Week One Recap

Written Saturday August 31st at 7:32 PM

Dragons Den Top 10:

1. Orion
2. Adams
3. Oak Park
4. Stoney Creek
5. Southfield
6. Oxford
7. Harrison
8. Birmingham Seaholm
9. Avondale
10. Clarkston

Top Games from last week:

Lake Orion 35, Oxford 30: In a game that took two days to complete the Dragons found a way to win a tough battle with the Wildcats handing them their first loss at home since 2011. Lake Orion outscored Oxford 21-17 on that Saturday to secure the five point win over the Wildcats. The Dragons are now 1-0 on the new season plays Troy Athens this week.

Rochester Adams 12, Clarkston 7: The Highlanders won Friday 12-0. The Wolves won Saturday 7-0. However in the end Clarkston lost big time and it could cost them if they have to play a team that is undefeated, they would have to play it on the road in the playoffs. Now with the undefeated streak gone the Wolves can focus on West Bloomfield while Adams plays at Harrison this week.

Oak Park 25, Orchard Lake St. Mary's 20: No wonder why Knights coach Greg Carter likes to play tough teams early. They like to play them. The Knights found a way to overcome the Eaglets and was down 13-0 for a time before outscoring them 25-7 in the process. Oak Park plays Southfield-Lathrup this week.

BIG WIN: Oak Park: The Knights trailed 13-0 into the second half at Wayne State against Orchard Lake St. Marys. Oak Park battled and battled until the very end outscoring the Eaglets 25-7 in rout to a 25-20 victory. The Knights still have a tough schedule down the stretch with trips to Adams and Harrison and only two home games but they are against Oxford and Southfield.

TOUGH LOSS: Oxford: The Wildcats controlled the game, the clock, and everything on Friday until the storms came. The score was 14-14 with their arch rival Lake Orion. On Saturday the Dragons outscored the Wildcats 21-17 and had to overcome an onside kick to survive 35-30 on the blue turf. The loss was Oxford's first on the blue turf since Rochester Adams took them out of the playoffs in 2011.

BIG DISAPPOINTMENT: Farmington: The Falcons came into the 2013 season making the playoffs the last three seasons but that streak could be in major jeopardy after losing 48-39 on Thursday night at Westland John Glenn. Farmington had a good JV team along with the returning talent but the defense and offense let them down big time. The Falcons threw two interceptions for touchdowns and the defense could not get off the field. The schedule is brutal with trips to Adams, Oxford and Harrison along with home games with Oak Park and Southfield. Farmington probably will not make the playoffs this season

ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Clarkston: With all the hype, all the attention, all the division one college players the Wolves were suppose to dominate their schedule and run ramp-shot in the playoffs and possibly a state championship. However Clarkston lost to Rochester Adams 12-7 and now hopes of an undefeated season is tarnished but they can still get multiple home playoff games and they have Lake Orion, Stoney Creek, and the crossover at home.

TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Troy: The Colts went into a very hostile environment and lost a tough one Thursday night at Dan Barnabo Field to Romeo 33-24. The schedule is going to get very difficult for Troy starting with Rochester, Stoney Creek, Clarkston, are all at Troy with Lake Orion at Ford Field. The Colts need to win two of these games if they want to make the playoffs along with arch rival Troy Athens.

Big Games next week:

2. Adams at 7. Harrison: The Highlanders after getting a 12-7 win over Clarkston has yet another tough challenge when they travel to Farmington to play the Hawks. Harrison shut out Detroit Renaissance 43-0 last week but the Hawks will have a major test this week in the Highlanders veer option attack that will score in bunches.

8. Birmingham Seaholm at 9. Avondale: This is a big match-up in the Blue for the Yellow Jackets and Maples. Last season Avondale lost to Birmingham Seaholm 28-15 in Birmingham. Now this game is in Auburn Hills and it could be another story here.

Rochester at Troy: The Falcons beat the Colts last season but quarterback Jay Darish got hurt in that game. Troy will be ticked as they lost to Romeo last week at Dan Barnabo Field. Rochester better be careful but this will be a very good match up indeed.

Red Standings:

1. Orion              0-0:  1-0
4. Stoney Creek  0-0:  1-0
Rochester            0-0:  1-0
West Bloomfield   0-0:  1-0
10. Clarkston         0-0:  0-1
Troy                     0-0:  0-1
Troy Athens         0-0:   0-1
Pontiac                 0-0:  0-1

Last Week Scores:
Orion 35, Oxford 30
Stoney Creek 42, Royal Oak 8
Rochester 28, Utica 14
West Bloomfield 39, Jackson 12
Rochester Adams 12, Clarkston 7
Warren Mott 47, Troy Athens 7
Romeo 33, Troy 24
Southfield-Lathrup 25, Pontiac 23.

This Week's Games:
Troy Athens at 1. Orion
Pontiac at 4. Stoney Creek
10. Clarkston at West Bloomfield
Rochester at Troy

White Standings:

2. Rochester Adams  0-0  1-0
3. Oak Park             0-0   1-0
7. Harrison               0-0   1-0
Southfield-Lathrup     0-0  1-0
5. Southfield              0-0  0-1
6. Oxford                  0-0  0-1
Farmington                0-0  0-1
Bloomfield Hills         0-0  0-1

Last Week's Scores:
Rochester Adams 12, Clarkston 7
Oak Park 25, Orchard Lake St. Marys 20
Southfield-Lathrup 25, Pontiac 23
Harrison 43, Detroit Renaissance 0
Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves 47, Bloomfield Hills 19
Orion 35, Oxford 30
Westland John Glenn 48, Farmington 39

This Week's Games:
2. Rochester Adams at 7. Harrison
3. Oak Park at Southfield-Lathrup
5. Southfield at Farmington
Bloomfield Hills at 6. Oxford

Blue Standings:

8. Birmingham Seaholm         0-0  1-0
9. Avondale                          0-0  1-0
North Farmington                  0-0  1-0
Beverly Hills Wylie E Groves 0-0 1-0
Hazel Park                            0-0   0-1
Berkley                                 0-0  0-1
Royal Oak                            0-0  0-1
Ferndale                                0-0  0-1

Last Week's Games:
Birmingham Seaholm 24, Ann Arbor Pioneer 0
Avondale 42, Redford Union 0
North Farmington 22, Bay City John Glenn 14
Beverly Hills Wylie E Groves 47, Bloomfield Hills 19
Redford Thurston 32, Berkley 14
Stoney Creek 42, Royal Oak 8
Livonia Clarenceville 21, Ferndale 14
Madison Heights Bishop Foley 34, Hazel Park 30

This Week's Games:
8. Birmingham Seaholm at 9. Avondale
North Farmington at Berkley
Beverly Hills Wylie E Groves at Hazel Park
Ferndale at Royal Oak

I was shocked with how Clarkston lost to Adams 12-7. Adams just outplayed and out toughed Clarkston. The Dragons survived the Wildcats 35-30 to retain the Double O Trophy. Oxford is a very good team but so is Orion. Watch Out for Rochester, they have 26 seniors on their team but they have a big one with Troy this week. Troy Athens is the word overrated. They have been outscored 88-13 in the last two seasons by Warren Mott. I wasn't surprised that Rockford beat Utica Eisenhower but was a bit surprised when Walled Lake Central lost to Saginaw Heritage and Walled Lake Northern destroyed Livonia Churchill 69-14. Both Waterford schools (Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott) won but they might not be playoff bound this season. Grand Blanc lost week one yet again to Flint Carman Ainsworth but was shutout. The Bobcats might find a way to make the playoffs and Howell after having a horrible scrimmage last week beat Sterling Heights Stevenson. This week is interesting but the White will have some good games and Avondale and Birmingham Seaholm should be a good one. We'll see what happens.