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And he had good reason to think that the team's 1-16 overall mark was deceptive, especially where it concerned the players growth thorughout the season.

The Red Devils finished 0-12 in the Lake Michigan Conference. While that might make other coaches glance when they see it in print, Elliott won't.

He believes the team made huge strides during the year, and the returning letterwinners will provide a strong base from which to build a solid foundation.

Just where that foundation will go as far as season record and tournament competition remains to be seen, but Elliott is betting the Red Devils will be an exciting team to watch.

While he'd like to win a league title, and make a long run in the state tournament hosted by the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Elliott is keeping his expectations realistic.

All he wants to see is improvement from his players. If that happens, he'll be pleased - regardless of what kind of record the Red Devils have at the end of the season.

Conditioning is less than two weeks away, so Elliott has been looking ahead with his coaching staff to what the Red Devils might encounter in the LMC.

East Jordan finished last year on a negative note on the pitch, losing a 5-2 game to Grayling on Oct. 11. Grayling scored four goals in the second half, leaving Elliott a little disappointed that the defense couldn't stave off more goals.

Team showed growth during season But, he wasn't upset about the team's overall effort and performance.

"The record doesn't show the growth of the team," Elliott said after the game. "We played most teams twice this season, and in the second meeting - without exception - the score was closer.

"For an inexperienced team that is quite an accomplishment." After a 1-1 halftime tie, Grayling broke the game open in the second half.

Jeff Keyser had both of the Red Devils' goals. Jordan Hagen and Yuki Inoguchi were credited with assists.

East Jordan's defense was superb in the first half, paced by forward Benson Massey.

Massey came up with several steals to get the ball back for the Red Devils, and goalkeeper P.J. Shively stopped 14 shots, many of them of a spectacular nature. He rejected a penalty kick in the second half as well. It's that kind of defensive effort that leads Elliott to suspect the Red Devils will be competitive from the start of every game this season.

Cold and rain made the pitch slippery, and created uncomfortable playing conditions for both teams.

Players frequently lost their footing and tumbled to the ground. But they scurried to their feet quickly, and got back in the action, which was fast and furious the entire game.

The Red Devils carried that aggressive attitude into their first round district playoff game against Harbor Springs, scoring the first goal just four minutes into the contest.