Here are the Gaylord-area football players we are looking for this fall
High School Football Kicks Off: Players to Watch in the Gaylord Area
Season Opener Set For August 28th
GAYLORD — Summer is winding down, which means one thing: high school football season is just around the corner! With kickoff scheduled for Thursday, August 28th, teams across Michigan are gearing up for another exciting year. All three Gaylord-area squads will be playing at home to start the season. Gaylord takes on North Branch, Johannesburg-Lewiston hosts Burton-Bendle and Gaylord St. Mary welcomes Rudyard.
This new season brings fresh faces and emerging talent. Fans will see all three teams sporting new quarterbacks, alongside playmakers looking to make their mark alongside returning starters.
Gaylord Blue Devils:
Jaron Bensinger, Linebacker: The name "Bensinger" is synonymous with Gaylord athletic success. Jaron follows in his older brother Ty's footsteps, who was a state champion wrestler and All-State football player. After winning the D2, 144-pound wrestling state title at Ford Field this past March, Jaron now aims to conquer the gridiron. A second-team All-Big North linebacker last season, he will likely lead the Blue Devils' defense, which allowed just 16.2 points per game in 2024 despite a 3-6 overall record.
Kaven Cole, Receiver/Linebacker: Gaylord found its offensive rhythm late last season, especially in the passing game, thanks in part to sophomore Andrew Szymoniak at quarterback. Cole emerged as a key target for Szymoniak and will likely be the new QB's favorite option in 2025. He capped off the season with a breakout performance against Escanaba, helping Gaylord come back from a fourth-quarter deficit to win 19-15 on a last-second touchdown pass from Szymoniak to Cole. He finished the game with 5 receptions for 65 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cole also earned honorable mention All-BNC at linebacker.
Johannesburg-Lewiston Cardinals:
Joey Smokevitch, Running Back/Fullback/Defensive Back: After years of watching his father's teams in the Northern Michigan Football Conference, junior Joey Smokevitch is poised to become a key player and leader for the Cardinals seeking success. Smokevitch returns as the team's leading rusher with 282 total yards and 175 yards in NMFC-Legacy games, earning All-NMFC Legacy Honorable Mention in 2024. He will step up to fill the void left by graduating seniors Nate Hummel and Kyler Nowak. Smokevitch is also a first-team All-NMFC Legacy defensive back and an MHSAA Advisory Council selection, bringing both talent and experience to the Cardinals.
Wyatt Konkle, Offensive/Defensive Line: To run Coach Joe Smokevitch's Wing-T, run-heavy offense effectively, you need big bodies up front who are also athletic enough to move in space. Senior Wyatt Konkle provides that for JoBurg. He was JoBurg’s lone first-team All-NMFC Legacy selection on both sides of the ball in 2024, earning a spot among the first-team offensive and defensive linemen. He will be relied upon even more as he enters his senior season, hoping to lead JoBurg back to its pre-2021 success.
Gaylord St. Mary Snowbirds:
Nathan O'Connell, Quarterback/Defensive Back: After a few years of established upperclassmen at key positions, Gaylord St. Mary is ushering in a youth movement. Sophomore Nathan O'Connell is set to take over as the starting quarterback for his dad, Kevin O’Connell. "Chummy," as he's known around GSM, was thrust into action late last season when seniors Daniel Jacobson and Hogan McKinley went down with injuries during their 7-2 regular season. After earning first-team All-Ski Valley honors as a freshman, O'Connell looks to become one of the go-to players for the Snowbirds in 2025.
Logan Greenier, Charlie Cameron, David Wahl, Jackson Vernier, Offensive/Defensive Line: Standing out as a lineman in 8-player football can be tough. Last season, GSM’s line was among the best in the entire Ski Valley. All four of their regular offensive and defensive linemen earned either first-team or honorable mention honors, led by sophomore Logan Greenier as a first-team defender and Charlie Cameron as a first-team on the O-line. With all four returning, GSM’s new backfield should feel protected and secure.