Waterford Wildcats

Coach: Todd Sevick

Record at school: 18-13

Last year: Waterford (5-5, 4-3) was ready to play a role in the SL hunt, before RB Dylan Gonzalez went down with an injury and missed the rest of the season.

Last league title: None

Last playoff berth: 2010

Coaching staff: Dave Johnson, Larry Shepherd, Bill Hopper, Jeff Parker, Randy Angle.

Top returners: RB Dylan Gonzalez (5-10, 185), RB/DB Branson Angle (5-8, 190), QB Josh Hickman (5-9, 155, jr.), OL/DL Eric Howard (6-0, 200), OL/DL David Redding (6-0, 210), OL/DL Christian Gutierrez (5-10, 185), OL/DL Levi LaMunyon (5-10, 185), OL/DL Anthony Elizarras (6-2, 230), ILB Alva Stanfield (6-0, 220), OLB Cody Landes (5-9, 210), TE/DE Reid Hawkins (6-2, 180), DL Will Cortes (5-10, 200).

Top newcomers: WR/DB Jesus Vega (5-9, 145, jr.),RB/LB Johnny Becerra (5-10, 180, jr.)

Outlook: This has the potential to be Waterford’s top team since the school began playing varsity ball in 2002. Gonzalez (1,439 yards, 15 TDs in 2010; 553 yards, 9 TDs before season-ending injury in fourth week) returns and makes a formidable 1-2 punch with Angle (915 yards, 6.9-yard avg., 10 TDs; 10 catches, 142 yards, 2 TDs). … Hickman (58 of 199, 784 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs) started all 10 games as a sophomore. … Nine starters return on each side of the line, and the defense is bolstered by arrival of Vega – he would have played varsity last fall, but wasn’t old enough. … Five starters return on the offensive line, and both ILBs (Stanfirld and Landes) are back to anchor the defense. … Cortes moves from DE to the center of the line, giving the Wildcats some bulk inside.

Key game: Week 6 (Oct. 5) vs. Le Grand. Waterford expects to have a healthy Gonzalez back and Le Grand lost a ton of talent from last year’s team that went to the state final.