Cranbrook defeated Redford Union 35-0 in there 2017 season opener.
The Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Cranes will face the Redford Union Panthers in their football season opener this week.
The Panthers finished 3-6 last year and placed third in the Western Wayne Conference, Blue Division.
Redford Union achieved a 43-40 conference last year over Warren Fitzgerald in a signature victory.
Under new Panthers head coach Ian Iler, the team looks to return to their MHSAA playoff form from 2 years ago with a stronger power game.
“They are a running team that wants to come straight at you,”, says Cranes Head Coach Scott Steward. “We must prepare for a good game from a well-coached team.”
The Panthers will be led by QB/DE Carl Ware. a 6’0” 200 lbs. senior who has been a rushing leader and a leading tackler the last two years. Ware was named an impact player for 2018 by the Detroit News.
Other players will include 5’11” 190 lbs. senior RB JaJuan Stokes, 6’2” 195 lbs. senior LB Cameron Wells, and 6’4” 275 lbs. senior OL/DL Derion Gould.
The Cranes enter in to the 2018 season as first place finishers of the CHSL Intersectional I division and champions of the Catholic League Prep Bowl. Cranbrook moves to the AA-Division of the CHSL this season.
They also have made four straight appearances in the MHSAA playoffs. The Cranes are recognized as a rising football program. The energy from last year has carried over to the off-season.
“We are coming off a good pre-season camp, along with a good preseason scrimmage vs Centerline. We have a lot of positive energy”, says Coach Steward.
Cranbrook will return with a good number of starters, including 6’2’ 185 lbs. senior WR Kobi Russell, a Colgate commit who played well last season.
His offensive complements will be 5’11 180 lbs. senior WR Torrell Williams and 5’11” 170 lbs. junior RB Tariq Muhammad. 5’ 9” senior RB Murari Nelluri will also factor heavily in the Cranes offense.
Defensively, the Cranes will be led by 6’3” 305 lbs. senior DT Danny Files, listed in the top 100 players for the Class of 2019 by D1Freak, a high school sports news service.
His defensive complements will be 6’2” 200 lbs. junior LB Jack Fairman, 6’2” 220lbs junior DL Will Kerr, and 6’3” 240 lbs. sophomore DL Bryce Hall.
The Cranes defeated Redford Union 35-0 in 2017, but Cranbrook will not rest on its past success.
"This will be a good, physical game. A good test of our preparation against a good team" said Coach Steward.
This non-conference game will be played Thursday August 23, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Redford Union High School. The field is located at 17711 Kinloch Redford, MI 48240.