OAA Recap. Week Three.

Written Saturday September 14th, at 12:45 AM

1. Orion

2. Oak Park

3. Stoney Creek

4. Harrison

5. Southfield

6. Clarkston

7. Seaholm

8. Groves

9. Oxford

10. Avondale

BIG WIN: Oak Park: The Knights led by junior running back John Kelly grabbed the first win north of M-59 for Oak Park over Rochester Adams 36-30 under coach Greg Carter. The game was a seesaw battle with Oak Park prevailing. The Knights now have another big one next week when they have their home opener in Knight Valley against Southfield.

TOUGH LOSS: Rochester Adams: The Highlanders lost a tough game to Oak Park 36-30. The game was a back in fourth affair but Adams lost a fumble which led to a Knights touchdown and it cost them the game. The Highlanders now sit at 1-2 on the season with a trip to Lathrup Village next week. Adams still has to play at Southfield and hosts Oxford in a few weeks so the schedule is never easy.

BIG DISAPPOINTMENT: Troy: The Colts had Stoney Creek at home and to only score 12 points is worrisome. Troy and Stoney Creek were neck and neck but the Cougars found a way to win 21-12. The Colts now stand at 1-2 and still has to play Lake Orion and Clarkston. It’s looking like the playoffs maybe out of the question yet again in Troy.

TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Oxford: The Wildcats lost another heartbreaker this week to Harrison 28-25. Oxford trailed 21-10 at halftime and 28-17 late before scoring a touchdown late and then getting a defensive stop. The Wildcats now stand at 1-2 on the season and have tough road games at Adams and at Oak Park while hosting Southfield in the process.

Big Games This Week:

1. Lake Orion at 3. Stoney Creek: This maybe the biggest game in the history at Stoney Creek since the school opened in 2002. The Cougars led by their four headed monster of Joe Cox, Sean Scullen, Joe Allor, and Nick Rangos. The Dragons are led by Cory Ester, Zach Arnold, Matt Krause, and Dominick Giovinnazzo. So this game could be a shootout but whoever has the best defense should win this game.

5. Southfield at 2. Oak Park: This is the home opener for the Knights in Knight Valley. Oak Park is led by John Kelly and he will probably have his biggest test of the season with the likes of Malik McDonald and Lawrence Marshall along with their 10 mile rivals from the south going north to 12 mile. This should be an interesting test, whoever’s defense shows up will win this game.

10. Avondale at 8. Groves: In a battle of two track stars. The Yellow Jackets have the 100 meter sprint champion Josh Holloman while the Falcons have the 100 meter hurdles champion Ross Williams on their side. The game will likely be won by which defense shut downs the opposing team’s star player.

Red Standings:

1. Lake Orion               2-0       3-0

3. Stoney Creek           2-0       3-0

6. Clarkston                 2-0       2-1

Troy                             1-1       1-2

Troy Athens                 1-1       1-2

Rochester                     0-2       1-2

West Bloomfield           0-2       1-2

Pontiac                         0-2       0-3

Last Week Games:

Lake Orion 49, West Bloomfield 12

Stoney Creek 21, Troy 12

Clarkston 34, Rochester 13

Troy Athens 23, Pontiac 12

This Week Games:

1. Lake Orion at 3. Stoney Creek

Troy Athens at 6. Clarkston

Rochester at West Bloomfield

Troy at Pontiac

White Standings:

2. Oak Park                 2-0       3-0

4. Harrison                   2-0       3-0

5. Southfield                 2-0       2-1

9. Oxford                     1-1       1-2

Farmington                   1-1       1-2

Adams                         0-2       1-2

Southfield-Lathrup        0-2       1-2

Bloomfield Hills            0-2       0-3

Last Week Games:

Oak Park 36, Adams 30

Harrison 28, Oxford 25

Southfield 48, Bloomfield Hills 0

Farmington 25, Southfield-Lathrup 6

This Week Games:

5. Southfield at 2. Oak Park

4. Harrison at Bloomfield Hills

Farmington at 9. Oxford

Adams at Southfield-Lathrup

Blue Standings:

7. Birmingham Seaholm                        2-0       3-0

8. Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves           2-0       3-0

10. Avondale                                        1-1       2-1

North Farmington                                 1-1       2-1

Royal Oak                                            1-1       1-2

Berkley                                                1-1       1-2

Hazel Park                                           0-2       0-3

Ferndale                                               0-2       0-3

Last Week Games:

Birmingham Seaholm 30, North Farmington 8

Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves 56, Ferndale 0

Berkley 47, Hazel Park 0

Avondale 42, Royal Oak 7

This Week Games:

7. Birmingham Seaholm at Berkley

10. Avondale at 8. Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves

Ferndale at North Farmington

Royal Oak at Hazel Park

Top Games Around the State:

I was surprised this week by a couple of games.

I was shocked that both Waterford Schools won this week especially with Waterford Mott shocking Walled Lake Northern 61-58 on Thursday night. There was clearly no defense played in that game. The Corsairs are looking pretty good at possibly making the playoffs. Waterford Kettering had to comeback and beat Walled Lake Central 35-34. The Vikings sit at 0-3 and is in danger of missing the playoffs for a second straight season. The Captains still have to play Walled Lake Western, Walled Lake Northern, and Lakeland during the season so a playoff spot could be in question.

Birmingham Detroit Country Day sits at 0-3 and is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997 after being in the division four state finals, losing to Grand Rapids South Christian. The Yellow Jackets lost a fumble and then on the final play gave up a touchdown to Detroit Loyola 20-14 in Beverly Hills. Detroit Country Day must win out if they want to get back to the playoffs this season.

I was surprised Rockford got whooped 45-0 by Muskegon. The Rams beat Utica Eisenhower two weeks ago and Lansing Holt last week but were no match for the Big Reds. Rockford coach Ralph Munger's playbook is like a phone book but was shutout by Muskegon. The Big Reds heads to 3-0 after beating two powerhouse teams. One of those wins was against Grand Rapids Christian last week.

Lapeer West won the final battle of Lapeer when they beat Lapeer East 19-13. The Eagles and Panthers will merge next season and become Lapeer High School. The Panthers are very much alive in trying to make a playoff spot along with a Flint Metro League title.

L'Anse Creuse North home playoff chances too a hit when they could not comeback against Grosse Pointe North. The Crusaders lost 33-21 to the Norsemen. L'Anse Creuse North is now 2-1 and has to play Romeo next week at home. Grosse Pointe North still has to play their arch rival Grosse Pointe South to close out the season but is 3-0 and has a shot of making the playoffs.

Utica Eisenhower allowing 42 points is very unusual for Friday the 13th even though they are young and inexperienced from last season. The Eagles have always pride themselves on defense. However they just didn’t have it against Chippewa Valley 42-21 at Sweinhart Field and allowed over 40 points for the first time since the Bob Lanzy era. The Big Reds looks very good and could make the playoffs again for a second straight season at 3-0. As for the Eagles it might be more difficult. Utica Eisenhower has to beat Macomb Dakota and Romeo if they want to ensure themselves a playoff spot might have to win out.

The Bulldogs are in the same way after they lost to Macomb Dakota 21-0 at Dan Barnabo Field. Romeo did not look good offensively and now is 1-2 and 0-2 in the MAC Red. The Bulldogs have to go to L'Anse Creuse North next week which they might need that game because they still have to play Utica Eisenhower and Chippewa Valley.

Howell is 3-0 on the season after beating Hartland 14-12. The Highlanders looked awful in their scrimmage but they have three wins including one against Sterling Heights Stevenson. Howell and Hartland both has to play Grand Blanc. The Eagles are 1-2 after losing to Ann Arbor Skyline in week one and could be in danger of missing the playoffs.

We’ll see what happens this week.