Division Two Picks.

Written, Wednesday October 30th, at 12:15 AM

Region 1:

District 1:

Marquette (5-3) at Midland (8-1): The Redman has to make the long travel from the Upper Peninsula to Midland. Marquette plays in the Great Northern UP Conference with Menominee and Kingsford and has beaten Sault Sainte Marie but the Redman have lost two of their last three games to close out the season. The Chemics shared the Saginaw Valley Athletic Association North division title with Mount Pleasant should have no problem with Marquette. PICK: MIDLAND 48, MARQUETTE 0.

Midland Dow (7-2) at Fenton (8-1): The Tigers lost a tough one to Lapeer West last week now host Midland Dow. The Chargers lost a tough one to arch rival Midland would love to get another shot at them but the road goes through Genesee County and also Midland Dow has to travel that long bus ride and that could have a major effect on them in this game. PICK: FENTON 28, MIDLAND DOW 7.

District 2:

Muskegon Mona Shores (7-2) at Lowell (9-0): This is the first meeting between the Sailors and the Red Arrows. Mona Shores had a long drought before making the playoffs this season. Lowell is a traditional powerhouse and it will show why they are there. PICK: LOWELL 45, MUSKEGON MONA SHORES 6.

Muskegon Reeths Puffer (7-2) at Muskegon (8-1): The Big Reds and Rockets met last week with Muskegon winning 20-7 last week and now will do it once again. Muskegon Reeths Puffer like Mona Shores have not been here before but Muskegon, the Ottawa Kent Black division champs has and its experience will show its head once again. PICK: MUSKEGON 28, MUSKEGON REETHS PUFFER 14.

Region 2:

District 1:

Lansing Everett (5-4) at Portage Central (9-0): The Mustangs have had a perfect season thus far and became the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Champions but the Vikings are going to try to pull the stops but losing two of it’s last three games will not help. Portage Central will be too much for Lansing Everett. PICK: PORTAGE CENTRAL 56, LANSING EVERETT 14.

Portage Northern (7-2) at Battle Creek Lakeview (9-0): The Huskies and Spartans are no strangers to each other but the schedule match up favors Portage Northern. Battle Creek Lakeview’s schedule was a combine 26-55 and one of those teams was a playoff team (Battle Creek Harper Creek 7-2) even though they are the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Champions. The Huskies have played its arch rival Portage Central and its two losses this season were a combined record of 17-1 which included a loss to the Mustangs and plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference West division. We could possibly be seeing the battle of Portage part two. PICK: PORTAGE NORTHERN 42, BATTLE CREEK LAKEVIEW 28.

District 2:

North Farmington (5-3) at Harrison (8-1): In what was a shocking surprise the Hawks will play their in city rival North Farmington. Also add that Harrison plays in the OAA White and North Farmington is in the OAA Blue. This game however won’t even be close. PICK: HARRISON 63, NORTH FARMINGTON 6.

Pinckney (6-3) at South Lyon (7-2): This is a Kensington Lakes Athletic Conference rematch from week one won by the Pirates 33-17. South Lyon lost a tough match up last week to Walled Lake Northern can try to get some revenge on Pinckney. The Pirates lost a 42-41 overtime game at Waterford Kettering while South Lyon beat Waterford Kettering 16-13 earlier in the season. The Lions are much improved but can they get past the Pirates, the answer is yes. PICK: SOUTH LYON 20, PINCKNEY 17.

Region 3:

District 1:

Groves (7-2) at Brother Rice (9-0): The Warriors won the Catholic League and this is coach Al Fracassica’s last season on the sidelines. His quest starts here. The Falcons have no chance against a very powerful Birmingham Brother Rice squad and were shockingly upset 30-22 by Waterford Mott last week in Waterford. If Groves can’t beat Waterford Mott then it won’t beat Brother Rice. PICK: BROTHER RICE 56, GROVES 0.

Southfield (7-2) at Seaholm (8-1): The Maples won the Blue but the loss to U-D Jesuit 20-17 cost them perhaps a number one seed. The Blue Jays are the OAA White Champions lost a chance to host a playoff game after losing 20-10 to Clarkston last week. Southfield will take out its anger on Seaholm. It’s been a good season Maples. PICK: SOUTHFIELD 28, SEAHOLM 7.

District 2:

Warren Woods Tower (6-3) at U-D Jesuit (5-4): The Cubs 20-17 win in Birmingham over Seaholm not only gave them a playoff berth but a chance to host a district. U-D Jesuit will start its journey by beating a Titans team that lost 21-20 to Mount Clemens last week. PICK: U-D JESUIT 28, WARREN WOODS TOWER 7.

Detroit Renaissance (6-3) at Oak Park (5-4): The Phoenix return to the playoffs on a four game winning streak that saw its opponents combined record of 8-27. The Knights have lost three games by a combine of 15 points and add the fact that they have played a much more brutal schedule than Detroit Renaissance (Oak Park played Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Oxford, Southfield, Harrison, Adams, and Lake Orion.) This is the first time that these two teams have met each other. The only common opponent both teams played was Harrison, the Phoenix lost 43-0 in week one while the Knights lost 60-52 to the Hawks in week seven. I’m going with the team that lost to Harrison close and has played a more brutal schedule and that’s Oak Park. PICK: OAK PARK 46, DETROIT RENAISSANCE 0.

Region 4:

District 1:

Detroit Cody (6-3) at Detroit Martin Luther King (7-1): Detroit Martin Luther King lost a tough one to Detroit Cass Tech 20-14 last week at Ford Field. The Comets and the Crusaders have not met each other in the Detroit Public School League but the talent is such a mismatch and Detroit Martin Luther King will get the best of Detroit Cody. PICK: DETROIT MARTIN LUTHER KING 28, DETROIT CODY 7.

Detroit East English Village Prep (6-3) at Grosse Pointe North (6-3): The Norseman and the Bulldogs will meet for the first time this season. Grosse Pointe North plays in a tougher conference (Macomb Area Conference Blue) than the Bulldogs, no offense to the Detroit Public School League and Grosse Pointe North did beat Macomb L’Anse Creuse North in the regular season. I just think the Norseman will be too much for Detroit East English Village Prep. PICK: GROSSE POINTE NORTH 35, DETROIT EAST ENGLISH VILLAGE PREP 14.

District 2:

Ypsilanti Lincoln (7-2) at Wyandotte Roosevelt (9-0): This is a rematch of last season’s first round match won by the Bears and also Wyandotte Roosevelt is the Downriver League Champions for a second straight season. The Railsplitters won the Southeastern Conference White division and has played Temperance Bedford and Milan in the season. I just think the travel to Wyandotte hurts Ypsilanti Lincoln in this match up and the Bears will win again. PICK: WYANDOTTE ROOSEVELT 31, YPSILANTI LINCOLN 20.

Taylor Truman (7-2) at Allen Park (7-2): The Jaguars return to the playoffs after missing out the last few seasons. Both teams finished 7-2 and were tied for second in the Downriver League. The Cougars lost to Allen Park 21-14 and is looking for revenge in this game. Taylor Truman will get revenge in this game and win this one close. PICK: TAYLOR TRUMAN 28, ALLEN PARK 21.

Division One Picks.

Written Tuesday October 29th, at 3:00 PM

Region 1:

District 1:

Traverse City West (6-3) at Rockford (8-1): The Rams and Titans have seen each other or been paired in the same district the last four seasons. Rockford has always gotten the best of Traverse City West. The travel down south on US-31 has been brutal as always for the Titans and it will continue again. PICK: ROCKFORD 35, TC WEST 14.

East Kentwood (5-4) at Hudsonville (6-3): It was two weeks ago that these two Ottawa-Kent Red rivals got it on with the Eagles beating the Falcons 20-9. Now East Kentwood returns to Hudsonville again for the rematch but in the end it will be the same result but different score. PICK: HUDSONVILLE 27, EAST KENTWOOD 12.

District 2:

Lansing Holt (5-4) at Flint Carman Ainsworth (8-1): It has been a long while that the Rams and Cavaliers have locked horns. Lansing Holt has to do the travel east and it could be a long one for them against an Carman Ainsworth team that has been rolling in the Saginaw Valley Athletic Association South division. PICK: FLINT CARMAN AINSWORTH 35, LANSING HOLT 21.

Brighton (5-4) at Grand Blanc (7-2): These two Kensington Lakes Athletic Association West rivals will hook up again. The Bobcats got the best of the Bulldogs 44-21 in week four. The game is in Genesse County and Brighton has played tougher competition lately but it will be Grand Blanc moving on setting up a rematch with Flint Carman Ainsworth in which the Bobcats want revenge after losing 13-0 week one to the Cavaliers . PICK: GRAND BLANC 42, BRIGHTON 7.

Region 2:

District 1:

Oxford (5-4) at Clarkston (8-1): The Wildcats ended up being the last playoff team in division one. The 5-4 record is very deceptive. Oxford is 1-4 against current playoff teams but have played the likes of Lake Orion, Southfield, Adams, Oak Park, and Harrison. The Wolves have been rolling since losing 12-7 to Adams in week one and right now is starting to get everything together. Clarkston better be careful in this game. This game might be closer than experts think depending on time possession. PICK: CLARKSTON 28, OXFORD 21.

Romeo (5-4) at Lake Orion (7-2): Romeo is another 5-4 team that can be dangerous. The Bulldogs started the season 1-3 with losses to Macomb Dakota, Chippewa Valley, and Macomb L'Anse Creuse North and lost its starting quarterback but ever since have gone 4-1 against the teams they were suppose to beat but suffered a horrible loss to Utica Eisenhower 16-14 at Swienhart Field three weeks ago. Lake Orion has had a strange season. The Dragons defense has been struggling allowing over 22 points a game but shut Oak Park down to no points last week in a 19-14 win. Lake Orion has two big wins to get into the postseason with wins over Oxford and Oak Park but losses to Stoney Creek and Clarkston who are also in the playoffs. I think too much speed and home field will get the Dragons to the district finals. PICK: LAKE ORION 35, ROMEO 14.

District 2:

Waterford Kettering (6-3) at Walled Lake Northern (7-2): The last time the Captains and Knights meet it was 24-19 Walled Lake Northern in Walled Lake in week five. These two Kensington Lakes Athletic Association North rivals should know each other well. Waterford Kettering is in the playoffs for the first time since 1998 when they were in the OAA. The Knights return to the playoffs for a second straight season and features a very good offense but the defense has improved as well. I think that this game will go down the wire but this could be the first upset of the tournament right here in a high scoring affair. PICK: WATERFORD KETTERING 49, WALLED LAKE NORTHERN 42.

Stoney Creek (6-3) at Adams (6-3): This is Stoney Creek's first trip to the playoffs since 2007. Adams returns to the playoffs after missing out last season. These two Tienken Road rivals have had big wins this season that got them to the playoffs. The Highlanders beat Clarkston and Oxford while the Cougars beat Lake Orion. This game is interesting I think that missing Matt Sokol might hurt Adams in this game even though they have done well without him. I like the Cougars in a big upset. PICK: STONEY CREEK 35, ADAMS 28.

Region 3:

District 1:

Novi Detroit Catholic Central (6-2) at Northville (8-1): The Mustangs picked up a huge win last week over Walled Lake Western 38-31 in double overtime last week. Northville has also beaten Canton as well this season and Westland John Glenn. The Shamrocks have only lost two games and they were to Birmingham Brother Rice. This game has yet the classics of a shootout but in the end I just think that Novi Detroit Catholic Central will be too much for the Mustangs. PICK: NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 24, NORTHVILLE 21.

Plymouth Canton (8-1) at Walled Lake Western (8-1): This will be the first meeting of the season between the Chiefs and Warriors. Walled Lake Western whom is the Lakes champion lost a heart breaker to Northville last week while Canton's only loss was to Northville. This game will be close but in the end the Warriors are at home and will send it's fans home happy. PICK: WALLED LAKE WESTERN 35, PLYMOUTH CANTON 28.

District 2:

Westland John Glenn (6-3) at Temperance Bedford (9-0): The Kicking Mules have been playing with a lot of heavy hearts in the last week with the tragedy of their teammate whom passed in a car accident. Temperance Bedford has done very well in the Southeastern Conference Red Division and using that emotional rally will motivate each other and beat the Rockets. Westland John Glenn has also had a good season but the travel and motivated on the other side will lead the Kicking Mules to the district finals. PICK: TEMPERANCE BEDFORD 27, WESTLAND JOHN GLENN 6.

Belleville (6-3) at Saline (8-1): The Tigers make their first appearance in Division One this season after a long wait. Belleville has beaten Dearborn Fordson as a major win this season will be tested when they travel west to meet Saline. The Hornets only loss was to Temperance Bedford on it's home field and will get this win and set up the district final showdown in Monroe County. PICK: SALINE 35, BELLEVILLE 14.

Region 4:

District 1:

Warren De La Salle (6-3) at Macomb Dakota (9-0): This is the dream match that most of Macomb County wanted to see with the Pilots and Cougars meeting up. The Pilots have played a more brutal schedule and have lost heartbreakers to Birmingham Brother Rice and Novi Detroit Catholic Central. They did beat Orchard Lake Saint Marys and U-D Jesuit. Macomb Dakota beat Chippewa Valley, Romeo, Dearborn Fordson in the process. This will be a close game but this would be a major upset if Warren De LaSalle gets it and they will. PICK: WARREN DE LASALLE 28, MACOMB DAKOTA 24.

Macomb L'Anse Creuse North (8-1) at Chippewa Valley (8-1): The Cruasaders and Big Reds have not met each other this season so this will be the first time they have met each other. Chippewa Valley was absolutely destroyed by Macomb Dakota 52-7 two weeks ago while Macomb L'Anse Creuse North's only loss was to Grosse Pointe North where they lost that game late 33-21. I think the Red is a lot tougher than the White and the Big Reds will move on in this one. PICK: CHIPPEWA VALLEY 31, MACOMB L'ANSE CREUSE NORTH 21.

District 2:

Grosse Pointe South (6-3) at Detroit Cass Tech (9-0): Poor Blue Devils, another match up with the Techinans. This won't be close at all in Wayne County. PICK: DETROIT CASS TECH 56, GROSSE POINTE SOUTH 13.

Dearborn Fordson (6-3) at Warren Mott (9-0): This will be the first time that Dearborn Fordson travels up to Macomb County for the playoffs in a long while. The Tractors have played a tougher schedule than the Marauders who played in the MAC White. The travel could get to Dearborn Fordson even though they beat Monroe 33-9 last week in Monroe. Warren Mott is a different team and will move on to the district finals in a close one. PICK: WARREN MOTT 35, DEARBORN FORDSON 30.

Romeo Scouting Report.

Written Monday October 28th, at 12:10 AM

Injuries and adversity is something that when the playoffs came, no one expected the Romeo Bulldogs to get a number three seed in the district playoffs.

Romeo is an interesting team this season that has gone through a lot of adversity and injures, especially after a 1-3 start and losing to Chippewa Valley, Macomb Dakota, and Macomb L’Anse Creuse North but have wrote the ship and enter the first round of the playoffs when the Bulldogs will travel to Lake Orion to meet the Dragons on Friday night.

The Bulldogs come in with a 5-4 record and a 3-3 record in the MAC Red runs a spread offense and does feature the quarterback a lot but does like to run power and is also very physical. The common opponent that both Lake Orion and Romeo has played is Troy. The Bulldogs beat the Colts 33-24 in Romeo in week one while the Dragons beat Troy 52-17 at Ford Field in week five.

Romeo has been forced to run a two quarterback system especially when opening starter Senior Zach Rizo was knocked out of the Macomb L’Anse Creuse game with a few weeks ago with a concussion and hasn’t returned since but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he is back for this game. Rizo is a fast quarterback, mobile, and in your face quarterback. He is very similar to Richard Roth, whom was the starting quarterback in 2008 the Bulldogs fell 24-23 to the Dragons in the district finals. Rizo was 13 for 27 for 100 yards and rushed 11 times for 21 yards against Macomb Dakota in a loss earlier in the season. 

The quarterback who has benefited from Rizo’s injury is Sophomore Paul Hurley. Hurley is an accurate passer, can run, and is very athletic. He in replacing Rizo whom was concussed connected on a 29 yard touchdown against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North. Hurley in his first start against Sterling Heights Stevenson in a 27-17 victory at Ford Field was 16 for 22 for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He had a one yard rushing touchdown last week against Utica Eisenhower in a shocking 16-14 loss at Sweinhart Field three weeks ago. Hurley was 15 for 22 for 207 yards and had a passing touchdown against Anchor Bay last week.

Romeo has a stud tight end in Blake Williams. Williams has been a very good pass catcher as a tight end and has gotten offers from several Division One schools. He had a huge game against Sterling Heights Stevenson at Ford Field where he caught a ten yard touchdown pass in that game. Williams also had four catches for 24 yards against Macomb Dakota in a loss. He is a very good tight end and good security blanket for whomever is quarterback.

The Bulldogs also have a few very good running backs themselves in the back field in the form of Mitchell Hess and Lucas Schimon. Hess is an athletic running back, more mobile, and has some athleticism. He had a 60 yard kickoff return against Utica Ford, he had a one yard touchdown run against Utica Eisenhower and a two yard touchdown run against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North. Schimon is a power back but can also do some damage. He had a rushing touchdown against Sterling Heights Stevenson and has done well so far this season.

Romeo’s wide receiving core is a very good one. The Bulldogs have four very good receivers who can catch the football and can run the ball as well especially in the spread set. It doesn’t mean that Romeo can’t run the ball. They certainly can and do that very well. The top two wide receivers have benefited the most since Hurley became the starting quarterback in place of Rizo.

The first wide receiver is Alec Hasner. Hasner is a tall and a very good wide receiver that can run the ball and catches well. He had a 68 yard touchdown pass and catch two weeks ago against Utica Ford and had another touchdown pass. Hasner had six catches for 60 yards last week against Anchor Bay.

The next wide receiver is Mitch Pacitti. Pacitti can play running back as well. He can also return kicks as well. He had a 54 yard catch and run against Utica Ford and returned a 60 yard punt return in the same game. Pacitti had a touchdown on two receptions for 72 yards last week against Anchor Bay and caught a 29 yard touchdown against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North. He had three catches for 24 yards against Macomb Dakota.

The next wide receiver is Adam Davis. Davis is a tall wide receiver, most Dragons know Davis from his days on the basketball court. He is an exceptional receiver who had five catches for 60 yards and a 39 yard touchdown catch last week against Anchor Bay and is a very good number three wide receiver.

Romeo has a very good defense and is led by the brother of Richard Roth, Charlie Roth. Roth is a very solid cornerback who can cover well, very physical, and catch the ball well. He caught two interceptions against Macomb Dakota and has been the Bulldogs best defender all season long. The Bulldogs have Brandon LeBoda, who is also good. LeBoda has had some good games and does have some experience. He is very fast and physical like Roth and is a solid defender in his own right.

Lake Orion is 3-0 against Romeo all time in the playoffs with two wins in 2005, and 2007 at Dan Barnabo Field and in 2008 at Lake Orion.

Playoff Thoughts.

Written Monday October 28th, at 12:05 AM

These are your playoff match ups with my thoughts in them as well.

Division One:

Region 1, District 1:

Traverse City West at Rockford-Rams has done well historically against the Titans.

East Kentwood at Hudsonville-The Eagles beat the Falcons 20-9 two weeks ago.

Region 1, District 2:

Lansing Holt at Flint Carman Ainsworth-First time in a while these two have met.

Brighton at Grand Blanc-Bobcats beat the Bulldogs 44-21 in week four.

Region 2, District 1:

Oxford at Clarkston-First meeting between the two teams since 2011.

Romeo at Lake Orion-First meeting between the two teams since 2008.

Region 2, District 2:

Waterford Kettering at Walled Lake Northern-Knights won 24-19 in week six.

Stoney Creek at Adams-First meeting since 2011 for these Tienken Road rivals.

Region 3, District 1:

Novi Detroit Catholic Central at Northville- Odd to see the Shamrocks a four seed.

Plymouth Canton at Walled Lake Western-First meeting this season for both teams.

Region 3, District 2:

Westland John Glenn at Temperance Bedford- Mules playing with a lot of emotion.

Belleville at Saline- Hornets wants Mules in worst way.

Region 4, District 1:

Warren De LaSalle at Macomb Dakota-Match of the year in Macomb County

Macomb L’Anse Creuse North at Chippewa Valley- Tough match for the Big Reds.

Region 4, District 2:

Grosse Pointe South at Detroit Cass Tech-Quest for a three peat starts here

Dearborn Fordson at Warren Mott- First meeting in a while between these two teams.

I was very shocked that Walled Lake Northern was rewarded with their own district with Stoney Creek and Adams in there in Region 2, District 2 while Clarkston and Lake Orion were placed in the same district in Region 2, District 1.

The toughest district is Region 3, District 1 in which Novi Detroit Catholic Central will meet Northville and Canton meets Walled Lake Western and whoever wins that one will likely either meet Temperance Bedford or Saline in the regional finals.

Probably the most interesting game of the weekend will be Macomb Dakota and Warren De La Salle meeting each other. I think these two teams have the best shot to oust Detroit Cass Tech from the playoffs on this side of the bracket but you can’t count out Temperance Bedford, Saline, Novi Detroit Catholic Central, or Walled Lake Western in that side of the bracket.

Division Two:

Region 1, District 1:

Marquette at Midland- Redman have to travel far for this game.

Midland Dow at Fenton- The Tigers can do some damage in this match up.

Region 1, District 2:

Muskegon Mona Shores at Lowell-First meeting between Red Arrows and Sailors.

Muskegon Reeths Puffer at Muskegon- Big Reds won 20-7 last week.

Region 2, District 1:

Lansing Everett at Portage Central- The Vikings travel southwest, won’t be easy.

Portage Northern at Battle Creek Lakeview-Both teams should know each other well.

Region 2, District 2:

North Farmington at Harrison- Hawks have owned the Raiders.

Pinckney at South Lyon-Lions beat the Pirates 33-17 in week one.

Region 3, District 1:

Groves at Brother Rice- Falcons have no chance against the Warriors.

Southfield at Seaholm- It will be Oxford all over again for the Maples.

Region 3, District 2:

Warren Woods Tower at U-D Jesuit- Cubs earned this playoff berth.

Detroit Renaissance at Oak Park-Phoenix good luck against John Kelly.

Region 4, District 1:

Detroit Cody at Detroit Martin Luther King-First meeting between the two teams.

Detroit East English at Grosse Pointe North-The Battle of Mack Avenue is here.

Region 4, District 2:

Ypsilanti Lincoln at Wyandotte Roosevelt-Bears beat the Railsplitters last season.

Taylor Truman at Allen Park-Jaguars beat the Cougars 21-14 in week six.

It looks like Lowell and Muskegon will likely rematch in the district finals and that winner could move to the state finals. It looks like Birmingham Brother Rice is the clear favorite but Southfield could give the Warriors problems in the district finals but in the end of the day it looks like we will likely have pending major upsets a Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Lowell or Muskegon district final. The toughest district is Region 1, District 2. You could see a Lowell/Muskegon district final and these two teams have all ready played this season. We’ll see what happens.

Up To The Minute Playoff Updates. Division One and Division Two.

Written Saturday October 26th, at 2:30 AM

Here is the updated list for the playoffs now I could be wrong on some but this looks pretty much accurate as of right now. I did two playoff projections with the Snooze Playoff Projections. He is a pretty accurate with his projections along with my own with the Dragons Den for both Divisions so here they are.

* DIVISION ONE (A) Dragons Den Projections:

Region 1, District 1:
Traverse City West (5-4) 61.9 at Rockford (8-1) 99.4
East Kentwood (5-4) 62 at Hudsonville (6-3) 78.3

Region 1, District 2:
Lansing Holt (5-4) 61.8 at Flint Carman Ainsworth (8-1) 93.3  
Brighton (5-4) 64 at Grand Blanc (7-2) 87.7

Region 2, District 1:
Waterford Kettering (6-3) 72.2 at Clarkston (8-1) 101.8
Walled Lake Northern (7-2) 88.2 at Walled Lake Western (8-1) 101.2

Region 2, District 2:
Oxford (5-4) 61.3 at Lake Orion (7-2) 84.8
Stoney Creek (6-3) 73.1 at Adams (6-3) 75.6

Region 3, District 1:
Romeo (5-4) 62.4 at Macomb Dakota (9-0) 109.3
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North (8-1) 93.8 at Chippewa Valley (8-1) 102.2

Region 3, District 2:
Grosse Pointe South (6-3) 69.2 at Detroit Cass Tech (9-0) 114.5
Warren De LaSalle (6-3) 78.4 at Warren Mott (9-0) 102.2

Region 4, District 1:
Westland John Glenn (6-3) 66.3 at Temperance Bedford (9-0) 111.1
Belleville (6-3) 69.3 at Dearborn Fordson (6-3) 78

Region 4, District 1:
Novi Detroit Catholic Central (6-2) 90.2 at Northville (8-1) 106.11
Saline (8-1) 97.3 at Plymouth Canton (8-1) 98.5

* DIVISION ONE (B) Snooze Projections:

Region 1, District 1: 

Traverse City West (5-4) 61.9 at Rockford (8-1) 99.4
East Kentwood (5-4) 62 at Hudsonville (6-3) 78.3

Region 1, District 2:
Lansing Holt (5-4) 61.8 at Flint Carman Ainsworth (8-1) 93.3      
Brighton (5-4) 64 at Grand Blanc (7-2) 87.7

Region 2, District 1:
Oxford (5-4) 61.3 at Clarkston (8-1) 101.8

Waterford Kettering (6-3) 72.2 at Walled Lake Northern (7-2) 88.2                

Region 2, District 2:

Romeo (5-4) 62.4 at Lake Orion (7-2) 84.8           

Stoney Creek (6-3) 73.1 at Adams (6-3) 75.6

Region 3, District 1:

Warren De LaSalle (5-4) 78.4 at Macomb Dakota (9-0) 109.3  

Macomb L’Anse Creuse North (8-1) 93.8 at Chippewa Valley (8-1) 102.2

Region 3, District 2:

Grosse Pointe South (6-3) 69.2 at Detroit Cass Tech (9-0) 114.5

Dearborn Fordson (6-3) 78 at Warren Mott (9-0) 102.2    

Region 4, District 1:

Westland John Glenn (6-3) 66.3 at Temperance Bedford (9-0) 111.1

Belleville (6-3) 69.3 at Saline (8-1) 97.3

Region 4, District 2:

Novi Detroit Catholic Central (6-2) 90.2 at Northville (8-1) 106.1  

Plymouth Canton (8-1) 98.5 at Walled Lake Western (8-1) 101.2

* DIVISION TWO (A) Dragons Den Projections:

Region 1, District 1:

Marquette (5-3) 68.1 at Midland (8-1) 97.2

Midland Dow (7-2) 77.7 at Fenton (8-1) 94.2

Region 1, District 2:

North Farmington (5-3) 56 at Harrison (8-1) 102

Pinckney (6-3) 69.2 at South Lyon (6-3) 76.6 

Region 2, District 1:

Muskegon Mona Shores (7-2) 83.2 at Lowell (9-0) 119.1

Muskegon Reefs Puffer (7-2) 84.9 at Muskegon (8-1) 106.6

Region 2, District 2:

Lansing Everett (6-3) 64.2 at Portage Central (9-0) 106

Portage Northern (7-2) 79 at Battle Creek Lakeview (9-0) 94.2

Region 3, District 1:

Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves (7-2) 79 at Birmingham Brother Rice (9-0) 117.3

Southfield (7-2) 90.5 at Birmingham Seaholm (8-1) 94.3

Region 3, District 2:

Detroit Renaissance (6-3) 58 at U-D Jesuit (5-4) 67.5

Detroit Cody (6-3) 60.1 at Oak Park (5-4) 62.1

Region 4, District 1:

Warren Woods Tower (6-3) 58 at Detroit Martin Luther King (7-1) 95.4

Detroit East English Village Prep (6-3) 62.1 at Grosse Pointe North (6-3) 73.5

Region 4, District 2:
Ypsilanti Lincoln (7-2) 79.1 at Wyandotte Roosevelt (9-0) 110

Taylor Truman (7-2) 81.5 at Allen Park (7-2) 88.3

* DIVISION TWO (B) Snooze Projections:

Region 1, District 1:
Marquette (5-3) 68.1 at Muskegon (8-1)
Muskegon Mona Shores (7-2) 83.2 at Muskegon Reefs Puffer (7-2) 84.9

Region 1, District 2:
Portage Northern (7-2) 79 at Lowell (9-0) 119.1
Battle Creek Lakeview (9-0) 94.2 at Portage Central (9-0) 106

Region 2, District 1:
Lansing Everett (6-3) 64.2 at Midland (8-1) 97.2

Midland Dow (7-2) 77.7 at Fenton (8-1) 94.2

Region 2, District 2:

North Farmington (5-3) 56 at Harrison (8-1) 102

Pinckney (6-3) 69.2 at South Lyon (6-3) 76.6

Region 3, District 1:

Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves (7-2) 79 at Birmingham Brother Rice (9-0) 117.3

Southfield (7-2) 90.5 at Birmingham Seaholm (8-1) 94.3

Region 3, District 2:

Detroit Renaissance (6-3) 58 at U-D Jesuit (5-4) 67.5

Detroit Cody (6-3) 60.1 at Oak Park (5-4) 62.1

Region 4, District 1:
Ypsilanti Lincoln (7-2) 79.1 at Wyandotte Roosevelt (9-0) 110

Taylor Truman (7-2) 81.5 at Allen Park (7-2) 88.3

Region 4, District 2:

Warren Woods Tower (6-3) 58 at Detroit Martin Luther King (7-1) 95.4

Detroit East English Village Prep (6-3) 62.1 at Grosse Pointe North (6-3) 73.5

Dragons Survive Knights Despite Poor Officiating On Both Sides.

Written Saturday October 26th, at 2:15 AM

The Dragons defense returned just for one week but it was a big one.

Lake Orion found a way to survive horrible officiating and a very talented Oak Park Knights 19-14 at Lake Orion High School.

The scoring which was thought to be a shootout ended up being a low scoring game. Both the Dragons defense and the Knights defense came to play tonight.

Oak Park led by Chance Savage was huge in stopping the jet sweep offense of Lake Orion while the Dragons defense led by Brad Chisholm had three interceptions.

The Knights would score first as Ricardo Brown ran in for a one yard touchdown. That play was set up when Chauncey Bowman connected on a fourth down play to the Lake Orion One yard line and was moving the ball at will early. Oak Park would lead 7-0.

The Dragons then went down the field and with the jet sweep neutralized went to their power offense connecting on a couple fourth downs in the process. Lake Orion would answer when quarterback Conner Grant found Chris Leigh in the end zone for a 15 yard touchdown to tie the score 7-7.

Lake Orion had a chance to go up 14-7 when Chisholm intercepted a Bowman pass which was returned to the five yard line by a saving tackle from Brown. Oak Park would stop the Dragons and it eventually led to Brad Schaenzer missing a 29 yard chip shot field goal, wide left.

Oak Park would take advantage of the missed field goal attempt with their screen passing game and their athletes. The Knights went down the field and was aided by a personal foul penalty, scored a touchdown when John Kelly ran for eight yards and the score read 14-7 Oak Park.

The Dragons were shut down by the Knights defense which led to a punt. Oak Park went down the field along with the aid of two personal foul penalties but ran out of time as they had one attempt to pass into the end zone but it was incomplete, the score read 14-7 in favor of the visitors.

Lake Orion would start with the ball and went down the field with their power package. The field position the Dragons got led to a Dominic Giovinnazoo ten yard touchdown run but Schaenzer missed the PAT wide left again, making the score 14-13 Oak Park.

The Dragons would then grab another interception as Christian James picked off Lowman and took the ball deep into Oak Park territory. There was a questionable incomplete call when Grant actually connected with Schaenzer for what was thought to be a touchdown but the referees ruled it incomplete. The call infuriated the Dragons sideline and especially Dragons coach Chris Bell. The call stood and the Knights stood tall. Schaenzer came in and attempted another field goal but missed wide right keeping the score 14-13 Oak Park heading into the fourth quarter.

The biggest play of the game came in the fourth quarter when Logan Shaidia jumped up and picked off a Lowman pass which gave the Dragons good field position at mid field. Corey Ester got his best run of the night as he went for 15 yards on that drive. The play by Ester led to a Leigh 29 yard touchdown run but the two point conversion was missed when Ester and Savage collided. Both of them did not return in the game.

The Knights would have one more shot but was shut down late by the Dragons defense on the Lake Orion 30 yard line. The Dragons would force Oak Park to turn the ball over on downs with seven minutes left in the game.

The Dragons moved the ball well and got a favorable spot on what the Knights thought they had stopped them but the spot gave Lake Orion a first down and Oak Park coach Greg Carter was furious along with the Knights sidelines over the spot. The Dragons would then end up running out the clock after Oak Park got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to wrap the game up.

Oak Park now sits at 5-4 but they had opportunities to get that sixth win of the season but did not do so. The Knights have lost the last three games by a combine of 15 points. It wouldn’t surprise me if Oak Park hears its name called in the playoffs on Fox Sports Detroit at 7 PM for Division Two but it also wouldn't as well as some big teams won big games tonight like U-D Jesuit over Birmingham Seaholm.

Lake Orion now sits at 7-2 and now will also wait to hear its name called on Fox Sports Detroit for Division One which will likely be at home.

We’ll see what happens.

OAA Recap Week Nine.

Written Saturday October 26th, at 2:00 AM

1. Clarkston

2. Harrison

3. Lake Orion

4. Southfield

5. Adams

6. Oxford

7. Stoney Creek

8. Seaholm

9. Oak Park

10. Groves

BIG WIN: Clarkston: The Wolves are looking very strong heading into the playoffs and a 20-10 win over Southfield is huge for any team’s confidence especially Clarkston’s. The Wolves finished the season with an 8-1 record and will get multiple home games in the playoffs.

TOUGH LOSS: Oak Park: The Knights were up 14-7 at halftime and were up 14-13 at the end of the third quarter at Lake Orion. Oak Park had Lake Orion stopped on fourth down but a favorable spot by the officials cost them dearly and it ended up costing them the game and possibly a trip to the playoffs. The Knights though did not help their own cause though losing their final three games by a combined 15 points.

MOST DISAPPOINTING: Stoney Creek: The Cougars all had to do is make one stop but failed and it will likely cost them a home game in a 27-26 loss to Harrison. Stoney Creek offensively played well but when the play it needed the most, it failed them miserably with a special teams mistake is a difference between being at home and on the road. Now the Cougars need to pick up the pieces and focus on the playoffs.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Groves: The Falcons just came off an emotional loss to Birmingham Seaholm two weeks ago laid an egg in Waterford on Friday night. The Corsairs beat Groves 30-22 and likely cost Groves a home playoff game. The Falcons have to somehow pick up the pieces and move on from a tough two weeks.

Red Standings:

1. Clarkston                 7-0       8-1

3. Lake Orion               5-2       7-2

7. Stoney Creek           5-2       6-3

West Bloomfield           4-3       5-4

Rochester                     3-4       4-5

Troy Athens                 2-5       2-7

Troy                             2-5       3-6

Pontiac                         0-7       0-9

Clarkston 20, Southfield 10

Lake Orion 19, Oak Park 14

Harrison 27, Stoney Creek 26

Oxford 38, West Bloomfield 17

Adams 34, Rochester 13

Troy 27, Southfield-Lathrup 0

Bloomfield Hills 40, Troy Athens 13

Farmington 36, Pontiac 7

White Standings:

4. Southfield                 7-0       7-2

2. Harrison                   6-1       8-1

5. Adams                     4-3       6-3

6. Oxford                     4-3       5-4

9. Oak Park                 4-3       5-4

Bloomfield Hills            2-5       3-6

Farmington                   1-6       2-7

Southfield-Lathrup        0-7       1-8

Clarkston 20, Southfield 10

Lake Orion 19, Oak Park 14

Harrison 27, Stoney Creek 26

Oxford 38, West Bloomfield 17

Adams 34, Rochester 13

Troy 27, Southfield-Lathrup 0

Bloomfield Hills 40, Troy Athens 13

Farmington 36, Pontiac 7

Blue Standings:

8. Seaholm                              7-0       8-1

10. Groves                                6-1       7-2

North Farmington                     4-3       5-3

Royal Oak                                4-3       4-5

Avondale                                  3-4       5-4

Berkley                                    3-4       3-6

Ferndale                                   1-6       2-7

Hazel Park                               0-7       0-9

U-D Jesuit 20, Seaholm 17

Waterford Mott 30, Groves 22

North Farmington-Bye

Plymouth Salem 40, Royal Oak 30

Ferndale 56, Hamtramck 0

Avondale 28, Ypsilanti 20

Dearborn Robichaud 22, Berkley 16

Grosse Isle 26, Hazel Park 22.

See you next week for the playoffs folks.

Dragons Beat Colts. Focus on Getting Better.

Written Thursday October 24th, at 10:05 PM

The Lake Orion Dragons still struggled with mistakes and unforced errors tonight but did get a much needed win heading into the district playoffs.

After a stunning loss to Birmingham Seaholm on Tuesday the Coach Ross Talbott lead Dragons managed to right the ship for one night after beating Troy 25-18, 25-16, and 25-13 tonight at Lake Orion.

The Dragons were led by Tess Marshall’s 15 kills along with Kayla Rockey’s 12 kills. Hannah Murdock contributed with eight kills while Rachel Giwa added 25 assists.

The Colts were led by Sydney Alexander’s seven kills.

The game turned in the first set in which the Dragons were continuing to make mistakes only to see Troy tie the score 18-18 but Lake Orion with a couple of Giwa aces outscored the Colts 7-0 to seize the match.

Lake Orion would go into cruse control in the match but Troy fought hard. You got to give credit to Coach Tony Muscat and his players for the difficult situation they were in to start the season with the loss of their star player Olivia Parks. The Colts will regroup and get ready for their district at Troy Athens against Waterford Mott.

The Dragons will move on and focus on the North Branch Tournament and will be in district play in two weeks where they will meet the Clarkston/Stoney Creek winner in the district semifinals at Clarkston. It will likely be the Wolves that the Dragons will match up with so we’ll see what happens.

Updated Playoff Projections

Written, Thursday October 24th, at 1:15 AM

This is my updated playoff projections with apologies to the Detroit Schools in Division Two. Here is the projections everybody.

DIVISION ONE:

Region 1, District 1:

East Kentwood (5-4) 62 at Rockford (8-1) 99

Traverse City West (6-3) 74 at Hudsonville (6-3) 78

Region 1, District 2:

Brighton (5-4) 64 at Grand Blanc (7-2) 88

Lansing Holt (5-4) 64 at Novi Detroit Catholic Central (7-2) 88

Region 2, District 1:

Oxford (5-4) 63 at Clarkston (8-1) 103

Waterford Kettering (6-3) 74 at Walled Lake Northern (6-3) 74

Region 2, District 2:

Romeo (5-4) 65 at Lake Orion (7-2) 85

Adams (6-3) 74 at Stoney Creek (6-3) 74

Region 3, District 1:

Utica Eisenhower (5-4) 64 at Macomb Dakota (9-0) 116 

Macomb L’Anse Creuse North (8-1) 97 at Chippewa Valley (8-1) 103

Region 3, District 2:

Grosse Pointe South (6-3) 70 at Detroit Cass Tech (9-0) 115 

Warren De Lassle (6-3) 82 at Warren Mott (9-0) 107 

Region 4, District 1:

Dearborn Fordson (5-4) 63 at Canton (8-1) 103
Westland John Glenn (6-3) 69 at Northville (7-2) 89

Region 4, District 2:
Belleville (6-3) 72 at Temperance Bedford (9-0) 122
Monroe (6-3) 73 at Saline (8-1) 102

DIVISION TWO:

Region 1, District 1:

Marquette (5-3) 69 at Midland (8-1) 98

Midland Dow (7-2) 78 at Flint Carman Ainsworth (8-1) 94

Region 1, District 2:

Pinckney (6-3) 73 at Walled Lake Western (9-0) 116

South Lyon (7-2) 90 at Fenton (8-1) 93

Region 2, District 1:

Muskegon Reeths Puffer (7-2) 84 at Lowell (9-0) 126

Muskegon Mona Shores (7-2) 87 at Muskegon (8-1) 105

Region 2, District 2:

Lansing Everett (6-3) 65 at Portage Central (9-0) 116

Portage Northern (7-2) 82 at Battle Creek Lakeview (9-0) 98

Region 3, District 1:

Detroit Renaissance (6-3) 63 at Southfield (7-2) 95

Oak Park (5-4) 65 at Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves (8-1) 93

Region 3, District 2:

North Farmington (5-3) 59 at Birmingham Brother Rice (9-0) 127

Harrison (8-1) 101 at Birmingham Seaholm (9-0) 111

Region 4, District 1:

Detroit Cody (6-3) 65 at Detroit Martin Luther King (7-1) 95

Detroit East English Village Prep (6-3) 67 at Warren Woods Tower (7-2) 70

Region 4, District 2:

Ypsilanti Lincoln (7-2) 78 at Wyandotte Roosevelt (9-0) 118

Taylor Truman (7-2) 82 at Allen Park (7-2) 84

Troy Scouting Report.

Written Wednesday October 23rd, at 12:40 AM

The Troy Colts this season knew they were going to struggle but to struggle this bad is an understatement. The Colts will meet the Dragons on Thursday night for Lake Orion's Senior Night.

 The Colts this season had to rebuild from scratch and it has been tough for Coach Vince Muscat, who enters his second season in Troy. Troy did get some bad news early when they lost Olivia Parks (their top player) for the season with an ACL injury. The Colts also lost a lot of experience last season that made the regional semifinals but Troy does have some pieces to work with. 

I still believe that with or without Parks the Colts have a chance at winning the district that they are in (District 29 at Troy Athens with them, Troy Athens, Pontiac, Avondale, Waterford Kettering, and Waterford Mott.) It will depend on the match up they get and it has to be the right one for them. I’m not sold on Troy Athens or Avondale in that district or the Waterford schools because of the schedule even though the Waterford schools have had to play the likes of Lakeland. Troy Athens and Avondale has played each other and the White Schedule while Troy has played the likes of Clarkston, Lake Orion, Birmingham Seaholm, Oxford, etc in the Red.

Troy does have some very good players. The cupboard is not bare in Colt country not by any means. Yes they are young but you can't use that word anymore. All these teams have plenty of experience now with tournament play and league play as well. The players they have can contribute but losing Parks was so huge for this team but they had to move on without her and have done so. Even though the win-loss record is tough to see but to the Colts the win-loss record doesn’t matter, they want to improve and get better before playoff time. Troy will be led by Sydney Alexander, their inside hitter. Alexander is a very good player in the inside and had six kills against Clarkston. The Colts also have some more young talented players in Hannah Moeller, Kristen Losey, Gabby Gohl, Anna Marie Cappetto, and Lauren Ferguson that have contributed for Troy this season. Coach Vince Muscat’s team is young but the future looks very bright in Colt country.

Troy might be catching Lake Orion at the right time. The Dragons in the last two weeks have been a modest of the artwork The Scream lately. Ever since Homecoming, Lake Orion looks like a shell of themselves by going 1-2 in the last three matches not including the Beast of the East Tournament where they beat Macomb Dakota. The Dragons has made plenty of errors and mental mistakes that have cost them matches and at times looked just awful. The last match the Dragons in was especially brutal. The third game in Birmingham when Lake Orion was the tipping point in the match, tied at one game a piece and up 20-14 it looked like the Dragons was about to go up two games to one on the Maples but the mental errors and mistakes along with the belief by Birmingham Seaholm led to them to outscore the Dragons 13-5 and win 27-25 in that set. Lake Orion would lose in five games on Tuesday night.

The district playoffs is two weeks away and it’s a brutal district for the Dragons and at the reality of seeing Clarkston first at their place in the district semifinals is going to be very tough. We’ll see what happens Thursday and beyond that for the Dragons and the Colts.

Game Three Costs Dragons Dearly in Five Game Loss to Maples.

Written Tuesday October 22nd, at 11:30 PM

The term confidence has always been the focal point for Birmingham Seaholm.

Ever since the Maples went five games against Clarkston (lost that match), Birmingham Seaholm Coach Heather Lippert said that her team was gaining more confidence every single match.

We all know that the Maple Forest is not kind to visitors and their beloved Maples were struggling early in the season after last season’s trip to the state quarterfinals but tonight was probably the biggest win in the regular season for Lippert and her young Birmingham Seaholm squad.

Birmingham Seaholm upset Lake Orion in five games 25-17, 12-25, 27-25, 21-25, and 15-13 in Birmingham.

The loss to the Maples means that the Dragons are out of the Red race and can focus on their path to the playoffs.

The turning point of the match was Game Three.

In a game that the Dragons had the match in the bag, up 20-14 just needing five points to win the set to go up two games to one and control the match. Lake Orion was outscored by Birmingham Seaholm 13-5 and ended up losing 27-25 in the third set. The Maples went to the middle, something that had been the Dragons weakness most of the season and used their defense along with useful serving from Eleni Barr to ride the comeback.

It was game on after that.

The Dragons managed to beat Birmingham Seaholm 25-21 after leading 14-7 early in the fourth set early only to see the Maples storm back and make it interesting. Both teams went five games on Thursday, Lake Orion with Oxford and Birmingham Seaholm with Clarkston.

The Maples took a 13-10 lead late in game five only to see the Dragons answer by tying the score 13-13 but in the end Birmingham Seaholm found a way to win and get those final two points on the night.

Hannah Murdock led the Dragons with 19 kills, Tess Marshall had nine kills, Maddie Hargraves had seven kills, and Rachel Giwa had 38 assists on the night.

Lauren McLeod led the Maples with 17 kills, Kate Carey had 13 kills, and Emma Schiefelbien had nine kills on the night.

Tonight was the perfect storm for the Maples. The Maple Forest was hostile and loud and the Dragons struggled tonight with service errors and mental mistakes. Birmingham Seaholm came to play, Lake Orion did not and when you make mistakes, you won’t last long even in the postseason.

I’m going to be honest. This was a horrible loss, just horrible for the Dragons. Probably a perfect example of this would be the infamous Dennis Green press conference when he was in Arizona and he said “We are who they thought they were and we let them off the hook” in reference to the loss to the Chicago Bears. Lake Orion had game three all wrapped up in the bag but mental errors and mistakes along with good play from Birmingham Seaholm gave them a chance to believe and that’s what happened tonight.

There was no doubt Lake Orion was the better team on paper but tonight Birmingham Seaholm with their crowd found a way to match the energy of the Dragons and then take it from them.

I just don’t know why Birmingham Seaholm has been a problem place for Lake Orion on the road especially in Boys Basketball and Volleyball. In Boys Basketball, the Maples are always good and talented, last season they had Paris Bass and now he is gone to Detroit Mercy. Birmingham Seaholm is still going to be a very good team, their Junior Varsity team was very good last season and now most of them are expected to make the move up to Varsity for Coach Jose Andreas and they do play Lake Orion twice this season since they are in the same division (White). In Volleyball, Lippert always prepares her teams well no matter if they are veteran or they are young. She just finds a way to get her team’s to compete and do well in doing it. 

However in Lake Orion, the role is reversed its Birmingham Seaholm that has the problems in the Dragons Lair when it comes to dealing with the crowd and hostility, example last year when the Maples were routed by the Dragons in three sets, Lippert and her players had big problems with the Dragons crowd that night. Not to be moody but if this match was at Lake Orion tonight, I don’t think Birmingham Seaholm wins.

There should be a lot of angry and disappointed people around Lake Orion and especially coach Ross Talbott has to be very upset and disappointed with his team. I’ll say this we aren’t in districts yet and if they play like this than Clarkston will come in and we’ll have a repeat of last week’s four game loss to the Wolves.

The Dragons will now focus its attention to Senior Night when Troy comes a calling for the final regular season game of the season. The Colts have been struggling all season ever since the loss of Olivia Parks to an ACL injury. We’ll see what happens.

OAA Picks. Week Nine.

Written Sunday October 20th, at 2:30 PM

2. Southfield (7-1, 7-0 White) at 1. Clarkston (7-1, 7-0 Red): The Wolves Ian Eriksen had a 234 yards, six touchdowns performance against Lake Orion but the Blue Jays have Malik McDonnell and Laurence Marshall on the defensive line and Southfield has a very athletic team but in the end too much size and home field will give Clarkston the win. PICK: CLARKSTON 35, SOUTHFIELD 24.

UD-Jesuit (4-4) at 3. Birmingham Seaholm (8-0, 7-0 Blue): This will be an interesting game for the Maples. The Cubs have beaten Detroit Country Day and have played Birmingham Brother Rice, Novi Detroit Catholic Central, Warren De LaSalle, and Orchard Lake Saint Marys in the Catholic League. Birmingham Seaholm is riding an emotional ride after winning beating Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves and the Blue title. I’m going with the Maples in this game because of home field advantage and the defense. PICK: SEAHOLM 28, U-D JESUIT 20.

4. Harrison (7-1, 6-1 White) at 5. Stoney Creek (6-2, 5-2 Red): The Cougars are in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. However the match up with Harrison is dangerous, especially in the last two games the Hawks have scored 106 points. Stoney Creek will probably use this game as a motivator to get ready for the playoffs. Harrison will give them a bit of reality sadly. PICK: HARRISON 28, STONEY CREEK 14.

9. Oak Park (5-3, 4-3 White) at 6. Lake Orion (6-2, 5-2 Red): Both the Knights and Dragons have struggled recently. Oak Park has lost two straight games after a 5-1 start and now have to win just to make the playoffs or sweat it out on Sunday. Lake Orion allowed over 400 yards of total offense against Clarkston last week. The Knights depth is a major concern but the Dragons can’t stop anyone and this will be a shootout. PICK: LAKE ORION 49, OAK PARK 45.

7. Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves (7-1, 6-1 Blue) at Waterford Mott (3-5): The Corsairs have had a big win over Walled Lake Northern 61-58 but have struggled since that win. The Falcons have had an emotional loss to Birmingham Seaholm but this match up should help them get some confidence heading to the playoffs. PICK: GROVES 35, WATERFORD MOTT 7.

Oxford (4-4, 4-3 White) at 8. West Bloomfield (5-3, 4-3 Red): The Lakers have been rolling lately, winning three straight including a win over Stoney Creek two weeks ago. West Bloomfield has been riding the range of emotion heading into this game with Oxford. The Wildcats have been riding a roll of emotion as well winning two straight games including a win last week over Oak Park. The winner of this game will go to the playoffs and that team will be Oxford because of Glacier Wallington and Ben Line. PICK: OXFORD 35, WEST BLOOMFIELD 24.

10. Adams (5-3, 4-3 White) at Rochester (4-4, 3-4 Red): The Falcons will try to beat their Adams and Tienken Road rivals for the first time since 1996. The Highlanders are playing well right now and will enter the playoffs with confidence. Rochester has quarterback concerns and Adams will play right into that match up. PICK: ADAMS 42, ROCHESTER 14.

Plymouth Salem (2-6) at Royal Oak (4-4, 4-3 Blue): The Ravens have an outside shot at the playoffs while the Rocks are playing for pride here. Royal Oak still wants to have a winning season will get this win because of their hard earn and courage. It may not get them to the playoffs but they will have a winning season. PICK: ROYAL OAK 28, PLYMOUTH SALEM 7.

Ypsilanti (4-4) at Avondale (4-4, 3-4 Blue): This is a tough match up for the Yellow Jackets against Ypsilanti. Ypsilanti has lost four games to playoff teams and will be sweating it out on Sunday. This will be the game that will knock Avondale out of the playoffs for good. PICK: YPSILANTI 45, AVONDALE 42.

Bloomfield Hills (2-6, 2-5 White) at Troy Athens (2-6, 2-5 Red): The Red Hawks won 35-6 last week over their arch rival Troy and have been struggling all season with consistency. The Blackhawks have struggled all season in their first year as a new school. Bloomfield Hills will play well in this game but in the end Troy Athens will get this win. PICK: TROY ATHENS 34, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 21.

Southfield-Lathrup (1-7, 0-7 White) at Troy (2-6, 2-5 Red): The Colts have been outscored 180-13 ever since they were tied 17-17 with Lake Orion a few weeks ago and have been a major disappointment. The Chargers are very young and had to go through growing pains but this game could start something into the off season and the future is bright in Lathrup Village. PICK: SOUTHFIELD-LATHRUP 17, TROY 7.

Farmington (1-7, 1-6 White) at Pontiac (0-9, 0-8 Red): This has been a tough season for both the Phoenix and the Falcons. Someone will win this game at Wisner Stadium. This could be the last game at Wisner Stadium which is sad because of Pontiac’s financial troubles. Farmington has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play. The Falcons are favored in this game but for some strange reason Pontiac will show up and pull off a major upset. PICK: PONTIAC 20, FARMINGTON 17.

Berkley (3-5, 3-4 Blue) at Dearborn Robichaud (5-3): The Bears have been very inconsistent this season and going to Dearborn is going to be a tough match up. In the end Dearborn Robichaud will win this game and get into the playoffs. PICK: DEARBORN ROBICHAUD 35, BERKLEY 20.

Grosse Isle (4-4) at Hazel Park (0-8, 0-7 Blue): The Vikings have struggled all season long and this game with Grosse Isle us their last chance to win one game. The problem is that Grosse Isle is fighting to get into the playoffs and will likely be sweating it out on Sunday to hear their name called. PICK: GROSSE ISLE 40, HAZEL PARK 7.

Hamtramck (0-8) at Ferndale (1-7, 1-6 Blue): The Eagles have had a tough season but bringing in the Cosmos to Ferndale could cure the problems. Hamtramck is winless and Ferndale should be fine in this game. PICK: FERNDALE 35, HAMTRAMCK 0.

North Farmington (5-3) does not play anyone this week and thus qualifies for the playoffs because of the eight game, five wins is needed to qualify.

Oak Park Scouting Report.

Written Sunday October 20th, at 2:10 AM

Oak Park really has not been much of a football power until coach and athletic director Greg Carter took over the program in 2010.

Carter came over to Knight Valley from Inkster where he had success in coaching players like Devin Gardner along with a successful coaching campaign at Detroit DePorres had made Oak Park and his players to be good students academically in the classroom and keep his kids out of trouble.

Carter has turned around the culture of the Knights especially when he got there. Oak Park was struggling academically and athletically. He turned the athletic program around over there. Carter has hired two good coaches in Basketball in Bryan Tipton over from Detroit Cody to coach the boys’ basketball team and also lured Diane Jones from retirement after a successful state championship runs at Detroit Renaissance to coach the girls’ basketball team and become the assistant athletic director.

A lot of players look up to Carter as a father figure and for good reason. He is honest and truthful to them and is always there to help them. Carter wants his kids to succeed as students first then athletes.

The Knights last season finished 9-3, 6-2 in the White, made the playoffs for the first time since 2005, won the White for the first time in school history, and beat Southfield twice before losing a heart breaker to Wyandotte Roosevelt 10-6 in the Regional Finals last season.

Now Oak Park’s run to make the playoffs this season rides on this game as the road weary Knights will travel to Lake Orion to face the Dragons on Friday night.

The Knights come into the game with a 5-3 record, and was 4-3 in the White are a spread team who two backs in the I formation set. Oak Park likes to run the ball as well as throw it to their athletes. They like to use their athletes to their full advantage as well.

Oak Park has had a nightmare schedule this season with only two home games against Southfield and Oxford (both losses) and had to play Rochester Adams, Harrison, Farmington, Bloomfield Hills, Southfield-Lathrup all on the road and played Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s at Wayne State. This team has been road weary all season.

The Dragons will have their hands full especially in containing the speedy and gritty Knights. Lake Orion allowed six touchdowns and 234 yards to Ian Eriksen of Clarkston last week, now will see another very good and talented running back in the form of junior running back/free safety John Kelly. Kelly is a very fast and speedy running back, very similar to Eriksen. He is getting some looks especially from Michigan State who gave him an offer to become a Spartan in the summer.

Kelly has had some big games this season including a 167 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in week one. He had 139 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns against Adams in a 36-30 victory for his Knights in Rochester. Kelly had 170 yards and two touchdowns against Farmington a few weeks ago. His breakout game came two weeks ago against Harrison where Kelly had over 30 carries for 225 yards and five touchdowns.

Kelly can also pass catch as well especially in open space and in Carter’s spread offense he likes to get the ball to his athletes like Kelly. He had a 36 yard fumble recovery on defense against Harrison as well from his free safety spot.

 “When we play our best, we can be a very dangerous team” he said to reporters after the Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s game.

Oak Park does have a power back as well in Ricardo Brown. Brown is a transfer from Inkster whom is big and talented. He had a one yard touchdown against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the first game of the season and had an eight yard touchdown run against Adams. Brown is a very good power back and sometimes can become the thunder while Kelly becomes the lightning of the Knights offense.

The Knights have a very good passing game in the form of sophomore quarterback Chauncey Lowman. He has a very good arm and can run when need to. Lowman was huge against Adams where he had a touchdown pass and a two point conversion pass in that game. He also had a huge game against Harrison where he was 12 for 18 for 170 yards and passed for three touchdowns in that game where the Knights lost a heartbreaker 60-52 that day.

Oak Park earlier in the season used Jordan Leonard as their quarterback. Leonard was a transfer from Southfield but Coach Carter moved him to running back especially in Oak Park’s two running back spread offense but at times has been the team’s quarterback. Leonard has a very good arm and can make plays as well as Lowman.

The Knights have three very good receivers and a very good tight end in Drewe Jackson, Donte Only, Juan Hernandez, and Miles Daniel. Daniel is a speedy slot receiver was huge in the Adams game where he had a 62 yard reception to lead Oak Park to a touchdown and has caught big receptions in games. Only is also a good receiver as well he has had some good games this season and had a six yard touchdown pass against Southfield in 20-12 loss this season. Carter has said some great things about Jackson and has played well this season for them. Hernandez was huge against Adams from the tight end position. He caught a 17 yard touchdown pass from Lowman in that game.

Oak Park has a very good defense and is very fast but has struggled in the last two weeks though against Harrison and Oxford. The Knights in the last two games have allowed 72 points in the last two weeks, which is alarming.

The Knights have a very good defensive lineman that is being looked at by college scouts in the form of Shaheed Bellamy. He had eight tackles and two sacks against Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s. Oak Park has a Georgia transfer in 6.3 245 pound defensive lineman Marcell Craig. Craig is a very talented lineman and can play well. The Knights also have talented lineman in Jameer Butts, Anthony Smith, Richardo Smith, and Darrick Harris who also are huge contributors to Oak Park’s defense.

The Knights also have a good line backing core in Chance Savage and Junior McMullen. Savage made a game saving tackle against Farmington to win that game for Oak Park. He is very talented and a good football player in his own right. McMullen is very talented in his own right. He did make a couple of game saving tackles for them against Farmington.

This will be a very tough game for the Dragons (6-2, 5-2 Red) against the Knights. Oak Park however has depth concerns and it affected them in the Harrison game two weeks ago but the Knights know that their season is on the line and if they don’t win this game then they will have to sweat it out on selection Sunday, I still believe that if Oak Park loses this game that they will still get in at 5-4. Lake Orion whom rarely loses at home is playing to host a playoff game. If the Dragons do not win this game then they know for sure they will start on the road. There is a lot of motivation on both sides on Friday night.

We’ll see what happens.