Way Too Early OAA Top 10

Written Friday May 2nd, at 11:30 AM

10. Farmington: Farmington gets moved down from the White to the Blue ala controversial fashion but that's beside the point. The Falcons may have the deepest team in the Blue but they might not be the best team though especially with Avondale and Southfield-Lathrup could be major factors this season in the league. Farmington kicks off the season in a tough match up with in city rival Farmington Hills Harrison in week one.

9. Southfield: The Blue Jays lost a lot of talent from a season ago but the speed that Southfield has for coach Gary Teasely should make them competitive in the rugged White division with Oak Park, Harrison, and Adams. The Blue Jays have a brutal match up to start the season with Orchard Lake St. Marys to start off at Wayne State. If the Blue Jays can reload quickly they should be fine.

8. Avondale: The key for coach Steve Deutch is line play because if running back Spencer Holloman can use his speed and get good line play then look out. Avondale missed the playoffs last season and looks to return to the playoffs. Farmington and Southfield-Lathrup come down from the White to the Blue and could give the Yellow Jackets problems this season.

7. Oxford: The Wildcats will return one of the county's best quarterbacks in Glacier Wallington and will have a very good wide receiver in Dallas Pruitt for Wallington to throw too. Oxford's defense will be a concern however and also who will be the one running the ball in 2014 for the Wildcats. Oxford's schedule is very friendly they host Romeo, Lake Orion, Clarkston, and West Bloomfield this season so if they miss the playoffs it would be a disappointment for coach Bud Rowley's Wildcats.

6. West Bloomfield: The Lakers may have coach Ronald Bellamy's best team yet at West Bloomfield. He will certainly have the athletes in the form of Tristian Jackson who converted from quarterback to wide receiver and Michael King who played quarterback when Jackson got hurt. The Lakers line play will be a huge concern along with their defense. The schedule is friendly early with Dearborn at Wayne State but the league is brutal with trips to Lake Orion, Clarkston, Stoney Creek, the crossover, and Oxford on the slate. If West Bloomfield can get through this could be the first time since 2009 that the Lakers could be playoff bound.

5. Lake Orion: The Dragons defense was not very good and offense loses a lot from a season ago and should be motivated with a disappointing home playoff loss to Romeo. However most of that defense will be back and should have some experience. The offense will be a work in progress as they get ready for a trip into Macomb County week one with Chippewa Valley and a tough road schedule with trips to Oxford, the crossover, and Stoney Creek but does host Clarkston and West Bloomfield. Lake Orion will be a major factor in the Red this season along with the likes of Clarkston and West Bloomfield.

4. Rochester Adams: Adams returns sophomore quarterback Kyle Wood whom took over for Matt Sokol when he got hurt last season. Wood led the Highlanders to the regional finals before losing to Clarkston. The first game is much smoother than in past years with Clarkston, they get to go to Stoney Creek for the first game of the season and still has to deal with Harrison, Southfield, and Oak Park.

3. Farmington Hills Harrison: The Hawks will return one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in Oakland County in Jevon Shaw. Harrison will be good and motivated to compete in the rugged white with Oak Park, Southfield, and Adams. The Hawks will play Farmington to kick off the season. Last season ended tough for Harrison as they fell to Portage Central in Portage, the Hawks will be ready for the season.

2. Oak Park: The Knights return a profound offense led by running back John Kelly. Depth could be an issue for coach Greg Carter and the schedule is not friendly especially having to play Detroit Cass Tech week one in a virtual road game at Wayne State but they will not have the services of Jayru Campbell because he is suspended for that game after his incident at Troy Athens also the Knights still have to play Harrison, Adams, and Southfield as well.

1. Clarkston: The Wolves will return most of it's offense that led them to the 2013 Division One State Championship last season and adds Nolan Eriksen to the mix at running back to go with Centrus Williams Jr, a transfer from Macomb Dakota two seasons ago. Defense will be suspect though especially replacing a lot of talent from last season. Speaking of Williams, the schedule could be interesting especially starting off with his old team Macomb Dakota. The Cougars are going to be a very dangerous match up for the Wolves early and also add that they do travel to Oxford, the crossover, and Lake Orion but hosts West Bloomfield. Clarkston will be one of the favorites in the Red along with Lake Orion, West Bloomfield, and Oxford.