Dragons Finally get Revenge on Cougars. Next Play the Techinicians in the state semifinals

Written Saturday November 10th, at 1:20 AM

The rematch was on in the regional finals and something Dragons fans and players who played in this rivalry have been waiting for.

Macomb Dakota.

Lake Orion captured its second regional championship in three years and third in eight seasons by beating Macomb Dakota in a shootout 51-35 on Friday night. The Dragons captured the Macomb Area Red Division crown in the process.

The Dragons had previously lost three straight games to the Cougars, in 2004 (24-14), 2005 (27-13), and then 2007 (26-14.) All of those games were at Dakota.

However tonight was in Lake Orion.

The bus ride was an issue for the Cougars in coming over to Oakland County for the first time since 2009 when they fell to Clarkston. Macomb Dakota did not arrive at Dragon Stadium until 6:10 PM after a crash on Interstate 75 and then another accident on M-24 (Lapeer Road.)

That might have played a factor.

The Dragons took advantage of the Cougars first possession by cornerback Branden Clemens picked off Richmon Render, setting up the Lake Orion offense at the Macomb Dakota 22 yard line.

Then on a third down and inches from the Macomb Dakota 12 yard line, running back Chris Leigh then got the first down and then made a Cougar defender miss for a 12 yard touchdown, Jeremy King made the extra point making the score 7-0 Dragons.

The Dragons defense then forced the Cougars to turn the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass on fourth down and six.

Lake Orion then went down the field. The Dragons thought they had a touchdown by Jacob Miller only to be called back by an illegal block in the back penalty. It would have made it 14-0 but instead Lake Orion settled for three points on a 40 yard field goal by King made it 10-0 Dragons.

Then Miller got involved in the scoring. His first touchdown was a one yard scamper down the middle making the score 17-0.

Miller would then make an impact yet again, going 68 yards down the middle for a Dragons touchdown, making the score 24-0.

The rout was on after that.

Macomb Dakota got on the board after Render threw a nine yard touchdown pass to tight end Brent Shadowens down the middle making the score 24-7 Lake Orion.

Miller then got involved again, scoring a one yard touchdown making the score 31-7 Dragons. Miller had 189 yards in the first half and three touchdowns.

The halftime score was a shocker, Dragons 31, Cougars 7. Macomb Dakota was at an unfamiliar place, everything against them, it was something that they haven’t been in all season, not even when they lost to Dearborn Fordson week one.

The Cougars started the second half, strong. After stopping the Dragons on its opening drive, Render then hit Cory Chase from 25 yards out to the Lake Orion 33 yard line. Then the very next play Render hit Angelo DiMaggo on a 33 yard touchdown pass making the score 31-14 Dragons.

Lake Orion then answered when quarterback Derrick DeLaura found Chaz Miller for a 20 yard touchdown near the left side of the end zone, making the score 38-14 Dragons.

Macomb Dakota then answered yet again when running back Nick Cattaneo scored his first touchdown of the night by rushing for one yard for a touchdown, making the score 38-21 Dragons.

The Dragons then answered again when Cory Ester entered the party by going 19 yards on a jet sweep for a touchdown making the score 45-21 Lake Orion.

The Cougars had a never say die attitude when Cattaneo scored on an 11 yard touchdown run, making the score 45-28 Dragons. I wondered why Macomb Dakota did not go for two to cut the deficit to 16 points.

Lake Orion scored yet again with a ten yard touchdown from DeLaura to Miller from the right side of the endzone. 20 yards yet again with two minutes in the game but the kick from King went wide left, making the score 51-28 Dragons.

Macomb Dakota then closed out the scoring with a one yard touchdown from Cattaneo with eight seconds left in the game making the score 51-35 Dragons.

Miller finished the game with 236 yards and three touchdowns. DeLaura was five for six passing for 96 yards and two touchdown passes. Chaz Miller had three catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Dominick Giovinnazzo had 76 yards on six carries. Leigh had eight carries for 40 yards and a touchdown. Ester had four carries for 17 yards and a touchdown. Zach Arnold had three carries for 40 yards for the Dragons.

Render was 22 for 35 passing for 245 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Cattaneo had three rushing touchdowns and Chase and DiMaggio went 100 yards respectably for the Cougars. Macomb Dakota won the second half, outscoring Lake Orion 28-20 in the process.

The Cougars were coming in allowing only 13 points per game tonight gave up 51 points, which is the most they allowed this season. The previous they have allowed was in it's 27-17 home loss in week one to the Tractors.

The Dragons allowed 35 points which was the most they have allowed since its 21-14 heartbreaking loss to Clarkston week eight.

The Dragons are now 11-1 will move on to face the Technicians of Detroit Cass Tech, who come in at 10-2 in the state semifinals on Saturday, likely will be at Troy Athens. Detroit Cass Tech beat Saline 21-14 on Friday in Saline. We’ll see what happens on Saturday in likely Troy.