and juniors Gabe Himes and Demetrios Zahos could also see some touches.

At quarterback, Paull could see some time there, as well, though the Hurons hope to turn to sophomore Justin Romel.

Altman, junior Gavin Himes, Mertz, and junior Andrew Bruski will provide targets at tight end, as will junior receiver Dylan Kreft.

Up front, the Hurons are replacing their entire offensive line, including two all-conference players. But coach Fenstermaker is encouraged by his rotation, which includes juniors Blaise Szatkowski, Charles Allen, Elijah Mulka, Gavin Rhode, and Drew Crawford.

That same group of juniors will anchor Rogers City's defensive line, along with Mertz. Altman will provide experience at linebacker, along with Paull, Famer, and Allen. In the defensive backfield, Austin Fenstermaker, Muller, Romel, Kreft, Gavin and Gabe Himes, and Zahos.

With a younger team, coach Fenstermaker knows his team may go through some growing pains, but he hopes to put them in a position to succeed as much as possible.

One thing that does help, Fenstermaker said, is that, because Rogers City's youth football program plays eight-player football and teams run a modified version of his offense, players join the high school team knowing what to expect.

"I think being a teacher is going to help me there, just being patient," Fenstermaker said. "I know these guys are doing the best they can, and, if they're out there giving you all they've got, you can't ask for more than that."

Repeating as conference champions won't be easy, but Fenstermaker said his team, especially the seniors, have high expectations, and the Hurons should finish in the upper half of their division.

"There are a couple of teams that stand out when I look at it," Fenstermaker said. "Alcona is one. They're very loaded with seniors. I expect them to be good this year. Posen is another one loaded with seniors. I know they're going to be tough and they're tough every year. Au Gres has a young core and they're going to be good this year."