2021 MLIVE BAY CITY
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL OVERVIEW
Bay City All Saints Cougars
COACH
Eric Gust, eighth year (24-40)
HOME FIELD
St. Stanislaus Field
LEAGUE
North Central Thumb League Stripes
All Saints quarterback Brendan VanSumeren brings his team to the line of scrimmage during 2019 action.Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com
2020 RECORD
4-3 overall, 3-2 NCTL
2020 RECAP
The season got off to an ominous start when All Saints was the first team in the state to bow out of a game for coronavirus concerns in Week 1, then the Cougars got rolled 42-0 by North Huron in Week 2. But they bounced back in impressive fashion, reeling off three straight wins. They would go on to add a playoff victory over Carsonville-Port Sanilac before getting ousted by Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.
2021 OUTLOOK
With only two seniors on the roster, it could be a year of learning for Bay City All Saints.
But it could also be a year of winning.
The Cougars feature an extremely young roster that includes nine freshmen and a handful of other first-year players. But with a 21-player squad, they can do more things to help learn as they grow in the eight-player game.
“We found out (in our scrimmage) how young we really are,” All Saints coach Eric Gust said. “With what we lost (from last year), we knew that was going to be an issue. But now it’s time for a lot of these guys to bring it up to the next level.
“We’re asking a lot from our younger players. That’s kind of where we’re at with our program – and we’re not alone in that.”
Quarterback Brendan VanSumeren and all-purpose player Damien Torres are the lone seniors on the team, but they are capable of leading the way to good things.
Playing in the NCTL, the Cougars will face some really good teams and some really bad teams and the key is to not rise and fall to the level of competition. If they can find some consistency, this is a group that can lay the groundwork for years of success.
“The goal is to have a winning season, obviously,” Gust said. “When all is said and done, we want to be on the right side of that coin.
“We have the right caliber of players to be contenders. But we’ve got to show up.”
Damien Torres of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
2021 ROSTER
OL/ DL Richard Ballard, jr.
SE/DB Robbie Ballard, so.
RB/DB Logan Cudejko, jr.
OL/LB Luke Dengler, jr.
RB/DB Martin Gerold, so.
OL/DL Ethan Iseler, fr.
OL/DL Cruz Jasso, fr.
TE/LB Levi Johnson, fr.
OL/DL D.J. Krzysiak, fr.
OL/DL Alan McCarty, fr.
RB/LB Ryan McDonell, jr.
OL/DL Bryce Monville, so.
QB/LB Andrew Nixon, so.
OL/DL Jordan Perko, jr.
RB/LB Chris Pope, fr.
OL/DL Noah Potvin, fr.
OL/DL Michael Rhodus, fr.
TE/DL Antonio Salinas, so.
RB/DB Damien Torres, sr.
QB/DB Brendan VanSumeren, sr.
RB/DB Chuck Warren, fr.
All Saints’ Brendan VanSumeren poses for a photograph during the Bay City Times High School Football Media Day at Wanigan Eatery & Deli in Bay City on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com
QUARTERBACKS
Rare is the team that can boast a three-year starting quarterback, but that’s a luxury the Cougars have this season. Brendan VanSumeren is now a senior and primed to put his extensive experience to proper use.
“He’s got good poise, he’s a good pocket passer,” Gust said. “He’s got a nice touch for the long ball. He had trouble at times because he was always looking for the home run ball. But now that he’s more experienced and more comfortable with our offense, he’s making better decisions.”
VanSumeren can tuck it and run, and has a decent arm, but the Cougars have had limited success with the passing game since joining eight-player football. VanSumeren could change all that this season.
Sophomore Andrew Nixon is also expected to see some action under center as the QB-in-waiting.
All Saints’ Ryan McDonell poses for a photograph during the Bay City Times High School Football Media Day at Wanigan Eatery & Deli in Bay City on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com
RUNNING BACKS
After graduating explosive, four-year standout Tyler Ducolon, the Cougars must shift gears with their running game. They go from a diminutive speedster to the power-running Ryan McDonell this season. McDonell provides excitement of a different kind, doing much of his damage with brute force.
“With Tyler gone, that changes our game quite a bit,” Gust said. “We have to be more physical, and Ryan is certainly capable of doing that.”
Freshman Chris Pope is among the group expected to see action in the backfield, but look for McDonell to be a workhorse runner.
Robert Ballard of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
RECEIVERS
With an experienced quarterback comes more opportunities for the receiving corps. Look for the Cougars to go to the air with more frequency and success this season, setting the stage for a big season for the receivers.
“We’re going to open up,” Gust said. “I don’t think we can grind it out like we did in the past. It’s going to take a little finesse.”
The Cougars feature some young but skilled pass-catchers, fronted by Robbie Ballard and Chuck Warren at wideout. Antonio Salinas is a pass-catching threat at tight end. All Saints doesn’t return anybody who caught four or more passes a year ago.
Jordan Perko of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
The Cougars are a little green in the experience category on the front line, but they have some athletes who can become difference-makers.
Senior Damien Torres is a solid guard, but he’s a valuable and versatile commodity, so he won’t likely be on the line full-time. Junior Jordan Perko anchors the line at center while junior Luke Dengler should be a force up front.
“He brings a lot to our program and a lot to our game,” Gust said. “This is going to be his breakout season. He’s a strong, physical kid.”
Richard Ballard of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
With a lot of moving parts, it’s difficult to peg anybody as a defensive lineman as players shift to linebacker and even the secondary.
But expect Damien Torres to make plenty of noise when he’s lined up in the trenches. As one of only two seniors on the team, he’s ready to lead by example.
“Damien is a hybrid player,” Gust said. “He can play anywhere. We’re going to need him as a down tackle, but we could also use him in the secondary. That’s the kind of player he is.”
Look for Jordan Perko and Torres to line up at the nose and loom large at the point of attack. Chris Pope and Richard Ballard are expected to work their way into valuable minutes as first-year varsity players.
All Saints’ Luke Dengler poses for a photograph during the Bay City Times High School Football Media Day at Wanigan Eatery & Deli in Bay City on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com
LINEBACKERS
The nucleus of this team just might stand side-by-side in the middle of the field at linebacker for the Cougars. Returning starters Ryan McDonell and Luke Dengler give All Saints a rugged 1-2 punch that should set the tone.
“When you dream of a defense – as I always do as a defensive-minded guy – you always hope you can get two identical bookends,” Gust said. “If you get two anchors, guys who can plug the holes and cover the outside, you can win a lot of ballgames.”
Both players have size and speed and can bring the thunder – and both are only juniors. They will be joined at the position by Andrew Nixon, Chris Pope and Antonio Salinas.
Chuck Warren of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Four-year varsity player Brendan VanSumeren anchors the secondary from his safety slot, and he’ll be surrounded by a group that Gust envisions as up-and-coming playmakers.
“It used to be corner was a place you could put somebody out there to hide. Not in eight-man,” he said. “They’ve got to come up and basically play linebacker. These guys have big responsibilities, for sure.”
Returning starter Logan Cudejko and newcomers Chuck Warren and Martin Gerold should see plenty of action in defense of the passing game.
Andrew Nixon of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This may be the area where Tyler Ducolon is missed the most, as the speedster was good for some electric moments every week in the return game.
“We don’t have that blazing speed guy, that blur-as-he-goes-by guy,” Gust said. “We’ll have to get it done a little differently this year.”
The versatile Damien Torres is likely to inherit return responsibilities. Brendan VanSumeren is in line to handle the punting -- and possibly the kicking -- duties.
The All Saints coaching staff includes Matthew Judd, Pat Gorzenski, Jason Brzezinski, John Nixon, Eric Gus, Kevin Klapish, Brady Neitzel and Kevin Walker.
COACHING STAFF
Jason Brzezinski
Pat Gorzenski
Matthew Judd
Kevin Klapish
Brady Neitzel
John Nixon
Kevin Walker
Antonio Salinas of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
2021 SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 vs. Carsonville-Port Sanilac*
Sept. 2 vs. Kinde North Huron*
Sept. 10 vs. Caseville*
Sept. 17 at Peck*
Sept. 24 at St. Helen Heston
Oct. 1 at Akron-Fairgrove*
Oct. 8 vs. Ashley*
Oct. 15 vs. New Haven Merritt
Oct. 22 at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart*
*League game
Bryce Monville of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
Playoff berths: 19
1976-79-88-89-90-91-92-96-97-01-03-05-06-08-10-15-17*-19*-20*
District titles: 1
2008
Regional titles: 2
1976-97
*Eight-player football
Chris Pope of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
TOP PASSING PERFORMERS
1,000 passing yards in regular season (1998-2020)
Trevor Sutton (2016) 1245
Cruz Jasso of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
TOP RUSHING PERFORMERS
1,000 rushing yards in regular season (1998-2020)
Drew Janer (2010) 1333
*J.P. Szczypka (2017) 1292
Aaron Janer (2008) 1139
*Tyler Ducolon (2019) 1135
Nathan Fritz (2003) 1097
Andrew Grocholski (2006) 1032
*Eight-player football
Martin Gerold of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
TOP PERFORMERS
Receiving yardage leaders in regular season (1998-2020)
*J.P. Szczypka (2017) 653
*C.J. Samborn (2018) 641
Grant Dittmer (2016) 545
Garrett Bowker (2010) 543
Grant Dittmer (2015) 492
Robert Cherry (2003) 439
Nick Hunter (2011) 416
*C.J. Samborn (2017) 400
J.P. Szczypka (2016) 320
*Eight-player football
BAY COUNTY FOOTBALL OVERVIEWS
2021 Bay City Central overview
Noah Potvin of the Bay City All Saints football team for 2021.
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