SE MICHIGAN

Bedford Mules

FROM LEFT: Row 1: Adam Henes, Jakob Letson, Denver Brown, Darrin Nowak, Jon Shepherd, Cory Scheuer, Dan Campbell, Jarrid Smith, Brent Busby, Brandon Sunday Row 2: Aaron Chang, Spencer Cimerman, Dan Peterson, Josh Strickland, Caleb Jensen, Syoma Akimov, Weston Swick, Scotty Szakovits, Jacob Shackle, Dan Larou, Alex Ondrus Row 3: Devon Woolford, Anthony Sailer, Lucas Mayo, Alec Hullibarger, Austin Reidmeier, Jack Maison, A.J. Simpson, Brad Boss, Brandon Brown, Andrew Homer Row 4: Nick Hoskins, Colton Durbin, Timmy Winkelman, Connor Clements, Alex Welniak, Holden Tincher, Nick Amos, Brandon Phillips, Dallas Winkelman Row 5: Kevin Mugler, Joe Hollimon, Brian Morse, Alex Johnson, Matt Legg, Jake Williams, Drayke Cowell, Brandon Gamble, Brandon Sondergeld Row 6: Collin Carter, Casey Rambo, Tyler Roytek, Rudy Rivas, Ivan Oraha, Steven Varnes, Jacob Smith, Trevor Purcell, Justin Shafer Row 7: Connor Chantiny, Dillon Folk, Jeremy Harris, Adam Ortman, Dan Travis, Trent Santiago, Louie Vogel Row 8: Trainer Julia Mendez, trainer Emily Davis, Jeff Potter, John Groll, head coach Jeff Wood, Lee Wood, John Phillips, Troy Winkelman,trainer Jordyn Copciac, trainer Kayla Sulier

Coach: Jeff Wood, fifth season

Last season: 7-4, 4-1 Southeastern Conference

Returning starters: Offense 4, defense 5

Returning letter winners: 25

Schemes: Flexbone/4-3

Top players: Seniors Jon Shepherd, 6-1, 175, RB; Cory Scheuer, 6-2, 190, RB/S; Brent Busby, 6-1, 205, RT; Dan Campbell, 6-2, 215, DE; Brandon Sunday, 6-0, 220, LB; Junior Jack Maison 6-2, 175, DB.

Outlook: The Mules are eyeing their fourth straight postseason appearance with a new cast.

The big questions are on offense. But while Bedford lost its 1,000-yard rusher at quarterback -- Aaron Czesak -- and four of five starters on the offensive line, Wood likes the team's depth. Shepherd and Scheuer are key returning contributors in the backfield while the Mules have a collection of QBs athletic enough to direct the veer flexbone offense. Senior Weston Swick (5-10, 175) and juniors Brad Boss (6-2, 185) and Connor Clements (6-0, 170) are locked in a three-way battle.

"We're very comfortable with any one of them," Wood said. "In our outlook every year , we have to have three centers, three fullbacks and three quarterbacks in this offense because that's how much of a beating they take."

"We don't try to assume anything. But we're very [confident] that we're going to be very competitive."

2012 BEDFORD SCHEDULE

Aug. 23-at Utica Ford

Aug. 31-at Central Catholic

Sep. 7-Chelsea

Sep. 14-at Ann Arbor Huron

Sep. 21-Saline

Sep. 28-at Ann Arbor Pioneer

Oct. 5-Ann Arbor Skyline

Oct. 12-at Monroe

Oct. 19-Monroe Jefferson