The L'Anse Purple Hornets, in a cooperative with the Baraga Vikings, features more than 30 players this season. The Hornets' head coach is Mark Leaf and assistant head coach is John Jacobson. Assistant coaches are Dave Tembreull, Matt Elmblad, Dan Perrault and Chris Boever. In the front row from left are Cody Roth, Bobby Genschow, Johnny Messer, Malecki Goyen, Bill Genschow, Jaden DeMink, Ethan Grentz, Carter Koskinen, Noah Aleo, Jake Laitala, Keagan Laufenberg, Christian Hebert and Kobe Robillard. Top row from left, Tanner Lane, Jonah Dowd, Terry Reed, Paul Lister-Jacobson, Kia Chosa, Cade Dove, Steele Jondreau, Flash Gagnon, Tristan Stockton, Darien Francois, Eli Ostermeyer, Presly Rasanen, Michael Weir, Tyler Warnke, Alex Kissel and Brandon Dove. Not pictured are team members Dysean Allen, Kegan Sweeney and Anthony Kinnunen. (Paul Peterson photo)

2019 L’Anse schedule

(* West PAC Copper Division game)

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Thurs., Aug. 29 — * at Hancock, 7 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 6 — * at Houghton, 7 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 13 — * GOGEBIC, 7 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 20 — at Munising, 7 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 27 — LK. LINDEN-HUBBELL, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 4 — * NEGAUNEE, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 11 — * at Westwood, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 18 — * IRON MOUNTAIN, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 25 — * at Calumet, 7 p.m.

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L’ANSE — Bolstered by a sizable group of returning lettermen, the L’Anse High School football team goes into the new season with optimism.

In fact, the Purple Hornets will have no less than 31 players on the roster — the highest number since Baraga High School joined with L’Anse in a co-operative program three years ago.

“Our numbers are very good,” L’Anse head coach Mark Leaf said, noting there are also 29 players on the JV team. “The interest is real high and the kids are working hard.”

The Purple Hornets posted a 3-6 record a year ago, but were in most of their games.

“We stayed close in most of those games,” Leaf said. “We led at the half at Iron Mountain and played Ishpeming and Westwood pretty tough.”

The reorganized West PAC — which was split into two eight-team divisions based on enrollment size — put Ishpeming, Negaunee, Westwood and Iron Mountain on the schedule last year.

Leaf feels good about his backfield, although quarterback Reese Waara graduated. Waara is now on the Finlandia University team.

For one thing, there’s a dangerous runner in senior tailback Joey Dowd, who rushed for more than 800 yards a year ago.

“He (Dowd) has real good quickness and he can spring the long runs,” Leaf said, adding that Dowd had a 312-yard game versus Gogebic.

Promising sophomore Dysean Allen will also be in the backfield. He’s noted as the fastest player on the roster.

Senior Tanner Lane and Flash Gagnon are in the battle for the fullback spot.

Juniors Presly Rasanen and Alex Kissel are battling for the quarterback spot.

“They both have good features in their game,” Leaf said. “I think we’ll be all right at that spot.”

Returning in the receiving corps are veterans Paul Lister-Jacobson and Terry Reed. Lane may also get time there.

“We feel pretty good about our receivers,” Leaf said. “There’s some decent speed and pretty good hands in that group.”

The tight end slot is also up for grabs with Johnny Messer and Gordon, who saw time there in 2018.

There are three incumbents returning in the line in Bobby Genschow, Jaden DeMink and Tristan Stockton, all with plenty of snaps behind them.

Sophomore tackler Eli Ostermeyer, a strapping 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, is projected to be a starter.

“Ostermeyer is a big kid who has been working hard,” Leaf said. “He will give us a lift wherever we put him.”

Michael Weir, a transfer student from Texas, brings more size (5-11, 280) and could be a big help on the defensive line.

Seniors Anthony Kinnunen, Bobby Genschow (5-10, 215) and Darien Francois (6-2, 215) could step in as well. Junior Kia Chosa (5-11, 230) is another possibility.

The linebacking will be a “mixed bag,” according to Leaf. Messer and Allen are good bets to start, and with senior Cody Roth, all saw time last season.

The Hornets secondary could be a strong point with Dowd returning at one corner. Junior Steele Jondreau also has experience, while Jacobson and Reed played a lot in the backfield.

Messer is the probable kicker and possesses a good leg.

“We’ve been fortunate to have had good kickers the last few years,” Leaf said.

As for the conference, the L’Anse coach says there are no weak links.

“We close with crunchers like Negaunee, Westwood, Iron Mountain and Calumet,” Leaf said. “But until someone beats (defending champ) Calumet, they’re still the favorite in my book.”

After opening on the road at Hancock and Houghton, the Hornets will meet Gogebic in their home debut in the third week on Friday, Sept. 13.