OAA Recap Week Two

Written Saturday September 7th, at 7:35 PM

Dragons Den Top 10

1. Orion

2. Oak Park

3. Stoney Creek

4. Farmington Hills Harrison

5. Birmingham Seaholm

6. Southfield

7. Oxford

8. North Farmington

9. Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves

10. Clarkston

BIG WIN: Royal Oak: The Ravens got their third win in six seasons (3-44 since 2007) when they blew Ferndale out for the second time in two seasons 31-7. This was a huge win for the Ravens as a school that their students stormed the field but Coach Ryan Irish says that there is room for improvement with this team. Royal Oak could be a sleeper team in the Blue will play Avondale in Auburn Hills. Ferndale travels to Beverly Hills to face the Falcons.

TOUGH LOSS: Rochester: The Falcons led Troy 14-7 at halftime last week but lost the lead after the Colts scored early in the third quarter. Rochester allowed a 50 yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter and that score ended up being the winning score as the Falcons fell to the Colts 21-14. Rochester coach Eric Vernon said to reporters that his team played undisciplined football and it cost them this game. Troy coach Gary Griffith said that his team made some mistakes and is happy for the victory. The Falcons has to put this game aside because they play Clarkston at home this week. The Colts have another big game when they host Stoney Creek this week.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Avondale: Birmingham Seaholm coach Jim DeWald called out his offense after beating Ann Arbor Pioneer 24-0 last week. His offense responded by putting up 56 points on Avondale and winning 56-28. The Yellow Jackets struggled all night defensibly and their Blue title hopes are in jeopardy. Avondale’s two losses last season in the regular season came to Birmingham Seaholm.

TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Rochester Adams: The Highlanders beat Clarkston two weeks ago 12-7 but Adams controlled the first half against Farmington Hills Harrison. The Hawks tied the game and then block a punt for a touchdown for a 14-7 lead. Adams had a touchdown called back on a penalty that would had tied the game. The blocked punt changed the whole game around and a rushing touchdown put the game on ice with a 20-7 win for the Hawks. Rochester Adams has a big game next week with Oak Park on their home field.

Big games this week:

2. Oak Park at Rochester Adams: The Knights have been playing very well the last two seasons but there has been one problem that Oak Park has had under coach Greg Carter and that’s playing games north of M-59. The Knights are 0-4 when traveling north of M-59. Rochester Adams beat Clarkston two weeks ago and have been tough to beat at home lately but lost to Farmington Hills Harrison last week. If Adams doesn’t get their offense going then they are in trouble. So far the Highlanders have only scored 19 total points this season.

3. Stoney Creek at Troy: The honeymoon is over for Coach Brad Zube and the Cougars after two blowout wins over Pontiac and Royal Oak. Stoney Creek should be motivated after losing 19-14 last season in Rochester. The game cost Stoney Creek a trip to the playoffs. Troy needs this game because they lost to Romeo in week one at Dan Barnabo. If the Colts don’t win this game then they need to beat either Lake Orion or Clarkston just to make the playoffs.

7. Oxford at 4. Farmington Hills Harrison (Thursday): The Hawks got a big 20-7 victory over Rochester Adams but the problem could be that they are mistake prone. Oxford put up 62 points last week against Bloomfield Hills. The Wildcats won 34-31 in overtime last season on the blue turf. Oxford is experienced, big, and powerful especially with their pound the rock offense but this will be their first road game this season. Harrison could have a very tough time stopping Glacier Wallington and Ben Line but Oxford might have a tough time stopping Lorenzo Collins. Whoever has a better passing attack and line play should win this game. Oxford needs this game more because that Lake Orion loss is killing them right now.

8. North Farmington at 5. Birmingham Seaholm (Thursday): Birmingham Seaholm is in control of its destiny in the Blue after blowing out Auburn Hills Avondale 56-28 but so is North Farmington. The Raiders moved down from the White to the Blue and the experience should favor the Raiders after playing the likes of Southfield, Harrison, Oak Park, Adams, Oxford, and Farmington last season. Birmingham Seaholm has the defense and the talent to compete with the Raiders but the memory still is inside this team. The Maples lost to Oxford 42-8 last season in the playoffs and they should expect to see another power running team in Chauncey Bridges and the Raiders.

Red Standings:

1. Orion                       1-0       2-0

3. Stoney Creek           1-0       2-0

10. Clarkston               1-0       1-1

Troy                             1-0       1-1

Rochester                     0-1       1-1

West Bloomfield           0-1       1-1

Troy Athens                 0-1       0-2

Pontiac                         0-1       0-2

Last Week Scores:

Lake Orion 40, Troy Athens 7.

Stoney Creek 62, Pontiac 13.

Clarkston 41, West Bloomfield 18

Troy 21, Rochester 14

This Week Games:

West Bloomfield at 1. Lake Orion

3. Stoney Creek at Troy

10. Clarkston at Rochester

Pontiac at Troy Athens

White Standings:

2. Oak Park                 1-0       2-0

4. Harrison                   1-0       2-0

6. Southfield                 1-0       1-1

7. Oxford                     1-0       1-1

Adams                         0-1       1-1

Southfield-Lathrup        0-1       1-1

Farmington                   0-1       0-2

Bloomfield Hills            0-1       0-2

Last Week Scores:

Oak Park 34, Southfield-Lathrup 14

Harrison 20, Adams 7

Oxford 62, Bloomfield Hills 7

Southfield 32, Farmington 7

This Week Games:

2. Oak Park at Adams

7. Oxford at 4. Harrison

Bloomfield Hills at 6. Southfield

Southfield-Lathrup at Farmington

Blue Standings:

5. Birmingham Seaholm                        1-0       2-0

8. North Farmington                             1-0       2-0

9. Beverly Hills Wylie E Groves            1-0       2-0

Royal Oak                                            1-0       1-1

Avondale                                              0-1       1-1

Berkley                                                0-1       0-2

Hazel Park                                           0-1       0-2

Ferndale                                               0-1       0-2

Last Week Games:

Birmingham Seaholm 56, Avondale 28

North Farmington 24, Berkley 6

Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves 54, Hazel Park 6

Royal Oak 31, Ferndale 7

This Week Games:

8. North Farmington at 5. Birmingham Seaholm

Ferndale at 9. Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves

Royal Oak at Avondale

Hazel Park at Berkley

Other Games around the State:

I was surprised when Muskegon beat Grand Rapids Christian 35-13 snapping the Eagles 13 game winning streak. The game was lost in 33 seconds in the third quarter when the Eagles were leading 6-0 over the Big Reds. Grand Rapids Christian turned the football over three times, with two fumbles which led to short fields for the Big Reds and an interception that led to 21 unanswered points for the Big Reds. Muskegon would cruse to 2-0 on the season and they still have to play a tough Ottawa Kent Red division schedule with games against Rockford and Holland West Ottawa. The Big Reds play the Rams this week in Muskegon. Grand Rapids Christian falls to 1-1 and play Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills next. The Eagles should get their star wide receiver Drake Harris from a hamstring injury back soon.

Zeeland East won a hard fought 50-44 win over their arch rivals Zeeland West. The Chix lead 31-17 at one point only to see the Dux, whom beat Detroit Country Day last week in Birmingham came back and made it a game eventually taking the lead at one point. Zeeland East tied it at 44-44 to force overtime where they stopped Zeeland West from scoring and scored on their own drive to win the game. The Dux eliminated the Chix from the playoffs 46-0 after the Chix won the regular season meeting last season 60-52 in overtime. All those games have been shootouts. It wouldn’t surprise me if these two rivals would meet again in the playoffs.

Lansing Holt and Grand Ledge are two disappointing teams in the Capital Area Conference. The Rams are 0-2 and lost to Rockford 41-28 last week and lost to Hudsonville 28-13. The Rams have been outscored 68-41 in the last two weeks and still has to play Lansing Everett, East Lansing, and Lansing Sexton. The Rams have to win one of these games and beat on alert with Okemos and Grand Ledge. Speaking of the Comets they are 0-2 as well. Grand Ledge has been outscored 49-17 in the last two weeks, which included a 33-3 loss last week to Holland West Ottawa and lost a heartbreaking 16-14 game to East Kentwood. The Comets need to win two of the three games just to make the playoffs starting with Lansing Sexton. Grand Ledge still has to play Lansing Everett and East Lansing. The Comets close out the season with Lansing Holt. It's not looking good for both of these teams but they need to start playing better quickly.

Walled Lake Central is in deep trouble for not only a playoff spot but also in the Kensingtion Lakes Athletic Association after losing 34-12 to Livonia Stevenson and currently sits at 0-2 after losing to Saginaw Heritage in Saginaw two weeks ago. Novi got a big win for Jeff Burnside shocked Lakeland 17-0. The Eagles shocked Northville at home two weeks ago. Both Waterford schools lost as well as Waterford Kettering lost 13-6 to South Lyon and Waterford Mott lost 41-25 to Northville. Walled Lake Western is 2-0 after beating South Lyon East 56-29 while Walled Lake Northern beat Plymouth Salem 54-39 and is 1-1 on the season. Grand Blanc is 1-1 after blowing out Livonia Churchill last week. Plymouth shocked Milford 28-27 last week.

Chippewa Valley beat Romeo 21-11 winning for the first time since 2006. The Bulldogs loss could have an impact on Troy when it comes to playoff positioning if the Colts make the playoffs. The Big Reds are 2-0 on the season after beating Dearborn at Wayne State. Romeo is 1-1 and has to play Macomb Dakota this week. Both teams  have to play Utica Eisenhower and Macomb Dakota this season in the Macomb Area Red Division.

Macomb L’Anse Creuse North had to comeback from ten down to shock Grosse Pointe South 39-37 after trailing 37-27 with three minutes left in the game. The Crusaders are 2-0 and is one of the favorites in the Macomb Area Conference Blue division. The Blue Devils are a shocking 0-2 and 0-1 in the MAC Blue but could finish 6-3 and still make the playoffs. Macomb L’Anse Creuse North could possibly be back in the playoffs yet again this season.

Linden looks like they could be a factor in the Flint Metro League title race with Fenton and Lapeer West. The Eagles beat Holly 21-7 last week while the Tigers blew out Adrian in a non league game. Linden and Fenton look like they could be locks for the playoffs with Holly, Swartz Creek, and Lapeer West could be major players as well once we get closer to the playoffs or it wouldn't surprise anyone if all five of these teams make the playoffs from the Flint Metro League.

Birmingham Detroit Country Day is 0-2 after two heartbreaking losses. The defending Division Four State Champions lost two weeks ago to Zeeland West 44-28 and then lost on a missed extra point to University of Detroit Jesuit 28-27 in overtime. The Yellow Jackets have enough talent to contend for a state title and in the lower division in the Catholic League but they can't afford to lose another game or they would have to start on the road and Sanilac County is not a fun trip to go to in November.

Well folks we’ll see you for week three with some interesting match ups folks.