Possible Dragons Playoff Opponents

Written Monday October 15th, at 2:25 PM

The Dragons as we all know are in the postseason and the playoff brackets will be announced on Sunday night at 6:00 PM on Fox Sports Detroit but here are some teams that the Dragons could match-up with in the first round of the playoffs. Lake Orion currently is 7-1 with 94 points and face Farmington on the Falcons Homecoming on Friday night.

Numbers based by thousands.

Troy: (5-3. 65.1 points)

The Colts are currently 5-3 right now and need to beat Oxford on the road to make the playoffs. Odds are that it won’t be easy. Troy’s offense hasn't been good lately, only 10 points in two weeks. This match-up would benefit Lake Orion after winning 38-0 over the Colts earlier in the season but the only problems will be is can Troy get in and if they do get in there is that possibility of seeing Utica Eisenhower out east. If they do meet the game will be at Lake Orion.

PRO: None right now.
CON: Needs to win at Oxford to make the playoffs.

Utica Eisenhower: (6-2. 85 points)

The Eagles are currently 6-2, feature a three year starting quarterback in Joey Zerfafa and a big offensive line however they do struggle on the road especially on offense. Defensibly this is one of the best teams in the state. Eisenhower is the one of the best teams in Macomb County besides Macomb Dakota and a match up with the Dragons is a possibility if the Eagles are sent west, which is dangerous for Lake Orion. I do see Eisenhower in a district with it's MAC rivals, going east and also if Chippewa Valley loses at Port Huron, there is a  possibility that the Eagles could see MAC rivals Macomb Dakota, Sterling Heights Stevenson and Lance Cruise North in a district together. If they do meet the game would be at Lake Orion.

PRO: All ready in the playoffs, waiting to see where.
CON: Offense could be an issue in the playoffs, especially if Eisenhower goes on the road.

Rochester: (5-3. 63 points)

The Falcons have been struggling recently, losing two of three games. Rochester has had the opportunity to close the deal but they could not get it done. The Falcons lost 35-14 to Stoney Creek last week. Now they are in the danger zone as they will play Adams on the road and win just to make the playoffs. If they lose to the Highlanders then they are eliminated from the playoffs. For Lake Orion this is a great match up for them, the last time they met the Dragons hammered the Falcons 42-7 and if they do meet the game will be at Lake Orion.

PRO: Have one of the best quarterback to wide receiver combos in Oakland County.
CON: Needs to win at a place they haven't won at since 1996 to make the playoffs.

Stoney Creek: (5-3. 62 points)

The Cougars have been confident and been winning since getting Joe Addair back from his knee injury. He did not play in the Lake Orion when the Cougars were blown out 42-7 at Lake Orion but this is a dangerous match up for the Dragons, pending if Stoney Creek can go into Southfield and win. Stoney Creek is red hot right now winning three in a row since the loss to Clarkston (28-21.) If they do play each other the game would be at Lake Orion.

PRO: Riding high, won three straight since the loss to Clarkston.
CON: Needs to win at Southfield to make the playoffs.

Novi Detroit Catholic Central: (5-3. 65.7 points)

I know that this is a long shot but this is possible that the MHSAA could send Novi Catholic Central up northeast to Lake Orion for the playoffs, if so then this would be a nightmare match up for the Dragons. The Shamrocks have played a brutal schedule and is currently in the Prep Bowl against St. Mary’s at Ford Field on Saturday. One thing that would be an advantage if these two teams played that the game would be in Lake Orion.

PRO: Probably the most dangerous team in the playoffs if they get there.
CON: Needs to beat St. Marys again to assure itself a trip to the playoffs.

White Lake Lakeland: (5-3. 62.7 points)

The Eagles have been good until the last two weeks when they were outscored 81-18 and currently they are fighting for their playoff lives. If they don’t win against Milford then they are eliminated from the playoffs. This would be a great match-up for Lake Orion because the Eagles has to travel and have been struggling lately but this week Lakeland has to win or go home.

PRO: None right now.
CON: Needs to win over Milford to make the playoffs and offense has been struggling.

Walled Lake Northern: (6-2. 84 points)

The Knights are a scoring machine, averaging 50 points per game and recently beat Hartland to win the Kensington Crown. The match-up is interesting if you’re a Dragons fan especially with Walled Lake Northern's high scoring machine (the Knights run a no huddle veer/mid-line offense) There is a possible chance that Walled Lake Northern could come up north and face Lake Orion. The Knights central rival Walled Lake Central went up to Lake Orion and Clarkston and won there last season in the playoffs and there is a possibility that the MHSAA could send Walled Lake Northern to Division One and play Lake Orion at Orion.

PRO: Welcome to the playoffs, WL Northern and has a very good high octane offense.
CON: Defense needs to improve.

Clarkston: (9-0. 109 points)

The Wolves beat the Dragons 21-14 at Orion last week but if Clarkston loses to Oak Park then it becomes a log jam for that top spot, pending on playoff points. If Lake Orion and Clarkston do play in a rematch the game would be at Clarkston but it’s likely that these two rivals will be paired together in the postseason and play in the district finals depending on the match up.

PRO: Has number one seed all locked up.
CON: Passing attack.

Davison: (6-2. 69.7 points)

The Cardinals came to Lake Orion in 2010 and could possibly return yet again southeast into Oakland County. Davison has both Division One and Division Two experience, if they stay in Division Two then they would go to Midland to play the Chemics. If they are in Division One then they could play Lake Orion or Clarkston. The choice is the MHSAA and it’s a lose-lose situation for them either way. This week they are up against Flint Carman Ainsworth.

PRO: Toughness and could play Flint Carman Ainsworth twice in a two week span.
CON: Stay away from Midland, Lake Orion, or Clarkston

Flint Carman Ainsworth: (7-1. 80 points)

The Cavaliers are an interesting match up here, this week they will play Davison. Flint Carman Ainsworth is geographically close to Lake Orion than they are to Hartland. There is a real possibility that the Cavaliers could be sent southeast to Lake Orion to see the Dragons. It would be an interesting match up and it could be fun.

PRO: Running attack has carried the Cavaliers all season long.
CON: Could play Davison yet again in the playoffs with Hartland or Lake Orion or Clarkston.

Hartland: (7-1. 92 points)

The Eagles could be a possible opponent to the Dragons if the MHSAA decided to shift the district west to east and sends the Dragons westward. Hartland has wins over Grand Blanc and Howell. Teams that are fighting to try to get into the playoffs. This week the Eagles play Redford Thurston in Redford. This match up will be an interesting one if Lake Orion meets Hartland, it would be a rematch of the regional finals in Baseball where the Eagles beat the Dragons in the playoffs. If they do meet the game would be in Lake Orion.

PRO: Could see Howell in the first round.
CON: Traveling east to see Lake Orion or Clarkston could be a problem.

Romeo: (4-4. 59.5 points)

The Bulldogs played one the toughest schedules and conferences in the state (MAC Red) but adding Romeo at 5-4 could be interesting especially their work this season. Romeo lost to Troy, Macomb Dakota, Utica Eisenhower, and Sterling Heights Stevenson this season. The Bulldogs won at Port Huron and beat Chippewa Valley earlier in the season. For Romeo to get into the playoffs they need to beat Anchor Bay on the road and have Troy win over Oxford and Port Huron to win at home against Chippewa Valley. Now as a match up with the Dragons this would be an interesting match up especially with Romeo being 20 miles west of Lake Orion.

PRO: Win and see what happen.s
CON:  Hope Troy wins then it would help big time.

Grand Blanc: (4-4. 57 points)

Grand Blanc has been a modified soap opera this season, with all the hype and talent that surrounded this program. The Bobcats started the season 0-2 after losses to Flint Carman Ainsworth and Livonia Churchill. Grand Blanc would then lose to Hartland and then last week to Walled Lake Western on their home field. The Bobcats do have wins over Howell, Milford, and Brighton but a win over Plymouth on the road could get the Bobcats into the playoffs. If Grand Blanc does get into the playoffs then they will likely either see Hartland or Clarkston in the first round but seeing Lake Orion is also possible pending if a lot of help comes for the Bobcats.

PRO: Beat Plymouth and that could open an eye for the playoff makers.
CON: It will be yet another disappointing season in Grand Blanc yet again.