OAA Recap. Week Eight.

Written Saturday October 19th, at 8:35 PM

1. Clarkston

2. Southfield

3. Seaholm

4. Harrison

5. Stoney Creek

6. Lake Orion

7. Groves

8. West Bloomfield

9. Oak Park

10. Adams

BIG WIN: Oxford: The Wildcats keep their playoff hopes alive after shocking Oak Park 20-18 in Knight Valley. The win by Oxford now forces Oak Park to having to beat Lake Orion on the road just to make the playoffs. If the Wildcats can beat West Bloomfield whom is also fighting to get into the playoffs this week then with the tough White Schedule along with playing Lake Orion might be enough to get Oxford to the playoffs as a 5-4 team.

TOUGH LOSS: Groves: The Falcons came in with high expectations but seeing their arch rival Birmingham Seaholm beat Groves 28-20. The win gave the Maples the Blue. Groves must now pick up the peaces and focus on Waterford Mott. The Corsairs have been struggling in the KLAA but did beat Milford. The Falcons should have no problem with Waterford Mott in Waterford on their way to the playoffs.

MOST DISSAPOINTED: Berkley: You got a pink cancer game in your backyard at Hurley Field against Royal Oak and you have an outside shot at making the playoffs. Then you lose 20-18 to the Ravens on your home field after beating Avondale 34-31 a few weeks ago in Auburn Hills. You got to be kidding me. Big win for Coach Ryan Irish and the Ravens. This was a horrible loss for Coach Chris Sikora and the Bears.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Troy: You know when I look at the Colts the game week five with Lake Orion when they were tied 17-17 really went down hill. Troy has been outscored 153-13 in the last 15 quarters of football and didn’t do themselves any favors against arch rival Troy Athens were they were blown out 35-6. The Colts are not going to the playoffs but have a manageable game to close out the season when they play Southfield-Lathrup week nine.

Big Games Next Week:

2. Southfield (7-1, 7-0 White) at 1. Clarkston (7-1, 7-0 Red): In a defector OAA championship game at Clarkston. Both teams have big lines and have plenty of speed in this match up. The Blue Jays have won seven straight since losing to Detroit Cass Tech while the Wolves have won seven straight since losing to Rochester Adams. This should be a good one as plenty of college recruits will be available in this match up.

4. Harrison (7-1, 6-1 White) at 5. Stoney Creek (6-2, 5-2 Red): The Hawks have been rolling opponents lately scoring 106 points in the last two games. Harrison and Stoney Creek used to be in the White and the Hawks were beating the Cougars badly but this will be a different Stoney Creek team than Harrison is used to seeing because of Coach Brad Zube. This Cougars team did beat Lake Orion earlier in the season and is not a bad defensive team themselves especially at home. This game will be a tough one for the Hawks against a senior laden Cougars team.

9. Oak Park (5-3, 4-3 White) at 6. Lake Orion (6-2, 5-2 Red): In the minds of many this has the makings of a classic offensive shootout especially with the Knights having John Kelly in their backfield and the Dragons have a high potent offense. It wouldn’t surprise anyone that Oak Park will try to use him the same way that Clarkston’s Ian Eriksen did against the Dragons defense last week scoring six touchdowns going for 234 yards. Oak Park needs this game in the worst way just to make the playoffs but there is still an outside shot that the Knights can get into the playoffs at 5-4 because of two big wins on their schedule (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Rochester Adams) along with the White schedule they have played. Lake Orion needs this game for confidence reasons especially on defense and a lack of depth along with the long bus ride with traffic on Oak Park’s side could be a huge problem in this game.

Oxford (4-4, 4-3 White) at 8. West Bloomfield (5-3, 4-3 Red): In a game in which could decide a playoff spot both the Wildcats and Lakers will be gearing up for this one. West Bloomfield has won three straight games including upsetting Stoney Creek two weeks ago and with this win could make the playoffs. The Wildcats have played one of the toughest schedules in the state and have played the likes of Lake Orion, Southfield, Oak Park, Rochester Adams, and Harrison. It was not an easy road to take and if Oxford wins this game then with that resume they could make it in at 5-4.

Red Standings:

1. Clarkston                 7-0       7-1

5. Stoney Creek           5-2       6-2

6. Lake Orion               5-2       6-2

8. West Bloomfield       4-3       5-3

Rochester                     3-4       4-4

Troy Athens                 2-5       2-6

Troy                             2-5       2-6

Pontiac                         0-7       0-8

Last Week Games:

Clarkston 49, Lake Orion 28

Stoney Creek 36, Rochester 14

Troy Athens 35, Troy 6

West Bloomfield 38 Pontiac 13

This Week Games:

2. Southfield at 1. Clarkston

4. Harrison at 5. Stoney Creek

9. Oak Park at 6. Lake Orion

Oxford at 8. West Bloomfield

10. Adams at Rochester

Southfield-Lathrup at Troy

Bloomfield Hills at Troy Athens

Farmington at Pontiac

White Standings:

2. Southfield                 7-0       7-1

4. Harrison                   6-1       7-1

9. Oak Park                 4-3       5-3

10. Adams                   4-3       5-3

Oxford                         4-3       4-4

Bloomfield Hills            2-5       2-6

Farmington                   1-6       1-7

Southfield-Lathrup        0-7       1-7

Last Week Games:

Southfield 23, Southfield-Lathrup 6

Harrison 46, Farmington 0

Oxford 20, Oak Park 18

Adams 38, Bloomfield Hills 28

This Week Games:

2. Southfield at 1. Clarkston

4. Harrison at 5. Stoney Creek

9. Oak Park at 6. Lake Orion

Oxford at 8. West Bloomfield

10. Adams at Rochester

Southfield-Lathrup at Troy

Bloomfield Hills at Troy Athens

Farmington at Pontiac

Blue Standings:

3. Seaholm                   7-0       8-0

7. Groves                     6-1       7-1

North Farmington         4-3       5-3

Royal Oak                    4-3       4-4

Avondale                      3-4       4-4

Berkley                        3-4       3-5

Ferndale                       1-6       1-7

Hazel Park                   0-7       0-8

Last Week Games:

Seaholm 28, Groves 20

North Farmington 69, Hazel Park 28

Royal Oak 20, Berkley 18

Avondale 42, Ferndale 0

This Week Games:

U-D Jesuit at 3. Birmingham Seaholm

7. Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves at Waterford Mott

North Farmington (Bye)

Ypsilanti at Avondale

Grosse Isle at Hazel Park

Hamtramck at Ferndale

Berkley at Dearborn Robichaud

Plymouth Salem at Royal Oak

Other Games Around the State:

I was disappointed with Utica Eisenhower losing 17-15 to Sterling Heights Stevenson at Runkel Field. The Eagles had a golden opportunity to keep their 16 year playoff streak alive but it looks bleak. Also with Utica Eisenhower losing this hurts Romeo’s chances at making the playoffs at 5-4 because the Bulldogs lost to the Eagles 16-14 last week at Sweinhart Field.

I see that Macomb Dakota/Chippewa Valley showdown never happened on Friday night, it ended up being a beat down by the Cougars 52-7 over the Big Reds for its 12^th straight victory in the series. Both teams came in unbeaten at 7-0 and was billed as the showdown for the MAC Red. Macomb Dakota scored touchdowns on their first five possessions of the game and the running clock came into effect. It’s very likely that these two teams will meet again in the playoffs.

East Kentwood (5-3) might need to win next week against Rockford (7-1) if they want to have a shot at the playoffs. The Falcons fell to Hudsonville 20-9  in Hudsonville (5-3) and with Holland West Ottawa (5-3) winning tonight. That sets the Panthers up for a major showdown with the Eagles next Friday night. All three of these could make the playoffs based on playoff points but for sure two could be happy or only one of this group could make playoffs. You never know with the Ottawa Kent Red Division.

Lansing Holt might have taken the biggest hit of them all when they fell 40-27 to Jackson. The win by Vikings over the Rams likely guarantees that Lansing Holt will not make the playoffs for a second straight season and now stand at 4-4 overall.

The playoffs are right around the corner and we’ll see what happens folks.