OAA Recap Week 7

Written Saturday October 5th, at 8:25 PM

Dragons Den Top 10:

1. Lake Orion (7-0, 6-0 Red)               LW: 1

2. Oak Park (7-0, 6-0 White)               LW: 2

3. Clarkston (7-0, 6-0 Red)                  LW: 6

4. Seaholm (6-1, 6-0 Blue)                   LW: 3

5. Farmington (6-1, 5-1 White)             LW: 4

6. Rochester (5-2, 4-2 Red)                 LW: 10

7. Avondale (6-1, 5-1 Blue)                 LW: 9

8. Lahser (5-2, 4-2 Blue)                      LW: 5

9. Oxford (4-3, 4-2 White)                  LW: NR

10. Stoney Creek (4-3, 3-3 White)      LW: NR

Dropped Out:

7. Southfield (4-3, 3-3 White)

8. Harrison (4-3, 3-3 White)

BIGGEST WIN: Seaholm 35, Lahser 33: In what was billed as one of the biggest games in the Blue. Many thought that it would be a low scoring game with both defenses being very stout, that ended up not being the case at all. The Maples and Knights went neck and neck scoring at will on each other but Seaholm had enough in the tank in the very end and now control their own destiny in the Blue. The Knights still can make the playoffs but they have to beat Avondale next week in doing so or they could beat Hazel Park on the road as well.

BAD LOSS: Adams 34, Southfield 20: After two big wins at Harrison and at home over Oxford the Blue Jays were riding high and needed this game to make the playoffs. The Highlanders even though they weren't going to the playoffs this season finally got that upset that they needed. This is a bad loss for the Blue Jays and now they need to win out to get to the playoffs. Southfield needs to beat Lathrup on the road and then win the crossover, currently they sit at the fourth position in the White.

TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Harrison: John Herrington’s Hawks had a 21-20 lead late in the fourth quarter at Oak Park in a game they needed in the worst way but the Knights took the ensuring kickoff back for a touchdown and ended up winning the game 26-21 on homecoming and giving Knights coach Greg Carter his seventh win of the season. Harrison now stands at 4-3 and needs to win at Farmington and the crossover game just to make the playoffs. The Hawks are the fifth in the White and would be playing Stoney Creek in the crossover right now.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Birmingham Groves 80, Royal Oak 59: If you love defense you might want to leave now because this one got ugly. This was the second game that the Ravens were involved in a shootout. Just two weeks ago the Ravens played Hazel Park, a team that is also no stranger to shootouts and lost 58-47 on it's home field to the Vikings. Both the Falcons and Ravens put up 139 points on the scoreboard. At halftime the score read Royal Oak 41, Groves 28. The Falcons stormed off the gate and took a 50-47 with 5:45 left in the third and eventually outscored Royal Oak 30-12 the rest of the way.

Top five Games of Week Eight:

3. Clarkston (7-0, 6-0 Red) at 1. Lake Orion (7-0, 6-0 Red): This game is deemed as the game of the year in the state. Both the Dragons and Wolves are the two top teams in the state for Division One (Clarkston-1, Lake Orion-2) in the latest Associated Press Coaches poll. The Red is also on the line along with major playoff implications especially home field when it comes to the postseason, both teams are going to the playoffs. Clarkston features a strong power running attack along with a big offensive line. Lake Orion has a strong running game of its own along with a good defense. We'll see what happens in Dragons Country on Friday night.

2. Oak Park (7-0, 6-0 White) at 9. Oxford (4-3, 4-2 White): In what is to be Oak Park’s toughest test of the season is when the Knights travel the long bus ride up to Oxford to play the Wildcats. Oxford is a whole another animal on the blue turf. They haven’t lost a regular season game since Farmington last season and are unbeaten at home this season. Oak Park however is another animal itself. The Knights clinched a share of the White with the win over Harrison last week. They love close games and usually they pull it out. Expect this game to be close but the Wildcats need this one more.

6. Rochester (5-2, 4-2 Red) at 10. Stoney Creek (4-3, 3-3 Red): This game has major playoff implications on it. The Falcons only two losses were to Clarkston and Lake Orion. Stoney Creek has already surpassed its win total from the last three seasons and now with this win could be in line for a playoff berth if they win this game and the crossover. The Cougars would be playing Harrison in the crossover if the season ended today. Stoney Creek need this one more than the Falcons but for Rochester its win and you’re in if not then you’ll need to win at a place you haven’t won since 1996 (Adams.)

7. Avondale (6-1, 5-1 Blue) at 8. Lahser (5-2, 5-1 Blue): The Yellow Jackets blew out the Highland Park Polar Bears 41-0 last week now set up a match with Lahser who is coming off an emotional 35-33 loss to Seaholm. The Knights needs one win to make the playoffs (Hazel Park on the road, week nine.) This is also the final regular season game at Lahser High School as the Knights will merge with the Andover Barons to form Bloomfield Hills High School and become the Bloomfield Hills Blackhawks. This could have major Blue implications should Seaholm falter in it's final two games (at Hazel Park and at Groves.)

Harrison (4-3, 3-3 White) at 5. Farmington (6-1, 5-1 White): The Falcons have won three straight since the 20-15 loss to Oak Park. Last season the roles were reversed with Farmington needing to beat Harrison just to have a shot at the playoffs, eventually Farmington did get into the playoffs at 5-4, so it wasn't all bad for the Farmington. Now this season it’s the other way around with the Hawks now needing this win to make the playoffs while the Falcons are looking comfy. This will be a good game in this cross-town rivalry, only separated by four miles.

Red Standings:

1. Lake Orion               6-0       7-0

3. Clarkston                  6-0       7-0

6. Rochester                 4-2       5-2

Troy                             3-3       4-3

10. Stoney Creek          3-3       4-3

Pontiac                         1-5       1-6

Troy Athens                 1-5       1-6

West Bloomfield           0-6       1-6

Last Week Results:

1. Lake Orion 49, Pontiac 13

3. Clarkston 28, Troy 0

6. Rochester 24, Troy Athens 15

10. Stoney Creek 50, West Bloomfield 28

Next Week Games:

3. Clarkston at 1. Lake Orion

6. Rochester at 10. Stoney Creek

Troy Athens at Troy

Pontiac at West Bloomfield

White Standings:

2. Oak Park                 6-0       7-0

5. Farmington               5-1       6-1

9. Oxford                     4-2       4-3

Southfield                     3-3       4-3

Harrison                       3-3       4-3

Adams                         2-4       2-5

North Farmington         1-5       2-5

Lathrup                        0-6       1-6

Last Week Results:

2. Oak Park 26, Harrison 21

5. Farmington 44, North Farmington 13

9. Oxford 48, Lathrup 6

Adams 34, Southfield 20

Next Week’s Games:

2. Oak Park at 9. Oxford

Harrison at 5. Farmington

Southfield at Lathrup

North Farmington at Adams

Blue Standings:

4. Seaholm                   6-0       6-1

7. Avondale                  5-1       6-1

8. Lahser                      4-2       5-2

Hazel Park                    4-2       4-3
Berkley                         3-3       3-4

Ferndale                       2-4       3-4

Groves                         2-5       2-5

Royal Oak                    1-5       1-6

Andover                       0-7       0-7

Last Week Games:

4. Seaholm 35, 8. Lahser 33

7. Avondale 41, Highland Park 0

Berkley 24, Hazel Park 0

Groves 80, Royal Oak 59

Ferndale 48, Detroit Henry Ford College Sciences of the Arts 0

Next Week’s Games:

Hazel Park at 4. Seaholm

7. Avondale at 8. Lahser

Berkley at Ferndale

Owosso at Groves

Birmingham Detroit Country Day at Royal Oak

What my thoughts are around the state is that please Davison and Walled Lake Northern will stay in division one. I wasn't surprised that Grand Blanc lost to Hartland 34-22, both teams should make the playoffs. I have a feeling that Grand Blanc could make the postseason at 5-4. The Eagles are a very good team this season and won the Kensington Lakes Athletic Association West Division crown. Hartland now plays the KLAA North Champion Walled Lake Northern for the Kensington crown this week. The Bobcats will host Lakeland in a game that will have major implications this week and then travel to Plymouth to play the Wildcats to close out the season.

Southfield came into the season as the top ranked team in the Dragons Den poll but what was more shocking was when they went to Rochester and played Adams. The Highlanders had a tough season of it's own standards and wasn't going to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. The Blue Jays then shockingly went down to Adams by two touchdowns 34-20. Now the Blue Jays at 5-2 have to win both of it’s games (at Lathrup and host the crossover) to have a shot at the playoffs.

Sterling Heights Stevenson is officially in the postseason for the first time since 2009, the year they went to the state finals before losing to Detroit Catholic Central. The Titans knocked off Chippewa Valley last week to go to 6-1 but they do have difficult games at Utica Eisenhower and at home with Warren Mott to close out the season. They could see Detroit Cass Tech in the first round which could get ugly if they get that matchup.

Plymouth Canton lost 28-21 to Plymouth last week is big trouble for the Chiefs. Canton now sits at 4-3 and has to play Plymouth Salem for two consecutive weeks (week eight and week nine). Both Plymouth Salem and Plymouth Canton finished third in their respective divisions. (Canton in the South division and Salem in the Central division.) The Rocks are also one win away from clinching a playoff spot at 5-2 and could decide the fate of the Chiefs season as well as their own.

Another traditional power who is in trouble is the Farmington Hills Harrison Hawks. Harrison sits at 4-3 and has a difficult schedule to close out the season which is nothing new to football coach John Herrington. The Hawks play at Farmington this week and then the crossover against either Stoney Creek or Troy. Now there is a possibility that the Hawks could get in the playoffs at 5-4. Their losses were to Oak Park, Oxford, and Southfield and they could possibly lose to Farmington. If the Hawks lose both to the Falcons and the crossover then they'll likely be eliminated from the playoffs.

A sad scene occurred at the end of the West Bloomfield/Stoney Creek game. After a touchdown by the Lakers, West Bloomfield then went for an onside kick but the ball went out of bounds and then trash talking and tensions rose. Stoney Creek head football coach Brad Zube took his team to the locker room, Lakers players and coaches took offense and got into it with the Stoney Creek coaching staff. As peace was trying to be restored between players and coaches from both sides, one of the West Bloomfield players punched the father of Brad Zube, Harold Zube knocking him to the turf while trying to restrain another coach. The player was then arrested, stripped of his pads, and taken in handcuffs by police car. According to coach Ronald Bellamy is that the player is no longer on the team. It is not known if the player would face assault charges at this time. Also the West Bloomfield defensive coordinator was fired by Bellamy for his role in the incident.

I thought that Zube did the right thing, taking his team to the locker room without doing the handshake because things were getting out of hand and if they did the handshake then things would have gotten much worse. Both athletic directors, who I know real well and have tons of respect for both of them will likely hand out punishments to those who were involved in the incident. Football is an emotional game but what happened at Rochester was absolutely uncalled for and even criminal.

On the football side of things Stoney Creek still has a lot to play for. The Cougars are 4-3, heading into it's rivalry game with sixth ranked Rochester and then the crossover. Stoney Creek needs to win both games just to make the playoffs. For West Bloomfield, this can't get any worse for coach Ronald Bellamy. Bellamy is already in the hot seat with his win-loss record and a 1-6 season also doesn't help but this incident makes things much worse and questions whats going on at West Bloomfield. The Lakers host Pontiac in week eight and then go on the road for the crossover game to wrap up the season.