Memories of the 2003 Harrison Game and 2007 Troy Game shows ugly head in Dragons shocking loss to Cougars 36-7

Written Saturday September 21st, at 11:50 PM

The Lake Orion Dragons have had a long history with losing quarterbacks to devastating injuries.

In the Farmington Hills Harrison game in 2003 in Farmington Hills, the Dragons lost quarterback Nate Recknagel to a knee injury. Lake Orion would lose that game 21-7 to the Hawks. The Dragons would lose to Rochester Adams and eventually to Flint Carman Ainsworth in the playoffs. Recknagel was at the game tonight

In the 31-13 loss to Troy in 2007, the Dragons lost quarterback Chris Lum to a knee injury where he was taken on an ambulance. Lum came back seven weeks later to lead Lake Orion to the regional finals of 2007 playoffs. Now why is this familiar???

It happened Saturday night AGAIN.

Dragons quarterback Connor Grant while playing on defense suffered a stinger to the neck and was taken on ambulance late into the first quarter.

Stoney Creek would eventually take advantage of Grant’s absence at safety and at quarterback in a shocking 36-7 rout for the Cougars over the Dragons. This was the first loss to anyone not named Clarkston since 2007 when the Dragons lost 31-13 at Troy in the second week of the season. The game was suppose to be played on Friday but due to a severe weather threat that did not happen.

The Cougars players, fans, and coaches showed up to Saturday night's game ready and energized.

Leading the charge was Stoney Creek quarterback Justin Allor. He did not play last season at Lake Orion due to injury he suffered against Troy (The Dragons would win that game 42-7.) Allor was 12 for 16 for 133 yards and two touchdowns and had six carries for 84 yards.

Allor had a nine yard touchdown run to start the game off at 7-0 Cougars.

The Dragons then responded with help of a couple personal foul penalties against the Cougars went down the field with Zak Arnold scoring from 27 yards out to tie the score at 7-7.

Then it got ugly. Stoney Creek would score 29 unanswered points after that.

Stoney Creek wide receiver and kicker Alex Schnurr whom caught every big pass toward him from Allor connected on a 42 yard field goal making the score 10-7 Stoney Creek.

The Dragons after the Grant injury was forced to go with Kyle Bell at quarterback. Bell and the offensive line struggled all night long with pass and run protection. Bell was two for eight for 43 yards and was sacked five times and threw an interception.

The Cougars would take advantage of a Bell interception by Sean Scullen with running back Joe Cox scoring a one yard touchdown making the score 17-7 Stoney Creek.

The Dragons couldn’t get anything on offense tried and clawed to get down field but Stoney Creek’s blitz happy defense didn’t budge and it gave them another drive. The Cougars got a 26 yard field goal from Schurr making the score 20-7 Stoney Creek.

Lake Orion had one chance to get the ball down field but couldn’t muster much and was shut down and then Bell was sacked to close out the half 20-7 Cougars.

In the third quarter the Dragons had hope and took the ball into the Cougars 35 yard line but were denied again by the Cougars blitz happy and quick defense and turned the ball over on downs. Stoney Creek would then get a big pass play from Cox to Scott Reader. Stoney Creek would then get a 28 yard field goal from Schurr making the score 23-7 Cougars.

The Dragons had another chance to score but was AGAIN denied when the Cougars blitz happy and quick defense shut the Lake Orion offense again. The failed drive led to Allor’s 51 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter on a veer quarterback option making the score 29-7 but the Cougars missed the two point conversion.

Lake Orion then was shut down one final time as they couldn’t get anyone going from Arnold, Cory Ester, and Dominick Giovinnazzo, among others could not stop the Stoney Creek blitz happy and quick defense or their option offense.

Stoney Creek then put the final exclamation point with fireworks going off on each touchdown scored by the Cougars with an eight yard touchdown from Reader making the score 36-7 Cougars and that was your ball game.

The Dragons had 194 yards for the whole game compared to the Cougars 409 yards.

This was a big win for Stoney Creek coach Brad Zube and the Cougars program. This win all but guarantees a trip to the playoffs for Stoney Creek (4-0, 3-0 Red.) They play Clarkston next week and have a great shot a going into Clarkston and beating the Wolves.

Zube is 1-3 in his career against Lake Orion coach Chris Bell.

For the Dragons (3-1, 2-1 Red) they need to do some sole searching especially on offense and especially on defense. The offense, defense, and special teams were exposed tonight. Grant going down to injury did not help the cause but you can’t put the blame on his shoulders or Bell’s performance at quarterback. Bell also plays on defense and special teams which is a major concern. I still think that the Dragons need to seriously look at Jack Harding or Cameron Kostiz to start at quarterback while Grant is out.

The playoffs are still in play for the Dragons and they just need to forget about this game and move onto the Troy (2-2, 1-2 Red) game next week at Ford Field. Tonight proved that all teams are human and Lake Orion is one of those teams.