Written Saturday October 1st, at 12:00 AM
This type of year you got to be prepared for anything, especially weather wise.
Friday night was nothing different for everybody else including the Dragons and the Colts. Rain was falling all over the place and the Dragons, with a bend, don't break defense beat the Colts 17-7 in Colts Stadium.
Both teams struggled all night, it was a sloppy game to say the very least. Troy struggled throwing the ball, relaying on their running attack. Lake Orion struggled with penalties killing drives in Colts territory along with dropped passes most of the night. "Tonight was really hard fought," Lake Orion coach Chris Bell said to reporters. "I thought we were a little sloppy, but I thought our defense made some key stops when they needed to. Troy is a good team, and when you play good teams, you’ll take a win anyway that you can get it."
The scoring started when Lake Orion running back Jacob Miller scored from nine yards out for a 7-0 Dragons lead in the first quarter after an 80 yard drive opened the game up. In the second quarter the Dragons struck again when quarterback Sean Charette connected with wide receiver Chaz Miller for a 23 yard touchdown pass from the right side of the end-zone and things were looking really good for the Dragons at 14-0.
The Colts did have an answer for their own late in the half, after forcing the Dragons to turn the ball over on downs. Troy went to the ground with the combination of quarterback Justin Losey and running back Oliver Jiang. Losey and Jiang did most of the running attack with the quarterback option or the running back option that the Colts use in their spread set scored with a quarterback keeper one yard touchdown run by Losey to cut the lead in half to 14-7.
The Dragons closed the game out after a scoreless third quarter but in the fourth quarter after a Dragon defensive stop on fourth down. Miller took the ball to the Colts 20 yard line, where Orion's offense was stopped from scoring a touchdown by the Troy defense so Bell decided that he would take his chances with a 20 yard field goal by junior kicker Jeremy King. King connected with the field goal, sending the Dragons up two scores at 17-7.
Bell knows the Dragons can play better, making too many mistakes just won't get the job done especially down the line in big games. "There’s a lot that we need to do better." Bell added. "We’re going to learn from this, but we’re definitely excited to get out of here with the win. It puts us in great position."
Losey and the Colts offense could not figure out the bend and don't break Dragon defense. The Colts missed two field goals, got stopped three times on fourth down deep in Dragons territory and turned the ball over once on a fumble also deep in Dragon territory. "We had chances," Troy coach Gary Griffith said to reporters. "There were three times that we were down deep in their end, and we came away with nothing. We improved on some things from last week, but we let them get away with some big plays that killed us."
The loss sends the Colts to 3-3 overall and 3-2 in OAA Red play. Troy now knows that they need to win out just to have a shot at the playoffs. The schedule is manageable, they play Pontiac next week for their homecoming game and host the OAA Crossover opponent and finish the season at Troy Athens against the Red Hawks. Griffith is very confident that his Colts know what is at stake for them. "It’s kind of simple, we either run the slate or we collect equipment after that last game. It’s right there in front of us."
The Dragons improve their record to 5-1 overall and 5-0 in the OAA Red. The Dragons have a chance to clinch a share of the OAA Red Championship and make the playoffs with a win over the Troy Athens Red Hawks on Friday night for homecoming.
This is yet another big game for the Dragons, the Red Hawks come into Orion with a 5-1 record overall and 4-1 in the OAA Red. Troy Athens won 27-17 in their homecoming game against West Bloomfield last week. Bell and his crew are looking forward to the challenge of the Red Hawks coming into the Dragons Lair. "I know that Athens is huge up front. "It’s going to be a good challenge for us, but we’re looking forward to it."
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Dragons finish second in Portage, take frustrations out on Rochester
Written Tuesday September 27th, at 11:08 PM
The Dragons volleyball team continued to have success this season, but sometimes second place has been very difficult to deal with and frustrating.
This weekend the Dragons went to Portage Central in Portage, near Kalamazoo to compete in a very tough pool in the Portage Central Invitational tournament, and this weekend they proved why they are ranked third in Class A.
Lake Orion knocked off six top teams in the state of Michigan from three different classes. They include Livonia Ladywood (fourth in Class B), Richland Gull Lake, Rockford (top team in Class A), Birmingham Marian (fourth in Class A), Plainwell (top team in Class B, and Fruitport (fifth in Class B) to get to the championship game against top ranked Rockford.
Sadly the third ranked Dragons ran out of gas in the final against the Rams. The Dragons suffered their sixth loss of the season when they fell 25-22 and 25-23 to the Rams.
The Dragons returned to league action after suffering the loss to Rockford in Portage took out all their anger and frustration on the Rochester Falcons in Rochester. Orion rolled past Rochester 25-20, 25-11, and 25-17 Tuesday Night.
Orion was led by Senior Shannon Murdock's 14 kills while Senior Maddie Hutchinson had 11 digs and Senior Dana Schrauben had 12 assists and five digs for the victory over the Falcons.
Lake Orion will not be done seeing Rochester's gym. They will be playing districts on Rochester's home turf along with the Falcons, Rochester Adams, Stoney Creek, and Oxford.
The Dragons are now 28-6-1 overall and 3-0 in OAA Red play, their next match is a huge one as they travel to Birmingham on October 4th and take on the Birmingham Seaholm Maples and Miss Michigan Volleyball candidate Paige Neudenfelt awaits the Dragons. The season is already underway and there are more fireworks ready to come this upcoming season
The Dragons volleyball team continued to have success this season, but sometimes second place has been very difficult to deal with and frustrating.
This weekend the Dragons went to Portage Central in Portage, near Kalamazoo to compete in a very tough pool in the Portage Central Invitational tournament, and this weekend they proved why they are ranked third in Class A.
Lake Orion knocked off six top teams in the state of Michigan from three different classes. They include Livonia Ladywood (fourth in Class B), Richland Gull Lake, Rockford (top team in Class A), Birmingham Marian (fourth in Class A), Plainwell (top team in Class B, and Fruitport (fifth in Class B) to get to the championship game against top ranked Rockford.
Sadly the third ranked Dragons ran out of gas in the final against the Rams. The Dragons suffered their sixth loss of the season when they fell 25-22 and 25-23 to the Rams.
The Dragons returned to league action after suffering the loss to Rockford in Portage took out all their anger and frustration on the Rochester Falcons in Rochester. Orion rolled past Rochester 25-20, 25-11, and 25-17 Tuesday Night.
Orion was led by Senior Shannon Murdock's 14 kills while Senior Maddie Hutchinson had 11 digs and Senior Dana Schrauben had 12 assists and five digs for the victory over the Falcons.
Lake Orion will not be done seeing Rochester's gym. They will be playing districts on Rochester's home turf along with the Falcons, Rochester Adams, Stoney Creek, and Oxford.
The Dragons are now 28-6-1 overall and 3-0 in OAA Red play, their next match is a huge one as they travel to Birmingham on October 4th and take on the Birmingham Seaholm Maples and Miss Michigan Volleyball candidate Paige Neudenfelt awaits the Dragons. The season is already underway and there are more fireworks ready to come this upcoming season
Friday, September 23, 2011
Charette Breaks School Record for Passing Touchdowns in rout of Royal Oak
Written Friday September 23rd, at 11:35 PM
It wasn't the happy homecoming that former JV football and throwing coach Ryan Irish wanted when he returned back to Lake Orion but for Senior quarterback Sean Charette this game was a special one for him.
Charette is now in Dragons lore as the team's all time touchdown passer at 60 and still counting as we speak.
Charette broke the school record for most touchdown passes in a career of a Dragon when he completed a 16 yard touchdown pass to Junior wide receiver Chaz Miller in the Dragons 49-14 rout of the Royal Oak Ravens on Friday night in Dragons Stadium.
The new all time passing touchdown leader did struggle at times throughout the game especially with his accuracy but did manage to throw four touchdowns. Charette was 11 for 19 for 229 yards and four touchdown passes. Three of them were to Miller (nine, 13, 16 respectably) and one was a 66 yard pass to Junior wide receiver Jeremy King. The Dragon running game was also strong, led by Jacob Miller's 50 yard and one yard touchdown scores. Zach Arnold scored from 30 yards out and Mike Upshaw had a five yard touchdown score completed the Dragons scoring this night.
The Ravens managed to get two touchdowns against the Dragons second and third teams respectably in the third quarter but it was well in doubt when the game was decided. Lake Orion took a 35-0 lead into the break and never looked back.
The score could have been must worse but the final score is the final score.
Lake Orion now stands at 4-1 overall and 4-0 in the OAA Red, they get ready for a grueling stretch if they want to make it to the postseason. It starts with the Troy Colts in Troy next Friday Night. The Colts come into the match up with the Dragons at 3-2 overall and 3-1 in OAA Red play, their only losses were to Romeo (16-3) and Clarkston (28-13) so it should be a war Friday Night. The Dragons return home in two weeks for Homecoming for a BIG showdown with the red hot Troy Athens Red Hawks, who are riding high at 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the OAA Red. The Red Hawks will play the Lakers of West Bloomfield next week and should be favored in that one. We'll see what happens as the Dragons continue the path toward the postseason and the promise land.
It wasn't the happy homecoming that former JV football and throwing coach Ryan Irish wanted when he returned back to Lake Orion but for Senior quarterback Sean Charette this game was a special one for him.
Charette is now in Dragons lore as the team's all time touchdown passer at 60 and still counting as we speak.
Charette broke the school record for most touchdown passes in a career of a Dragon when he completed a 16 yard touchdown pass to Junior wide receiver Chaz Miller in the Dragons 49-14 rout of the Royal Oak Ravens on Friday night in Dragons Stadium.
The new all time passing touchdown leader did struggle at times throughout the game especially with his accuracy but did manage to throw four touchdowns. Charette was 11 for 19 for 229 yards and four touchdown passes. Three of them were to Miller (nine, 13, 16 respectably) and one was a 66 yard pass to Junior wide receiver Jeremy King. The Dragon running game was also strong, led by Jacob Miller's 50 yard and one yard touchdown scores. Zach Arnold scored from 30 yards out and Mike Upshaw had a five yard touchdown score completed the Dragons scoring this night.
The Ravens managed to get two touchdowns against the Dragons second and third teams respectably in the third quarter but it was well in doubt when the game was decided. Lake Orion took a 35-0 lead into the break and never looked back.
The score could have been must worse but the final score is the final score.
Lake Orion now stands at 4-1 overall and 4-0 in the OAA Red, they get ready for a grueling stretch if they want to make it to the postseason. It starts with the Troy Colts in Troy next Friday Night. The Colts come into the match up with the Dragons at 3-2 overall and 3-1 in OAA Red play, their only losses were to Romeo (16-3) and Clarkston (28-13) so it should be a war Friday Night. The Dragons return home in two weeks for Homecoming for a BIG showdown with the red hot Troy Athens Red Hawks, who are riding high at 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the OAA Red. The Red Hawks will play the Lakers of West Bloomfield next week and should be favored in that one. We'll see what happens as the Dragons continue the path toward the postseason and the promise land.
Dragons Volleyball clicking, ranked for the first time in 24 years and stock is rising.
Written Friday September 23rd, at 10:45 AM.
The Dragons Volleyball program knew they were going to be good this season but to be ranked in the state for the first time since the 1987-1988 season has never happened before.
Until now.
This week the Dragons were ranked ninth in the state poll, which pleased fifth year Dragons coach Bob Howey and his experienced troops but had they to focus on OAA Red play and Bloomfield Hills Lahser in Bloomfield Hills Tuesday night at the angle court which is Lahser.
The Dragons had no problem with the Knights, hammering them in games one and two by a combined 50-22 score (25-15, 25-7 respectably.) The third game got interesting, Howey did some experimenting with his lineup which was almost was disaster. The Dragons managed to hang on and win 28-26, ending the match at three games to none. "I switched some thing up a bit, tried some new things just to see. It really should have not been that close. Lahser is a little young this year" Howey said.
The Dragons were led by Senior's Shannon Murdock's (14), Taylor Hargraves (12)combined 26 kills. Senior Gwen Motley added 29 assists while Senior Maddie Hutchinson had 23 digs for Lake Orion.
Lake Orion's record is now 21-5-1 overall and 2-0 in OAA Red play, tied with seventh ranked Clarkston. The team's only losses being to top ranked Farmington Hills Mercy (three times), second ranked and defending state champ Birmingham Marian, and third ranked Rockford in tournaments. However the Dragons did get some revenge on Marian in Wixom in the Constellation Final.
The Dragons schedule is considered to many teams and experts as "Murders Row", very similar to that of the Southeastern Conference in football but the team has got stronger every-time they hit the court. Howey explained that the schedule is not all bad. “We beat Marian the last time we played them (In Wixom). We played Rockford in the first tournament of the season and when we played them, it was our fourth consecutive game. I think they are beatable."
The Dragons trouble has came this season is against top ranked Farmington Hills Mercy. Orion so far are 0-3 against the Marlins, something Howey is very alarmed about. "The one team we need to learn how to beat is Mercy. They have our number right now. That team is so strong defensively that they frustrate everybody. Our girls are used to kills hitting the floor. Against Mercy, they dig them out, which is why they are so tough to beat. We’ll hopefully see them again in a couple of more tournaments," Howey added on Farmington Hills Mercy.
That mindset they do. Orion had their own tournament (semifinalist, lost to Farmington Hills Mercy), played at Macomb Dakota in their tournament (semifinalist, lost to Farmington Hills Mercy), won the Hartland Tournament, and of course played in the Mercy Showcase where they played Farmington Hills Mercy, Rockford, and Birmingham Marian in Wixom.
If the playoffs and the schedule roll smoothly (districts at Rochester with Rochester, Adams, Rochester, Rochester Stoney Creek, and Oxford) in the postseason the Dragons could have another crack at the Mustangs in the regional final and that regional final is at Lake Orion to make it more interesting. "I think if we are to make a run in the postseason, then we’re going to have to learn how to beat all types of teams. We have the talent. I think if we’re going to take another step or two this season, then we still have work to do. Last year we lost to Marian in the regional finals. This year if things go right, then we’ll be in the same regional as Marian and they are beatable this season. With teams like that, you first have to believe that you can beat them. The mental side is part of it" Howey said.”
There are three big games on the OAA Red slate that are big for the Dragons. The game October 4th at Birmingham won't be easy as the team takes on the Maples of Birmingham Seaholm and probably the best player in the state in Miss Volleyball candidate Senior Paige Neudenfelt. The Dragons do have two big home dates on the schedule when the Farmington Falcons come to Orion October 6th. The Falcons have been doing really well lately and just beat Rochester Thursday Night. Farmington does have four losses, three in tournaments, and the one in the Red was to Clarkston. The statement game for the Dragons is October 18th when the seventh ranked Clarkston Wolves comes to Orion for a possible OAA Red and top ten showdown. The Wolves are a very young team but have talent every year, just like the Dragons do from the Middle School programs, travel teams, on up.
This weekend Orion will go to Portage to compete in the Portage Central Invite and see some of the top teams in the state. Birmingham Marion will also be there at that tournament, could it be round three with the Mustangs??? we'll find out. The next OAA Red match up for the team is on Tuesday when the Dragons will travel to Rochester to face a young Falcons team going through a transition of coaches and recent losses to gradation have killed the Falcons. Rochester's record coming in to the match up with Orion is 6-16, 0-2 OAA Red.
Howey tries to find tournaments that can make his team better before they go into postseason play when it all counts.“We’re playing in some of the best tournament his season and playing a bunch of great teams. Some might be against that. But I am trying to make us into a team that can consistently be ranked every season and has the talent to make a run. You can’t do that playing weak competition. We’re going to play a lot of great teams this season and hopefully that will prepare us for anything, he said.”
The Dragons have plenty of opportunities to get better and go deep this season.
The Dragons Volleyball program knew they were going to be good this season but to be ranked in the state for the first time since the 1987-1988 season has never happened before.
Until now.
This week the Dragons were ranked ninth in the state poll, which pleased fifth year Dragons coach Bob Howey and his experienced troops but had they to focus on OAA Red play and Bloomfield Hills Lahser in Bloomfield Hills Tuesday night at the angle court which is Lahser.
The Dragons had no problem with the Knights, hammering them in games one and two by a combined 50-22 score (25-15, 25-7 respectably.) The third game got interesting, Howey did some experimenting with his lineup which was almost was disaster. The Dragons managed to hang on and win 28-26, ending the match at three games to none. "I switched some thing up a bit, tried some new things just to see. It really should have not been that close. Lahser is a little young this year" Howey said.
The Dragons were led by Senior's Shannon Murdock's (14), Taylor Hargraves (12)combined 26 kills. Senior Gwen Motley added 29 assists while Senior Maddie Hutchinson had 23 digs for Lake Orion.
Lake Orion's record is now 21-5-1 overall and 2-0 in OAA Red play, tied with seventh ranked Clarkston. The team's only losses being to top ranked Farmington Hills Mercy (three times), second ranked and defending state champ Birmingham Marian, and third ranked Rockford in tournaments. However the Dragons did get some revenge on Marian in Wixom in the Constellation Final.
The Dragons schedule is considered to many teams and experts as "Murders Row", very similar to that of the Southeastern Conference in football but the team has got stronger every-time they hit the court. Howey explained that the schedule is not all bad. “We beat Marian the last time we played them (In Wixom). We played Rockford in the first tournament of the season and when we played them, it was our fourth consecutive game. I think they are beatable."
The Dragons trouble has came this season is against top ranked Farmington Hills Mercy. Orion so far are 0-3 against the Marlins, something Howey is very alarmed about. "The one team we need to learn how to beat is Mercy. They have our number right now. That team is so strong defensively that they frustrate everybody. Our girls are used to kills hitting the floor. Against Mercy, they dig them out, which is why they are so tough to beat. We’ll hopefully see them again in a couple of more tournaments," Howey added on Farmington Hills Mercy.
That mindset they do. Orion had their own tournament (semifinalist, lost to Farmington Hills Mercy), played at Macomb Dakota in their tournament (semifinalist, lost to Farmington Hills Mercy), won the Hartland Tournament, and of course played in the Mercy Showcase where they played Farmington Hills Mercy, Rockford, and Birmingham Marian in Wixom.
If the playoffs and the schedule roll smoothly (districts at Rochester with Rochester, Adams, Rochester, Rochester Stoney Creek, and Oxford) in the postseason the Dragons could have another crack at the Mustangs in the regional final and that regional final is at Lake Orion to make it more interesting. "I think if we are to make a run in the postseason, then we’re going to have to learn how to beat all types of teams. We have the talent. I think if we’re going to take another step or two this season, then we still have work to do. Last year we lost to Marian in the regional finals. This year if things go right, then we’ll be in the same regional as Marian and they are beatable this season. With teams like that, you first have to believe that you can beat them. The mental side is part of it" Howey said.”
There are three big games on the OAA Red slate that are big for the Dragons. The game October 4th at Birmingham won't be easy as the team takes on the Maples of Birmingham Seaholm and probably the best player in the state in Miss Volleyball candidate Senior Paige Neudenfelt. The Dragons do have two big home dates on the schedule when the Farmington Falcons come to Orion October 6th. The Falcons have been doing really well lately and just beat Rochester Thursday Night. Farmington does have four losses, three in tournaments, and the one in the Red was to Clarkston. The statement game for the Dragons is October 18th when the seventh ranked Clarkston Wolves comes to Orion for a possible OAA Red and top ten showdown. The Wolves are a very young team but have talent every year, just like the Dragons do from the Middle School programs, travel teams, on up.
This weekend Orion will go to Portage to compete in the Portage Central Invite and see some of the top teams in the state. Birmingham Marion will also be there at that tournament, could it be round three with the Mustangs??? we'll find out. The next OAA Red match up for the team is on Tuesday when the Dragons will travel to Rochester to face a young Falcons team going through a transition of coaches and recent losses to gradation have killed the Falcons. Rochester's record coming in to the match up with Orion is 6-16, 0-2 OAA Red.
Howey tries to find tournaments that can make his team better before they go into postseason play when it all counts.“We’re playing in some of the best tournament his season and playing a bunch of great teams. Some might be against that. But I am trying to make us into a team that can consistently be ranked every season and has the talent to make a run. You can’t do that playing weak competition. We’re going to play a lot of great teams this season and hopefully that will prepare us for anything, he said.”
The Dragons have plenty of opportunities to get better and go deep this season.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
It was Jeremy King Night at West Bloomfield
Written Saturday September 17th at 10:06 AM
It was the Jeremy King show Friday night at West Bloomfield.
Now we all realize that King is the kicker but he does have hands and speed as well and that was put on display and the Lakers found out the hard way.
The Dragons won 42-14 over the Lakers improving their record to 3-1 and 3-0 in the OAA Red, taking the top spot of the OAA Red.
King was seven for seven on PAT tries and caught an 18 yard and 44 yard touchdown passes from quarterback Sean Charette and King still wasn't done. King ran a five yards for another touchdown. King had three touchdowns total against Lakers defense.
Sean Charette finished the game nine for 11 passing for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Other notable performances included running back Michael Upshaw's two yard touchdown run and 42 yards on ten carries. Running back Jacob Miller had 11 carries for 56 yards and two touchdowns to complete the Dragons night scoring.
The Dragons defense did well, stopping Lakers star running back CJ Brathwaite all night along with the Lakers offense. The only touchdowns the Lakers had was against the second team but that was well in doubt that the game was already decided.
The Lakers fall to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the OAA Red and play Troy next at home. The Dragons play Royal Oak next. The Ravens got crushed 56-0 last night by Troy Athens so it could be an interesting game.
It was the Jeremy King show Friday night at West Bloomfield.
Now we all realize that King is the kicker but he does have hands and speed as well and that was put on display and the Lakers found out the hard way.
The Dragons won 42-14 over the Lakers improving their record to 3-1 and 3-0 in the OAA Red, taking the top spot of the OAA Red.
King was seven for seven on PAT tries and caught an 18 yard and 44 yard touchdown passes from quarterback Sean Charette and King still wasn't done. King ran a five yards for another touchdown. King had three touchdowns total against Lakers defense.
Sean Charette finished the game nine for 11 passing for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Other notable performances included running back Michael Upshaw's two yard touchdown run and 42 yards on ten carries. Running back Jacob Miller had 11 carries for 56 yards and two touchdowns to complete the Dragons night scoring.
The Dragons defense did well, stopping Lakers star running back CJ Brathwaite all night along with the Lakers offense. The only touchdowns the Lakers had was against the second team but that was well in doubt that the game was already decided.
The Lakers fall to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the OAA Red and play Troy next at home. The Dragons play Royal Oak next. The Ravens got crushed 56-0 last night by Troy Athens so it could be an interesting game.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Wolves forfeit two games, effects the OAA Red race.
Written Monday September 12th, at 11:00 PM.
This is a shocker throughout high school football, one community, the OAA red, and the entire state of Michigan.
The Clarkston Wolves had to forfeit two games this week due to an ineligible player.
The reason why the Wolves took this move was because they played an ineligible player during the first two weeks of the season (Adams and West Bloomfield.) The Clarkston athletic department and longtime athletic director Dan Fife found out that a home schooled student took an online class in the summer before arriving to Clarkston and that the paperwork wasn't in on time before the season started.
Wolves coach Kurt Richardson played him only five snaps in the two games, both Wolves victories (28-21 over the Highlanders and 34-7 over the Lakers) but didn't know that the player he played was ineligible to play until Richardson found out of the paperwork and was notified by the athletic department.
The Clarkston athletic department just found out this weekend about the incident. They had just finished the paperwork and Fife had to report it to the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). The MHSAA agreed that the Wolves forfeit two games and that they can keep the 40-20 victory over the Red Hawks from Troy Athens last week.
For the Wolves this is a devastating setback. The red is still not lost for the Wolves, they do have a big game this Friday at Troy and if the Wolves lose to the Colts, then they must beat Rochester (road), Lake Orion (home), and the crossover opponent (home) just to have a shot at the playoffs if that was the case.
The two biggest winners of Clarkston forfeiting games is Rochester Adams and West Bloomfield. For the Highlanders it insures them of getting in the playoffs but they still have a long road with games against Oak Park, Oxford, Southfield, Harrison, and Stoney Creek looming. For the Lakers they got a win over Clarkston but this week the Lakers play the Dragons and the next week they play Troy both thankfully are at home, the two weeks for the Lakers is going to be tricky.
With Clarkston's forfeit the Wolves fall to a fourth place tie with Troy Athens at 1-1 in the Red. The Wolves do own the head to head victory over the Red Hawks but trail the Lakers, Colts, and Dragons for the OAA Red crown by a game each.
Now what does the Wolves mess all mean for Lake Orion???
It means nothing, nothing at all. The week eight match-up is likely going to be Harrison, a match up all long that the Dragons had wanted since the 28-6 disaster last season in Farmington Hills. This game could also help playoff points big time with the Hawks likely coming in unbeaten.
The Hawks will be favored big time in this game because some in the media have said that this is Harrison's best team under coach John Herrington with their skill athletes (tight end, defensive back/wide receiver and star lineman going to either Michigan or Michigan State football. They said that this Hawk team is even better than the Drew Stanton led or Mark Dell lead teams in the past 41 seasons of Harrison football and that is saying something.
However the Hawks may face some tough obstacles, besides going up to Oxford, the Hawks have not fared well north of the M-24 corridor, the Hawks are 1-2 against the Dragons in Lake Orion since entering the OAA. Also the Dragons rarely lose at home, the last loss being in 2007 to Adams. The Hawks in their past history have had some battles with the Dragons especially at Lake Orion.
The game the Dragons really must have is the Troy game on the road on October 1st. If the Dragons can win that game over the Colts then they will likely be in the postseason without having to beat Clarkston or Harrison just to get in.
This is a shocker throughout high school football, one community, the OAA red, and the entire state of Michigan.
The Clarkston Wolves had to forfeit two games this week due to an ineligible player.
The reason why the Wolves took this move was because they played an ineligible player during the first two weeks of the season (Adams and West Bloomfield.) The Clarkston athletic department and longtime athletic director Dan Fife found out that a home schooled student took an online class in the summer before arriving to Clarkston and that the paperwork wasn't in on time before the season started.
Wolves coach Kurt Richardson played him only five snaps in the two games, both Wolves victories (28-21 over the Highlanders and 34-7 over the Lakers) but didn't know that the player he played was ineligible to play until Richardson found out of the paperwork and was notified by the athletic department.
The Clarkston athletic department just found out this weekend about the incident. They had just finished the paperwork and Fife had to report it to the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). The MHSAA agreed that the Wolves forfeit two games and that they can keep the 40-20 victory over the Red Hawks from Troy Athens last week.
For the Wolves this is a devastating setback. The red is still not lost for the Wolves, they do have a big game this Friday at Troy and if the Wolves lose to the Colts, then they must beat Rochester (road), Lake Orion (home), and the crossover opponent (home) just to have a shot at the playoffs if that was the case.
The two biggest winners of Clarkston forfeiting games is Rochester Adams and West Bloomfield. For the Highlanders it insures them of getting in the playoffs but they still have a long road with games against Oak Park, Oxford, Southfield, Harrison, and Stoney Creek looming. For the Lakers they got a win over Clarkston but this week the Lakers play the Dragons and the next week they play Troy both thankfully are at home, the two weeks for the Lakers is going to be tricky.
With Clarkston's forfeit the Wolves fall to a fourth place tie with Troy Athens at 1-1 in the Red. The Wolves do own the head to head victory over the Red Hawks but trail the Lakers, Colts, and Dragons for the OAA Red crown by a game each.
Now what does the Wolves mess all mean for Lake Orion???
It means nothing, nothing at all. The week eight match-up is likely going to be Harrison, a match up all long that the Dragons had wanted since the 28-6 disaster last season in Farmington Hills. This game could also help playoff points big time with the Hawks likely coming in unbeaten.
The Hawks will be favored big time in this game because some in the media have said that this is Harrison's best team under coach John Herrington with their skill athletes (tight end, defensive back/wide receiver and star lineman going to either Michigan or Michigan State football. They said that this Hawk team is even better than the Drew Stanton led or Mark Dell lead teams in the past 41 seasons of Harrison football and that is saying something.
However the Hawks may face some tough obstacles, besides going up to Oxford, the Hawks have not fared well north of the M-24 corridor, the Hawks are 1-2 against the Dragons in Lake Orion since entering the OAA. Also the Dragons rarely lose at home, the last loss being in 2007 to Adams. The Hawks in their past history have had some battles with the Dragons especially at Lake Orion.
The game the Dragons really must have is the Troy game on the road on October 1st. If the Dragons can win that game over the Colts then they will likely be in the postseason without having to beat Clarkston or Harrison just to get in.
OAA Football divisions need to go a new direction
Written Monday September 12th, at 6:45 PM.
This season the Oakland Activities Association's white division is one of the toughest divisions in the state with Harrison, Southfield, Oak Park, Adams, Oxford, and Farmington. The Ottawa Kent Conference red division is the most brutal division in the state with Rockford, Grand Haven, Holland-West Ottawa, and Muskegon. The Macomb Area Red division is certainly tough with Macomb Dakota, Romeo, Utica Eisenhower and Utica Ford but what about the Oakland Activities Association's red division, the same division that the Dragons are in.
The red this season is still down, even after last season's state championship by the Dragons but the schedule certainly doesn't favor them based on the competition they see.
People are going to say what is wrong with the Dragons schedule, they make the playoffs every year. It's just the fact that maybe the schedule and division is not good. The only team that has been consistency good in the red beside Lake Orion has been Clarkston. The Wolves year in and year out are always in contention, no matter what but who's fault is it???, don't blame the Dragons for the schedule they are given, blame the Oakland Activities Association for the division alignment based on enrollment.
In the OAA there were four powerhouse teams that were in the top division, OAA Division One at the time (Lake Orion, Clarkston, Rochester Adams, and Harrison.) The OAA in 2008, thanks to Birmingham Groves decided that they would split Lake Orion and Clarkston and put them in one division while Harrison and Adams played in the other division and the rest of the teams would fill in by enrollment. It meant that Lake Orion would not play Harrison or Adams every season. The OAA said it would be much easier for the big four to make playoffs and add another team to that occasion as well. The Oakland Activities Association looks at realignment every two seasons and this is the second year of the realignment period.
Maybe the Oakland Activities Association should look at what the Macomb Area Conference has done in past seasons, change the realignment based on the win-loss record and not by enrollment. It has done success for the Macomb Area Conference based on competition that sets them up nicely for playoffs. The Royal Oak Ravens is a perfect example for this. Royal Oak is a big school and currently play in the Oakland Activities Association red division for football but the blue and gold for other sports because of their win-loss record. If the win-loss record mattered then they would be in the OAA Blue, if they were in the Macomb Area Conference they would have been in the blue or the gold division.
Another idea for the OAA is to do their divisions geographically and limit travel for schools. The league already have divisions set up like this in track and baseball. The North division would be Lake Orion, Oxford, Clarkston, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek, Pontiac, and Avondale. The Central division would be Troy, Troy Athens, Bloomfield Hills (Andover-Lahser), West Bloomfield, Birmingham Groves, Birmingham Seaholm, Harrison, and North Farmington. The South division would be Royal Oak, Farmington, Southfield Lathrup, Southfield, Oak Park, Hazel Park, Ferndale, and Berkley.
It's just an idea but people around the state want to see the Dragons play some of the best competition but some of the teams in the red need to go down a division but who to bring up if the Pontiac's, or the West Bloomfield's, or the Royal Oak's struggle.
Even though Adams and Harrison will stay in the other division the probable teams that would move up to the red division would be Oxford, Avondale, and Farmington. Pontiac and West Bloomfield will likely move to the white and send Royal Oak to the blue with Bloomfield Hills likely to merge next season. It would be an interesting move to do so but it maybe the best interest of the league to look at that idea. Anything is possible though, we'll see what happens.
This season the Oakland Activities Association's white division is one of the toughest divisions in the state with Harrison, Southfield, Oak Park, Adams, Oxford, and Farmington. The Ottawa Kent Conference red division is the most brutal division in the state with Rockford, Grand Haven, Holland-West Ottawa, and Muskegon. The Macomb Area Red division is certainly tough with Macomb Dakota, Romeo, Utica Eisenhower and Utica Ford but what about the Oakland Activities Association's red division, the same division that the Dragons are in.
The red this season is still down, even after last season's state championship by the Dragons but the schedule certainly doesn't favor them based on the competition they see.
People are going to say what is wrong with the Dragons schedule, they make the playoffs every year. It's just the fact that maybe the schedule and division is not good. The only team that has been consistency good in the red beside Lake Orion has been Clarkston. The Wolves year in and year out are always in contention, no matter what but who's fault is it???, don't blame the Dragons for the schedule they are given, blame the Oakland Activities Association for the division alignment based on enrollment.
In the OAA there were four powerhouse teams that were in the top division, OAA Division One at the time (Lake Orion, Clarkston, Rochester Adams, and Harrison.) The OAA in 2008, thanks to Birmingham Groves decided that they would split Lake Orion and Clarkston and put them in one division while Harrison and Adams played in the other division and the rest of the teams would fill in by enrollment. It meant that Lake Orion would not play Harrison or Adams every season. The OAA said it would be much easier for the big four to make playoffs and add another team to that occasion as well. The Oakland Activities Association looks at realignment every two seasons and this is the second year of the realignment period.
Maybe the Oakland Activities Association should look at what the Macomb Area Conference has done in past seasons, change the realignment based on the win-loss record and not by enrollment. It has done success for the Macomb Area Conference based on competition that sets them up nicely for playoffs. The Royal Oak Ravens is a perfect example for this. Royal Oak is a big school and currently play in the Oakland Activities Association red division for football but the blue and gold for other sports because of their win-loss record. If the win-loss record mattered then they would be in the OAA Blue, if they were in the Macomb Area Conference they would have been in the blue or the gold division.
Another idea for the OAA is to do their divisions geographically and limit travel for schools. The league already have divisions set up like this in track and baseball. The North division would be Lake Orion, Oxford, Clarkston, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek, Pontiac, and Avondale. The Central division would be Troy, Troy Athens, Bloomfield Hills (Andover-Lahser), West Bloomfield, Birmingham Groves, Birmingham Seaholm, Harrison, and North Farmington. The South division would be Royal Oak, Farmington, Southfield Lathrup, Southfield, Oak Park, Hazel Park, Ferndale, and Berkley.
It's just an idea but people around the state want to see the Dragons play some of the best competition but some of the teams in the red need to go down a division but who to bring up if the Pontiac's, or the West Bloomfield's, or the Royal Oak's struggle.
Even though Adams and Harrison will stay in the other division the probable teams that would move up to the red division would be Oxford, Avondale, and Farmington. Pontiac and West Bloomfield will likely move to the white and send Royal Oak to the blue with Bloomfield Hills likely to merge next season. It would be an interesting move to do so but it maybe the best interest of the league to look at that idea. Anything is possible though, we'll see what happens.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Dragons roll past Pontiac
Written Sunday September 11th, at 10:52 PM.
Nothing is ever easy in Lake Orion these days.
Since the 41-20 loss to Oxford the Dragons have started to find themselves lately in the last two weeks. Last week the Dragons handled Rochester 35-7, this week the Dragons handled Pontiac in a penalty filled game 40-12.
The Dragons are now 2-0 in the OAA Red and 2-1 overall while the Phoenix fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in OAA Red play.
The reason why the Dragons have won two in a row is their running game, with Jacob Miller. Miller had 79 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown while quarterback Sean Charette was a duel threat quarterback this night. Charette finished with eight rushes for 70 yards and a rushing touchdown. He was 11 for 17 for 163 yards with one touchdown and one pick. Charette's only touchdown pass was a 33 yard toss to Cory Ester.
Another reason why the Dragons have won two in a row is their defense. The last two weeks the Dragon defense have allowed 12 points and 19 points overall as a team (the one last week vs the Falcons was an offensive fumble return for a touchdown.)
The Orion defense was a force all night against the Phoenix, causing turnovers and chaos. They did not have John Gall for this game because of an injury. The defense did cause a questionable fumble from Phoenix quarterback Johnny McKnight. McKnight threw the ball which everybody on the field thought was incomplete, except for four Dragons who then ran the ball to the Pontiac end-zone. The referees concluded that defense-lineman Andrew Shafkalis caused a fumble and corner-back Jake Gardner took the ball back 51 yards for a Dragon touchdown, and put them up 14-0. Pontiac coach Brad Zube was furious with the officials and let them have it before halftime.
The defense wasn't done yet, McKnight was picked off this time by defensive lineman Jake Tebeau for a 11 yard touchdown toward the south end zone for the Dragons final points of the game.
Coach Chris Bell's Dragons committed 15 penalties in the game, mostly were called on offense and had two touchdowns called back because of penalties.
Pontiac's points came off a 69 yard run from returning running back Anthony Smith and a 24 yard touchdown pass from McKnight to Dominique Shaw. The pass was against the second team defense.
Lake Orion's next game is at West Bloomfield on Friday. The Lakers (2-1 2-0 OAA Red) beat the Royal Oak Ravens 39-21 on Friday Night.
Nothing is ever easy in Lake Orion these days.
Since the 41-20 loss to Oxford the Dragons have started to find themselves lately in the last two weeks. Last week the Dragons handled Rochester 35-7, this week the Dragons handled Pontiac in a penalty filled game 40-12.
The Dragons are now 2-0 in the OAA Red and 2-1 overall while the Phoenix fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in OAA Red play.
The reason why the Dragons have won two in a row is their running game, with Jacob Miller. Miller had 79 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown while quarterback Sean Charette was a duel threat quarterback this night. Charette finished with eight rushes for 70 yards and a rushing touchdown. He was 11 for 17 for 163 yards with one touchdown and one pick. Charette's only touchdown pass was a 33 yard toss to Cory Ester.
Another reason why the Dragons have won two in a row is their defense. The last two weeks the Dragon defense have allowed 12 points and 19 points overall as a team (the one last week vs the Falcons was an offensive fumble return for a touchdown.)
The Orion defense was a force all night against the Phoenix, causing turnovers and chaos. They did not have John Gall for this game because of an injury. The defense did cause a questionable fumble from Phoenix quarterback Johnny McKnight. McKnight threw the ball which everybody on the field thought was incomplete, except for four Dragons who then ran the ball to the Pontiac end-zone. The referees concluded that defense-lineman Andrew Shafkalis caused a fumble and corner-back Jake Gardner took the ball back 51 yards for a Dragon touchdown, and put them up 14-0. Pontiac coach Brad Zube was furious with the officials and let them have it before halftime.
The defense wasn't done yet, McKnight was picked off this time by defensive lineman Jake Tebeau for a 11 yard touchdown toward the south end zone for the Dragons final points of the game.
Coach Chris Bell's Dragons committed 15 penalties in the game, mostly were called on offense and had two touchdowns called back because of penalties.
Pontiac's points came off a 69 yard run from returning running back Anthony Smith and a 24 yard touchdown pass from McKnight to Dominique Shaw. The pass was against the second team defense.
Lake Orion's next game is at West Bloomfield on Friday. The Lakers (2-1 2-0 OAA Red) beat the Royal Oak Ravens 39-21 on Friday Night.
Friday, September 2, 2011
OAA Red Football Uniforms Outlook
Written Friday September 2nd, at 10:12 AM
Hello everyone, now I am not a fashion geek and what does football uniforms have to do with football, especially Dragon football, well everything. They describe passion and determination when your team comes out onto the football field. Russel Athletic, Nike and others have done a great job with uniforms during the years, don't get me wrong. There are some football teams in the Red that have great uniforms and some that people don't like, some of them I am even critical of, so don't be offended. Just recently this season Troy Athens, West Bloomfield, and Royal Oak changed uniforms for the upcoming season.
LAKE ORION: The Dragons have always kept the traditional uniform look, last name is on the back and the font "DRAGONS" for home games and "LAKE ORION" for road games on the front. The game pants will vary but mostly it is a green-green, or white-white combination at football games, however there have been times that the Dragons have worn white top-green pants combination, (at Clarkston in 2009, at Royal Oak in 2010.) The football helmet is traditional as well, Orion has a green helmet with a green face mask, LO on both sides with two stripes on top. Lake Orion does at times wear the Nike jersey for home games along with either green pants or white pants designed by Nike but the Nike jersey does not have the names on the back.
CLARKSTON: The Wolves are a more of a mystery when it comes to their jersey. Gone are the days of last names on the back, the yellow pants, and the name CLARKSTON on the front in cursive. Enter the Wolves new look, a blue jersey, blue pants combination for home games, which they have had since 2005. The blue top has the word "WOLVES" in small lettering in cursive. The Wolves helmets are very similar to Michigan with the maize and blue look but the uniform is not like Michigan at all, it's different. In 2009 Clarkston got rid of the yellow pants and picked up a white-white combination with "CLARKSTON" in small letters for road games, it is a combination the Wolves have wore ever since.
TROY: The Colts changed jerseys in 2005, after adding more red to their jerseys. In 2007 the Colts got rid of the TC and the gray stripes on their helmets and added a colt's head to their helmets along with a red stripe with the black helmet. Troy's home jersey is black with the players last names on the back with the Colts logo on the shoulder with the "COLTS" small lettering on the front. The road jersey does not have the names on the back and has a small "TROY" lettering on the front along with the Colts logo on the shoulder. The Colts do wear black pants no matter where they play either at home or on the road and have a red stripe on the side.
ROYAL OAK: The Ravens got rid of the black shoulder yoke uniforms and lettering in exchange for a more traditional uniform with the name "RAVENS" for the home black jerseys and "ROYAL OAK" for the road. Royal Oak's new coach Jeff Hill took the name of the players off the back as he tries to change the culture around Royal Oak. The home pants are also new with black and have the blue stripe on them. Royal Oak's black helmets and face mask have not changed with the Baltimore Ravens head for their logo. Royal Oak wears a white-white with blue stripes on the side on the road this season.
ROCHESTER: The Falcons have gone through a lot but the jersey and tradition has not changed their helmets are like the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL and their jerseys are like the Wisconsin Badgers of College Football. A few seasons back the Falcons wore blue pants but have since went back to a blue-white combination for home games and white-white for road games. Both jerseys were designed by Nike. Both of them say "FALCONS" with no last names on the back and have the Nike logo on the right side. Rochester's helmet is blue with a white face mask. It has a "R" on the left side with a huge white stripe on top and are awarded helmet stickers on the right side to fill the void without the R.
WEST BLOOMFIELD: The Lakers have been a traditional team when it comes to jerseys but this season the team got a new look courtesy of Nike. The Lakers added a white stripe to their new helmet with the W.B. anchor logo on the side along with a white face mask. West Bloomfield's new jerseys does not have the player's last name on the back but does have the Nike logo on the right side and have the "LAKERS" name on the front on both jerseys. The Lakers game pants does have a line on the side of their game pants. West Bloomfield wears a green jersey with white pants at home and a white jersey with white pants on the road.
PONTIAC: The Phoenix jersey's have not changed since Pontiac Northern and Pontiac Central merged in 2009. The home jersey is a purple-purple combination with gray trim. The Phoenix wear a gray football helmet with the Phoenix logo on the side a purple face mask. The road jersey is a white jersey, white pants combination with purple trim but Pontiac at times will wear purple pants on the road. Both jerseys do not have last names on the back.
TROY ATHENS: The Red Hawks have been jersey change galore in the last five seasons. So far Troy Athens have wore basically everything, from jersey schemes, to changing the game pants, to even changing the helmet. Five seasons ago the Red Hawks wore red jerseys with gold pants and gold helmets. Two seasons ago Troy Athens wore red jerseys, red pants, and red helmets. Last season the Red Hawks wore red jerseys, red pants, and gold helmets. It doesn't help that Athens changed their logo a few times, they wore the Iowa Hawkeyes logo as their main logo last season. This season the Red Hawks bring in a new color scheme and a new logo, the all white look very similar to Nebraska with the Red Hawk logo on the side and the red stripe on the front. The jersey say "RED HAWKS" on the front with red trim down the side on the road jersey with white pants with a red big stripe on the side. The home jersey the Red Hawks wear is red with the same white pants and the white helmets.
Now jerseys doesn't tell how teams perform on the field but it gives an very interesting point when teams play each other during the season, enjoy and god bless.
Hello everyone, now I am not a fashion geek and what does football uniforms have to do with football, especially Dragon football, well everything. They describe passion and determination when your team comes out onto the football field. Russel Athletic, Nike and others have done a great job with uniforms during the years, don't get me wrong. There are some football teams in the Red that have great uniforms and some that people don't like, some of them I am even critical of, so don't be offended. Just recently this season Troy Athens, West Bloomfield, and Royal Oak changed uniforms for the upcoming season.
LAKE ORION: The Dragons have always kept the traditional uniform look, last name is on the back and the font "DRAGONS" for home games and "LAKE ORION" for road games on the front. The game pants will vary but mostly it is a green-green, or white-white combination at football games, however there have been times that the Dragons have worn white top-green pants combination, (at Clarkston in 2009, at Royal Oak in 2010.) The football helmet is traditional as well, Orion has a green helmet with a green face mask, LO on both sides with two stripes on top. Lake Orion does at times wear the Nike jersey for home games along with either green pants or white pants designed by Nike but the Nike jersey does not have the names on the back.
CLARKSTON: The Wolves are a more of a mystery when it comes to their jersey. Gone are the days of last names on the back, the yellow pants, and the name CLARKSTON on the front in cursive. Enter the Wolves new look, a blue jersey, blue pants combination for home games, which they have had since 2005. The blue top has the word "WOLVES" in small lettering in cursive. The Wolves helmets are very similar to Michigan with the maize and blue look but the uniform is not like Michigan at all, it's different. In 2009 Clarkston got rid of the yellow pants and picked up a white-white combination with "CLARKSTON" in small letters for road games, it is a combination the Wolves have wore ever since.
TROY: The Colts changed jerseys in 2005, after adding more red to their jerseys. In 2007 the Colts got rid of the TC and the gray stripes on their helmets and added a colt's head to their helmets along with a red stripe with the black helmet. Troy's home jersey is black with the players last names on the back with the Colts logo on the shoulder with the "COLTS" small lettering on the front. The road jersey does not have the names on the back and has a small "TROY" lettering on the front along with the Colts logo on the shoulder. The Colts do wear black pants no matter where they play either at home or on the road and have a red stripe on the side.
ROYAL OAK: The Ravens got rid of the black shoulder yoke uniforms and lettering in exchange for a more traditional uniform with the name "RAVENS" for the home black jerseys and "ROYAL OAK" for the road. Royal Oak's new coach Jeff Hill took the name of the players off the back as he tries to change the culture around Royal Oak. The home pants are also new with black and have the blue stripe on them. Royal Oak's black helmets and face mask have not changed with the Baltimore Ravens head for their logo. Royal Oak wears a white-white with blue stripes on the side on the road this season.
ROCHESTER: The Falcons have gone through a lot but the jersey and tradition has not changed their helmets are like the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL and their jerseys are like the Wisconsin Badgers of College Football. A few seasons back the Falcons wore blue pants but have since went back to a blue-white combination for home games and white-white for road games. Both jerseys were designed by Nike. Both of them say "FALCONS" with no last names on the back and have the Nike logo on the right side. Rochester's helmet is blue with a white face mask. It has a "R" on the left side with a huge white stripe on top and are awarded helmet stickers on the right side to fill the void without the R.
WEST BLOOMFIELD: The Lakers have been a traditional team when it comes to jerseys but this season the team got a new look courtesy of Nike. The Lakers added a white stripe to their new helmet with the W.B. anchor logo on the side along with a white face mask. West Bloomfield's new jerseys does not have the player's last name on the back but does have the Nike logo on the right side and have the "LAKERS" name on the front on both jerseys. The Lakers game pants does have a line on the side of their game pants. West Bloomfield wears a green jersey with white pants at home and a white jersey with white pants on the road.
PONTIAC: The Phoenix jersey's have not changed since Pontiac Northern and Pontiac Central merged in 2009. The home jersey is a purple-purple combination with gray trim. The Phoenix wear a gray football helmet with the Phoenix logo on the side a purple face mask. The road jersey is a white jersey, white pants combination with purple trim but Pontiac at times will wear purple pants on the road. Both jerseys do not have last names on the back.
TROY ATHENS: The Red Hawks have been jersey change galore in the last five seasons. So far Troy Athens have wore basically everything, from jersey schemes, to changing the game pants, to even changing the helmet. Five seasons ago the Red Hawks wore red jerseys with gold pants and gold helmets. Two seasons ago Troy Athens wore red jerseys, red pants, and red helmets. Last season the Red Hawks wore red jerseys, red pants, and gold helmets. It doesn't help that Athens changed their logo a few times, they wore the Iowa Hawkeyes logo as their main logo last season. This season the Red Hawks bring in a new color scheme and a new logo, the all white look very similar to Nebraska with the Red Hawk logo on the side and the red stripe on the front. The jersey say "RED HAWKS" on the front with red trim down the side on the road jersey with white pants with a red big stripe on the side. The home jersey the Red Hawks wear is red with the same white pants and the white helmets.
Now jerseys doesn't tell how teams perform on the field but it gives an very interesting point when teams play each other during the season, enjoy and god bless.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Dragons beat Rochester but crisis still not over.
Written Friday September 2nd, at 12:25 AM
Finally all is right in the world, at least for one night.
On Thursday Night in what was called "Crisis Night" the Lake Orion Dragons rose up to the challenge and hammered the Rochester Falcons 35-7 in the home opener for the defending MHSAA Division One State Champs at Dragon Stadium.
The Dragons finally found a running game in Jacob Miller, after missing the Oxford game due to suspension. Miller led the Dragons power attack with two touchdowns and running back Cory Ester catching a touchdown and running for a touchdown in the contest.
Orion finally found protection for quarterback Sean Charette, who was sacked only twice and one was a fumble return for a touchdown for the Falcons but other than those two mistakes Charette had a lot of protection all night.
The Dragons also on this night may have finally found a defense. After allowing 300 yards and 41 points last week against Oxford, the Dragons defense caused havoc for the Falcons and did not allow a point in the contest. Rochester could not move the ball and they turned the ball over three times, including a punt block by Nick Booker which set up the Dragons first touchdown of the game.
The Dragons are still not a clean team yet, they took 10 penalties in the contest, which is not good but the Dragons penalties did not cost them as much field position, however the Dragons did have three touchdowns called back on them for either holding or a chop block penalty. The Falcons penalties were very crucial, especially in the first half. On the very first drive Rochester took two big penalties that eventually set up the punt block for the Dragons score. The Falcons took 10 penalties as well but their penalties were more costlier tonight then the Dragons were because of field position.
Finally the Dragons coaches, players, athletic director, and their fans can breathe a sight of relief, for now. If they lose to Pontiac next Friday Night then the panic button is immediately back on the Dragons head. The Dragons can not let up now, they are 1-1 and 1-0 in the OAA Red and plays Pontiac Friday Night in a game that Dragon fans, coaches, players, and athletic director can't take this game lightly, this game does have the same feeling as tonight's game with Rochester. This team can breathe easy for now but there is a lot of room to improve and get better and also to see where this team can be in the long hall.
Finally all is right in the world, at least for one night.
On Thursday Night in what was called "Crisis Night" the Lake Orion Dragons rose up to the challenge and hammered the Rochester Falcons 35-7 in the home opener for the defending MHSAA Division One State Champs at Dragon Stadium.
The Dragons finally found a running game in Jacob Miller, after missing the Oxford game due to suspension. Miller led the Dragons power attack with two touchdowns and running back Cory Ester catching a touchdown and running for a touchdown in the contest.
Orion finally found protection for quarterback Sean Charette, who was sacked only twice and one was a fumble return for a touchdown for the Falcons but other than those two mistakes Charette had a lot of protection all night.
The Dragons also on this night may have finally found a defense. After allowing 300 yards and 41 points last week against Oxford, the Dragons defense caused havoc for the Falcons and did not allow a point in the contest. Rochester could not move the ball and they turned the ball over three times, including a punt block by Nick Booker which set up the Dragons first touchdown of the game.
The Dragons are still not a clean team yet, they took 10 penalties in the contest, which is not good but the Dragons penalties did not cost them as much field position, however the Dragons did have three touchdowns called back on them for either holding or a chop block penalty. The Falcons penalties were very crucial, especially in the first half. On the very first drive Rochester took two big penalties that eventually set up the punt block for the Dragons score. The Falcons took 10 penalties as well but their penalties were more costlier tonight then the Dragons were because of field position.
Finally the Dragons coaches, players, athletic director, and their fans can breathe a sight of relief, for now. If they lose to Pontiac next Friday Night then the panic button is immediately back on the Dragons head. The Dragons can not let up now, they are 1-1 and 1-0 in the OAA Red and plays Pontiac Friday Night in a game that Dragon fans, coaches, players, and athletic director can't take this game lightly, this game does have the same feeling as tonight's game with Rochester. This team can breathe easy for now but there is a lot of room to improve and get better and also to see where this team can be in the long hall.
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