Dragons finish season on high note.

Written Saturday October 24th at 12:50 AM.

The Orion Dragons made sure they made a statement to close out their disappointing regular season.

The Dragons whom returned to the green Oklahoma pants likely might have spoiled the Farmington Falcons chances of a playoff opportunity with a 17-14 win on Friday night.

Orion was led by Keith Fields whom forgot his jersey but he recorded 141 yards and had two touchdowns.

Senior kicker Luke Bevilacqua connected with a 32 yard field goal to open the scoring for a 3-0 Dragons lead.

The Falcons would respond though as they marched down the field leading to a Kyle Brunson touchdown off a sweep from five yards out and a 7-3 Farmington lead.

Orion would respond a minute later as Fields scored his first touchdown from 59 yards out and a 10-7 lead. The Dragons would then get an onside kick but it was to avail as the drive stalled. Farmington did have a chance to take the lead however but was prevented by the Orion defense from the one yard line.

That score would remain heading into the third quarter until the Falcons got a 15 yard penalty which led Fields to score on a 15 yard run making the score 17-7 Dragons.

The Falcons would respond as Michigan bound fullback and linebacker David Reese scored on a seven yard touchdown run which was aided by a questionable pass interference penalty. Orion would then try to run the clock out but was stopped on downs by the Farmington defense at the Falcons 25 yard line. The Falcons went down the field for what was supposed to be the game winning drive but got to the Dragons 31 yard line where they turned the ball over on downs. Orion would knee the rest of the game.

Orion finished 4-5 will miss the playoffs for a second straight season. Next season the Dragons return the balk of their offense and bring up a sophomore class that is very talented.

We’ll see what happens.

Dragons Football MUST Change if they want success in the future.

Written Monday October 19th at 2:35 PM.

The days of Orion football being a power in football is over. It’s hard for me to say this looking at the success the football program in years past.

What I watched on the sidelines Friday night against Clarkston was despicable when they trailed 35-0 and would eventually lose 35-14. This program has lost seven of the last ten games to the Wolves. The Dragons won’t make the playoffs for a second straight season. I’ve never seen Coach Chris Bell call the ENTIRE team over for a group huddle during a game. It’s never happened, it should had never been this way.

When I played football ten years ago as a defensive lineman, I was the softest on the team physically but by emotional and mental spirit was tough. I had to earn my “RELENTLESS” t-shirt just like everybody else through hard work and dedication. My class along the Junior Class which would be the 2007 group was Orion Tough.

The Orion Tough mentality the one I knew is gone.

Who replaced it, who created this culture where losing is acceptable??? 

When I played losing wasn’t acceptable and my football family took losses personally.

I didn’t like that fact that Bell allowed football players who are on the Homecoming Court to be there for halftime instead of not being with their team. In 2013, I guess he was pressured and forced to do this, which is something I didn’t like. When I played, this never happened, no players were out there during halftime. They didn’t want to be there during halftime because they wanted to win the football game, heck I was nominated on the Homecoming Court and didn’t want to be a part of it because I wanted to win a football game and go to the playoffs.

In some players minds it seems to me that football has become SECONDARY. Secondary I ask why is that with open arms in disgust??? Are their people that think that football isn’t their main sport or do they just don’t care for the sport that brings the whole community together? Is wearing the jersey the only reason why you play? It takes work, commitment, and honor to wear the Dragons jersey every Friday night. I participated in three sports football, basketball, and track and I treated them all equally. I took all of them seriously even if I wasn’t the best player. 

The mindset of the players must change, they must understand that wins are EARNED, not given to them. You can NOT go into games feeling defeated, you have to come expecting to win every game but understand you have to earn those wins, wins are not given.

During football games I blame the student body and culture. Since when did we get complacent, spoiled, and entitled??? When was that??? I don’t know. When I played ten years ago yeah the drum-line came out and did their thing in the fourth quarter BUT we were blowing out people and to me that was acceptable and when we were in a tight games, we had the students, band, and cheerleaders behind us knowing the situation when the game was on the line. They knew what was at stake.

I’m not sure now what this group thinks or even cares and that is frustrating to me, it's sickening. In myths of the football team needing their students, band, and cheerleaders. They aren’t there for them, they just want to have fun and do the traditions even if WE ARE LOSING??? To me that ticks me off especially watching the games on the sidelines.

This must change if any success come on the football field. This program is no longer a state power, it’s not what it’s used to be and that must change.

Game with Clarkston exposes Dragons problems.

Written Friday October 16th at 11:15 PM

It is true now that Orion football has a big problem. A program problem and it showed it's ugly head on Friday night at Clarkston High School.

The Wolves destroyed the Dragons 35-14 but it was 35-0 Clarkston at one point and that was the embarrassing moment right there.

On a night where Clarkston running back Nolan Eriksen ran for 196 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries.

If that wasn't worse, it got worse.

The Wolves scored on punt block and got a touchdown from quarterback Alex Kesserman to Jonah Kopenen late in the first half.

The Dragons did score two touchdowns late as Chris Wilson ran one from one yard out and backup quarterback Max Horneffer threw to Scout Ciora for a two yard touchdown pass.

Orion will miss the playoffs for the second straight season at 3-5 and 3-4 in the Red. The Dragons will play Farmington at home next Friday to close the season. The Falcons beat Seaholm 44-35 and need one more win to qualify for the playoffs.

We'll see what happens.

Dragons Win on Homecoming Night.

Written Friday October 9th at 10:45 PM

The Orion Dragons snapped a two game losing streak by beating the Bloomfield Hills Blackhawks 24-0 on Friday night for the team's homecoming game

The Dragons got their first touchdown as Caiden Prieskorn found Lajan Broner from 15 yards out for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Orion would then get a defensive touchdown as the Blackhawks tried to attempt a screen pass as quarterback Elijah Sherman threw the football  but he thrown laterally and Alec Mehl picked the ball up and returned it for a touchdown but the PAT was missed keeping the score 13-0 in the second quarter.

Orion would then strike again in the second quarter after shutting down the Bloomfield Hills offense as Danny White scored from six yards out and Prieskorn connected with Michael Jarvis for the two point conversation making the score 21-0.

The Dragons would concluded the scoring as Luke Bevilacqua connected on a 24 yard field goal making the score 24-0 in the third quarter.

Prieskorn was four for seven passing for 66 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Broner had three catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. Keith Fields had 25 carries for 113 yards.

Orion is now 3-4, 3-3 in the Red will travel to Clarkston who is 5-2, 5-1 in the Red. It will be a tough matchup and the Dragons need this game if they have any hope of keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.

We'll see what happens.

Dragons Fall to the Maples in five hard games.

Written Thursday October 8th at 11:20 PM.

In rivalry games there has to be one winner and one loser the Dragons found that out on Thursday night in the Maple Forest.

The Orion Dragons ranked third in the State and was without it’s top hitter Courtney Wightman to an ankle injury in which will keep her out for two to three weeks.

The Dragons (44-6) fell 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12 in Birmingham to the Seaholm Maples (20-5.) The loss means that there will be a three way tie for the Red with Orion, Seaholm, and Stoney Creek.

Seaholm has been a horrors place to the Dragons in volleyball and basketball in recent seasons. In 2013, the Maples beat the Dragons in five games in Birmingham only to see Orion return the favor the next season at home.

Orion won the first 25-22 and was up 19-8 in the second set but Seaholm managed to comeback and outscore the Dragons 17-2 in that set. After that it was on.

I thought this was a heck of a matchup, both teams brought their all in this match. Orion and Seaholm is a rivalry, a volleyball rivalry and it's only going to get better.

I expect both teams will make noise in the State Playoffs in a few weeks. Sometimes mistakes will kill you but in the end of the day a loss humbles you. It was an excellent matchup between two very good teams.