KLAA football final season predictions, top players and more

How do you respectfully say good-bye to a 13-year-old high school athletic conference like the Kensington Lakes Activities Association, which has provided so many highlights to metro-Detroit communities?

For starters, the conference football coaches and Commissioner Bryan Masi held the final KLAA Football Media Day at Northville’s Hillside Middle School.

While there were no tears shed at the event, several coaches shared their heart-felt appreciation for the league once they walked on stage to talk about their 2026 teams.

New division alignments

The 14-school league has been divided into two seven-team divisions: Black and Gold.

Following the 2026 football season, most KLAA schools will be joining the Southeast Conference.

Here is a synopsis of each team’s outlook, standout players and top newcomers as compiled (with help of coaches) by Masi and Northville Athletic Director Brian Samulski.

Black Division

(listed in predicted order of finish in pre-season coaches’ poll)

NORTHVILLE

Head Coach: Brent Luplow (4th year)

Key returners: Noah Stump, Tristen Salvas, Danny O’Neil, Nick Nathan, Parker Laney, Cassius Montgomery, Drew Meussner and Alex Baird

Promising newcomers: Cole Boring, Nick Spaude and Mason Irving

Philosophy for upcoming season: “1-0 each week. Trust the Process and Stay Focused!”

BELLEVILLE

Head Coach: Calvin Norman (4th year)

Key returners: Charles “Tre” Britton III, Kendall Franklin, Trenton Foley, Rokko Jackson, Geonte Morris, Zu’Bril Ruff and Derrick Taylor

Promising newcomers: Jace Evans, Cameron Sims

Philosophy for upcoming season: “Elevate”

DEARBORN FORDSON

Head Coach: Osama Abulhassan (1st year)

Key returners: Adnan Abdulkarim, Ayoub Abdulsater, Abbas Ajami, Laith Alijanaby, Murtadha Allabbah, Fadil Alzubaidy, Mohamed Aoun, Yasin Barbour, Amer Daher, Ibrahim Froukh, Ali Haidar, Dean Hammond, Hassan Hoballah, Ahmad Hraich, Tyrone Reaves, Jr., Ali Rizk and Muhammad Siddiq

Promising newcomers: Ameer Almoslemawi, Mohamad Awada, Hussein Fakih, Mohamad Hammoud and Ali Harb.

Philosophy for upcoming season: “Get better every day”

PLYMOUTH

Head Coach: Matt Penn (1st season)

Key returners: Hayden Schultz, Kaiden Moore, Andrae McSween, Liam Korte, Gabe Watson, Joel Dewberry, Drake Conte, Cullen Dixon, Ryan Grzelak, Abdel Eldow and Gabe Christensen

Promising newcomers: Xavier Williams, Charlie Voden, Yahya Hammoud, Noah Bravo, Johnny Stiglish and Ethan Soper

NOVI

Head Coach: Logan Pawloski (1st year)

Key returners: Cody Walker, Johnny Woytowich, Aiden Cook, Hayden Dokus, Sully McGee, John Endrezel and Alex Abler

Promising newcomers: Lewis Cardenas, Marcio Corbeli-Tavolari, Dante Darling and Colt Campbell

Philosophy for the upcoming season: “Establish our program pillars of T.R.U.S.T. (Toughness, Resiliency, Unity, Selflessness, Tenacity) and create an environment for personal and athletic development that positions us to compete at a high level.”

SALEM

Head Coach: Landon Garrett (4th year)

Key returners: Caleb Chinyadza, Coultan Hall, Braylon Bowie and Parker Wagner

Promising newcomers: Payton Myles and Kayden Wright

Philosophy for the upcoming season: “One Team, One Mission, Finish”

CANTON

Head Coach: Eric Newton (3rd year)

Key returners: Elliott Patton, Zion Malone, Dylan Parrish, Jordan Banko, Alex Ryce, Sam Spril, Jaden Neshiewat, Nathan Lombardo, Braden Schimmel and Johnathan Chesnut

Promising newcomers: David Hull, Evan Armour and Tyler Usher

Philosophy for upcoming season: “Earn it!”

Gold Division

HOWELL

Head Coach: Brian Lewis (6th year)

Key returners: Bryce Kish, Marc Flynn, Brennan McLearon, Alex Adam, Ryan O’Dea, Christian Greene, Palmer VanDeven, Frank Kanka, Jack Gondick and Arber Korkut

Promising newcomers: Walker Weiss, Luka Campo, Sergio Campo, Aiden Guadiano, Ethan Wiebusch, Jaxson Pierce, Will Fortner and Levi Racey

Philosophy for upcoming season: “Heads down and work. Know where we have come from. Know who we are. Compete.”

BRIGHTON

Head Coach: Brian Lemons (12th year)

Key returners: Dom D’Agosta, Jamo Parsell, Dom Nauss, Jack Carlson, JAyden Byrd, Brody Shannon, Jayden Ciponaer and Johnny Finley

Philosophy for upcoming season: “Be better … at the little things. Take accountability for the meaningful things.”

HARTLAND

Head Coach: Aaron Metz (2nd year)

Key Returners: William Tobin, Nic Honeycutt, Coen Chwalek, Anakin West, Michael Horton and Nate Anderer

Promising newcomers: Jackson Duppong, Erza Trim, William Wagner, Blake Czubaj and Tyler Johnston

Philosophy for upcoming season: “Built not given.”

DEARBORN

Head Coach: Michael Bustamante (1st year)

Key returners: Hadi Idress, Ameer Hachem, Mehdi Kabbani and Khalil Mosallam

Promising newcomers: Ali Saad, Hamoodi Bahssoun and Jeremy Walker

Philosophy for upcoming season: “As a Dearborn High alumni, and first-year head coach, I plan on re-establishing the expectation. Our philosophy is character, discipline and maximum effort. Control what you can control.”

WESTLAND JOHN GLENN

Head Coach: Charles Searcy (1st year)

Key returners: Jae Rich, Jaida Kozlowski, Tyler Katsis, Jeremiah Allen, Ray Watson and Oscar Krasson

Promising newcomers: Maddox Mayer and Tyreik Calloway

WAYNE MEMORIAL

Head Coach: Eric Pettway (2nd year)

Key returners: Davion Wilson, Keshawn Evans, Kennedy Netters-Smith, King Bryant Murphy, Robert Gaines IV and Kenneth Finley

Promising newcomers: Devon Hampton Jr and Dominic Taylor

Philosophy for upcoming season: “Keep stacking days.”

DEARBORN HEIGHTS CRESTWOOD

Head Coach: Hass Beydoun (1st year)

Key returners: Jordan Brooks, Zain Phillips, Malek Abdallah and Ali Jaber

Promising newcomers: Jawad Farhat and Faisal Zaaiter

Philosophy for upcoming season: “New culture, new breed.”

SocialHouseNews.com’s Top 10 games for the upcoming season:

10. Wayne at John Glenn (Oct. 2)

9. Salem at Canton (Oct. 2)

8. Canton at Plymouth (Sept. 18)

7. Dearborn at Fordson (Sept. 18)

6. Hartland at Howell (Oct. 2)

5. Brighton at Northville (Sept. 11)

4. Novi at Northville (Sept. 18)

3. Northville at Belleville (Oct. 9)

2. Brighton at Hartland (Sept. 18)

1.Howell at Belleville (Sept. 3)