OAA Football Preview

Written Tuesday August 10th, at 6:50 PM

Hello everybody, welcome back to another campaign of Lake Orion football for the 2010 season. Anyway here is my season preview with predictions of the upcoming 2010 season, with top five games for the entire Oakland Activities Association along with who has the easiest and toughest schedules around the OAA. So I wish everybody the best of luck and enjoy coverage of the Dragons throughout the upcoming season.

The 2010 Oakland Activities Association Preview:

OAA Red:

2009 Champion: Clarkston: 12-1 (7-0 OAA Red): Lost to Sterling Heights Stevenson 37-35, MHSAA State Semifinals

Notable Playoff Teams:
Lake Orion: 7-3 (6-1 OAA Red): Lost to Clarkston 17-7, District First Round
Troy: 6-4 (4-3 OAA Red): Lost to Warren Mott 35-21, District First Round
Pontiac: 7-3 (4-3 OAA Blue): Lost to Utica Eisenhower 35-6, District First Round

Dream Schedule: Lake Orion: The Dragons should be 5-0 heading into their homecoming game with Troy. They do have some early tests in the middle of that five game stretch when they travel to Wisner for a test against Pontiac, then West Bloomfield comes to Orion for a week four showdown. The first three of their five games are against teams that finished 2009 with losing records (Oxford @ home, @ Rochester, @ Royal Oak). The schedule after Troy doesn’t get any easier for the Dragons, with games at Troy Athens, (likely at Adams), and a home date with Clarkston.

Nightmare Schedule: Clarkston: The Wolves lost a lot from their 2009 State Semifinalist team when they lost a heartbreaker admit some controversy against Sterling Heights Stevenson. They have to replace a lot from that team that was one win away from the State Championship game. The schedule is going to be tough early, three of their first five will be at home, and that’s the good news. Adams, West Bloomfield, and Troy come to the Wolves Den but they also have to travel to Troy Athens and Pontiac during that stretch, it won’t be easy. Clarkston should get a break for two weeks with Royal Oak and Rochester, but week eight could be interesting, depending on the draw, if they get either Southfield or Harrison. Week nine, is always week nine when the Wolves and Dragons get together for their annual rivalry game.

Red Projections:
Lake Orion
Clarkston
West Bloomfield
Troy
Troy Athens
Pontiac
Rochester
Royal Oak

Top 5 Games:
1. Clarkston @ Lake Orion- Game determines a lot every year, this season wouldn’t be any different
2. West Bloomfield @ Troy- Playoff spot could be on the line in this one
3. Clarkston @ Troy Athens- Hawks win could tell a lot about this team
4. Lake Orion @ Pontiac- This game will tell a lot about the Phoenix
5. West Bloomfield @ Clarkston- The last time the Lakers were at Clarkston it was a shootout, and it was in double overtime, could it be possible again???

OAA White:

2009 Champion: Rochester Adams: 8-3 (7-0 OAA White): Lost to Birmingham Brother Rice 24-7, District Finals.

Notable Playoff Teams:
Southfield: 8-4 (5-2 OAA White): Lost to Warren De La Salle 24-6, MHSAA State Semifinals
Harrison: 7-4 (5-2 OAA White): Lost 20-14 to Southfield, District Finals
Farmington: 6-4 (4-3 OAA White): Lost to Harrison 28-0, District First Round

Dream Schedule: Stoney Creek: The Cougars have it easy for the first two games of the season, both road games at Port Huron Northern, and at Oak Park. Their home opener against Harrison will be interesting, it will tell a lot about their season, plus last season Harrison beat Stoney Creek 24-21, that cost them a shot at the playoffs. The Cougars home schedule is very manageable after the Harrison game, can’t say much about their road slate with Lathrup, Southfield, and Adams on the schedule.


Nightmare Schedule: Oxford: Welcome to the OAA, Oxford. The Wildcats this season are coming out of the Flint Metro League to the OAA. They will be very competitive in their new league, but the scheduling makers did not give the Wildcats any leeway to start off. Oxford has to start off at Lake Orion, a neighborhood rivalry that will finally be played for the first time since 1984. After the Orion game, the Wildcats play the White schedule and they host a very talented Lathrup team. Farmington on the road should also be interesting, and then games against Stoney Creek (road), Harrison (home), Adams (home), and Southfield (road) could determine Oxford’s season. Then the Wildcats have two home games to close out their 2010 season, the red opponent and then Oak Park to close it out, what a way to enter the league.

White Projections:
Adams
Southfield
Harrison
Southfield-Lathrup
Stoney Creek
Oxford
Farmington
Oak Park

Top 5 Games:
1. Southfield @ Adams- League title will be determined by this game
2. Southfield @ Harrison- Last year Harrison won the regular season game but Southfield took the playoff game
3. Adams @ Lathrup- This is Lathrup’s statement game if they win this one it could go a long way
4. Harrison @ Stoney Creek-Motivation for the Cougars will be very high in this one
5. Southfield @ Lathrup- This rivalry is always close between the two Southfield schools

OAA Blue:

2009 Co-Champions: Hazel Park: 8-3 (6-1 OAA Blue): Lost 50-48 to Detroit Crockett, District Finals. Pontiac: 7-3 (6-1 OAA Blue): Lost to Utica Eisenhower 35-6, District First Round

Notable Playoff Teams:
Berkley: 6-4 (4-3 OAA Blue): Lost to Southfield 26-10, District First Round

Dream Schedule: Ferndale: The Eagles this season has probably the easiest path to the OAA Blue title then their three toughest rivals, Hazel Park, Avondale, and Berkley. Avondale, Hazel Park, and Berkley all travel to Ferndale. Their toughest road game appears to be at Seaholm otherwise it should be smooth sailing for the Eagles, if they win their home games.

Nightmare Schedule: North Farmington: Raider nation be very afraid, theirs no room for error this 2010 season. The Raiders have most of the bottom feeders at home, which is good, but Ferndale is on that slate as well. The road schedule is treacherous with Seaholm to open up the season. It doesn’t get any better for the Raiders, with more road games at Berkley, Avondale, and Hazel Park. North Farmington’s best chance at a win could come when they go to Waterford and play Kettering in week nine. The road could be very treacherous along the way for the Raiders.

OAA Blue Projections:
Ferndale
Avondale
Berkley
Hazel Park
Seaholm
Lahser
Groves
Andover
North Farmington

Top 5 Games:
1. Avondale @ Ferndale- League title implications on this game
2. Berkley @ Ferndale- This is a statement game for the Bears if they win this one, league title could be in their grasp
3. Hazel Park @ Ferndale- Hazel Park made the playoffs last season, hopes could very well rest on this game
4. Berkley @ Avondale- Always interesting to say the least
5. Berkley @ Hazel Park- Could determine if both or none of these teams have a shot at the OAA Blue title.