Dragons Football In Deep-Deep Trouble.

Written Friday September 1st at 12:05 AM

The Dragons are in deep-deep trouble right now.

You can kiss playoffs goodbye for now.

Discipline, lack of pressure, lack of offense, everything that went wrong gone wrong. It really spelled itself out in an ugly 39-8 home loss to Adams.

Orion’s defense was not existent against the Highlanders veer offense attack that was balanced all night.

Adams defense and offensive line were key to the Highlanders victory tonight.

Adams opened the scoring after a roughing the kicker penalty gave the Highlanders new life behind a five yard touchdown run from Steven Roncelli. Adams would then get a three and out again which led to a field goal by Ben Patton making the score 10-0 Highlanders.

Adams would then get the ball back off a turnover which resulted in Chase Karleta four yard rushing touchdown making the score 17-0 Highlanders.

The Highlanders would then start the second half going down the field with their veer attack leading to a quarterback Carter Farris throwing the ball to Missouri bound wide receiver Vincent Gray for a 29 yard touchdown pass for a 24-0 lead.

Adams would then extend the lead to 32-0 after Farris found Karleta for a 26 yard touchdown pass and two point conversion from Farris to Cole Patritto.

Orion would get on the scoreboard when Dylan Frank scored from one yard out making the score 32-8. Casey Strionek would get the two point conversion on the drive.

Adams closed out the scoring when Farris found Collin Weeks from 27 yards out making the score 39-8.

Thoughts.

I couldn’t be anymore disappointed with what happened. The Orion defense was confused, looked soft, just looked awful. The Dragon offense has major issues, they don’t have a passing attack, they don’t have a true quarterback, and they are one dimensional. That won’t win games.

This team is in deep trouble when you look at the schedule and it says Southfield Arts and Tech and Clarkston are still on there, and that’s not mentioning West Bloomfield whom they play next week.

I was also very disappointed with the Dragon students tonight. I felt there was a disconnect between the players and the students. The players were trying to get the students to support them, it further explains the disconnect.

I hate to say it but the Dragons are in deep trouble right now.

 

Dragons Volleyball off to a Nice Start.

Written Wednesday August 30th at 10:00 PM

The Dragons Volleyball team is off to a nice start in this early season.

Orion captured their second tournament of the season on Wednesday winning the Stoney Creek Invitational at Oakland Elite in Waterford.

The Dragons had no problem in pool play beating Avondale, Holly, and Grosse Pointe South. In the Gold Bracket they took down Stoney Creek, Romeo, and Adams in straight sets.

Orion was led by Paige Briggs whom had 45 kills, Danielle Sargent had 33 kills and eight blocks. Wren Macaulay had 109 points and nine assists while Iyria Kalaj had 58 digs.

The Dragons will have a tough quad on Wednesday with Farmington Hills Mercy, North Branch, and Stoney Creek at home.

Adams Preview.

Written Wednesday August 30th at 3:45 PM

The Dragons will renew a rivalry with a familiar foe on Thursday night in Rochester Adams at Orion.

The Highlanders come in at 1-0 destroying Rochester 38-6 last week. Adams coach Tony Patrino runs a veer offense. The veer offense is a triple option offense very similar to what Georgia Tech, Navy, and Nebraska back under Bo Pelini and Tom Osbourne used to run.

Orion holds a 19-13 edge on the Highlanders in the all-time series. This will be the first meeting between the rivals since Adams beat the Dragons 30-26 in 2014.

Adams has a Division One recruit in Vincent Gray. Gray committed to Missouri as a defensive back will likely get the Dragons top wide receiver. He also play wide receiver as well and catches the football really well in a veer offense. The Highlanders also have running back and linebacker Steven Roncelli. Roncelli was very instrumental running the football last week against the Falcons. Zach Soldan is the team’s quarterback, taking over for Kyle Wood. He did pretty well against Rochester last week.

Line play will be a key to this game, Orion is a much different team than Rochester for Adams but the Highlanders are a much different team for the Dragons than Chippewa Valley. Time possession is key, both teams want to run the football. Whomever wins the time possession battle will win this football game.

This will be a fun game to watch.

Dragons fall to Chippewa Valley Again.

Written Friday August 25th at 1:45 AM

The Orion Dragons kicked off the 2017 football season in Clinton Township on Thursday night against the Big Reds of Chippewa Valley.

Chippewa Valley had to survive an Orion rally in the fourth quarter to earn a 20-17 victory on Thursday night. It was the fourth straight loss to the Big Reds.

The scoring started when Chippewa Valley blocked a punt deep into Dragons territory. The Big Reds quarterback Tom Schuster found Jon Naise Owens for an seven yard touchdown and a 7-0 Chippewa Valley lead.

Orion would then respond thanks to a 24 yard field goal from Parker Blust but they could not convert on a fourth down similar to last season’s game at Wayne State at the one yard line last season keeping the halftime score 7-3.

There was some controversy in the middle of the third quarter with Orion trailing 7-3. The Dragons were forced to punt, the ball hit a Big Reds player on the heel of the foot, Orion would recover the football. The referee even gave the Dragons the football however he reversed his own call and gave the ball to the Chippewa Valley.

After taking advantage of the call Schuster drove the ball down the field when he threw a 58 yard pass to Owens along with a personal foul to the Orion five yard line. That play would led to a three yard rushing touchdown by Andre Chenault but the point after was blocked giving the Big Reds a 13-3 lead.

Orion had another punt blocked, this time by Austin Fredrick. The blocked punt led to another Chippewa Valley touchdown as Schuster found Jacob Rybicki for a 20 yard touchdown pass for a 20-3 Big Reds lead late in the third quarter.

Schuster and Rybicki were instrumental against Orion in last season's game at Wayne State in which Chippewa Valley won 35-7.

The Dragons would then respond late in the fourth quarter after the Big Reds missed a 39 yard field goal try. Running back Dylan Frank ran for a 68 yard touchdown making the score 20-10 Chippewa Valley.

Orion got another stop on defense which led to their second touchdown of the night as quarterback John Marshall found Frank for a 15 yard touchdown cutting the score to 20-17 Chippewa Valley.

The Big Reds would try to run the clock down but the Dragons defense stiffened and got the football back to their offense one more time but Marshall was intercepted by Brian Nadius ending the game.

Lauer was seven for eight for 72 yards, Marshall was four for seven for 70 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Frank had 25 carries for 86 yards. Schuster was seven for 15 for 120 yards and two touchdowns for Chippewa Valley.

Orion is 0-1 for a fourth straight season. The Dragons will host Rochester Adams next Thursday at Dragon Stadium for their home opener.

Thoughts.

Looking back, I'm trying to understand why the official made the call that he made during that third quarter. Following a Dragons punt, the football clearly hit the left heel of a Big Reds player and Orion recovered the football. The referee pointed out that it was LO football but following a conference with the rest of his crew, he changed his mind and gave the football to Chippewa Valley. Normally the first instinct is the call on the field and by rule, you go with the call is on the field. The call shouldn't had been changed but it was. The Big Reds took advantage and scored two touchdowns in the process. I wonder if High School Football had instant replay would this happen, would the outcome be different???

The Dragons left a bunch of plays on the field in the first half especially one in the second quarter that was very similar to the game last season at Wayne State when they had the ball on the two yard line and couldn't get a first down but it’s not an excuse to leave points on the field.

I thought the Orion defense held their own against Chippewa Valley. They made plays and got some key turnovers, stops, and sacks at the same time. The defense was given bad field position thanks to the punt blocks which gave the Big Reds the short field to score their points. The offense wasn't great but showed flashes especially late in the fourth quarter. The special teams needs some work after having two punts blocked.

This team is a work in progress.

This loss puts the Dragons in a bad spot heading into league play. They have Adams next whom destroyed Rochester 38-6.

We’ll see what happens.

Dragons Volleyball Looking Good Early.

Written Tuesday August 22nd at 11:05 PM

The Dragons kicked off the 2017 season in style.

Fresh off winning the Lake Orion Tournament last weekend, the Dragons went 6-2 in the Lake Orion Quad at Lake Orion High School that featured two State ranked teams in Clarkston and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, and their arch rival Oxford.

Orion would beat Oxford in their first match 25-12 and 25-18. The Wildcats have a new coach in Brian Kim and a team that could be dangerous later in the season. The Dragons were led by Paige Briggs whom had 14 kills and two blocks against her former team. Briggs transferred to Orion from Oxford this offseason. Sydney Smith another transfer whom came over to Orion from Avondale added five kills. Wren Macauley had 26 assists and Illyra Kalaj had 14 digs, three aces, and 23 serves in the contest. The Dragons will see the Wildcats later in the season as both teams are in the Red and in the same district.

Orion would then play Pontiac Notre Dame Prep next, they are expected to be one of the top teams in Class B and they did not disappoint. The Dragons had to survive the Irish winning in three games 25-27, 25-17, and 25-19. Orion was led by Briggs with 15 kills while Danelle Sargent added nine kills. MaCauley added 32 assists while Kalaj had 20 digs, Briggs added 15, and Ciara Livingway added 14 digs. Livingway added 16 serves in the match.

Orion would then play Clarkston in a rematch from Saturday and what will be many more yet to come including the district playoffs at Clarkston and a regular season meeting at Orion. The Dragons won over the Wolves for a second time this season beating them 26-28, 25-17, 25-19. Orion was led by Briggs was 15 kills, Sargent added 10 kills, and two blocks while Lauryn Van Loon added eight kills. Kalaj had 17 digs and Livingway added nine digs. Lauren Bell had 17 serves on the night.

Overall Briggs had 44 kills, Sargent added 20 kills, Smith and Vanloon had 17 kills each, MaCauley had 99 assists, and Kalaj added 51 digs on the night for Orion.

The Dragons will be at Macomb Dakota this weekend to play in the Macomb Dakota Invitational. So far it’s a good start for Orion thus far but can they keep it up, that’s the question.

Chippewa Valley Preview.

Written Wednesday August 16th at 12:00 AM

The Chippewa Valley Big Reds will be a solid team yet again in the Macomb Area Conference Red division this season.

Orion will travel to Chippewa Valley to start the 2017 season on Thursday August 24^th in Macomb County. The last time, the Dragons played at Chippewa Valley it was the Big Reds that beat Orion 38-35 in 2014.

Orion is fresh off a 5-5 season will need to make some noise if they want to be a player this season under first year coach John Blackstock. The Dragons are an alarming 13-15 since 2014.

The Big Reds are 30-13 since the 2012 season will have a ton of talent back from a team that went 6-4 and had wins over Macomb Dakota and Sterling Heights Stevenson.

Chippewa Valley has won the last three meetings over the Dragons, outscoring Orion 100-70 in the process.

As mentioned the Big Reds return 40 players and 17 starters back.

Chippewa Valley scored 254 points last season will return the balk of their offense. The Big Reds run a spread offense from the pistol formation and a lot of misdirection as well. Chippewa Valley returns starting quarterback Tommy Schuster. He will have a solid wide receiving core to throw too in wide receivers Jacob Rybicki, Cardell Snorton, Fredrick Austin, David Ellis, Isaiah Booker, and Jonnazine Owens. Schuster’s lineman are possibly going to be Nick Reindhart, Don Wesley, Amir Sanders-Tillman, and Austin Grabill along with Jacob Varney, Vince Buccilli, Matthew Davey, Collin Lockemy, and Jessie Kelly. It is possible that Ja’Von Kimpson could be the team’s starting running back and Jon Naize-Owens could be the starting tight end.

Schuster was responsible for three touchdowns, two of them were in the air and one on the ground in the Big Reds 27-7 victory last season over the Dragons at Wayne State.

Chippewa Valley on the defensive side of the football struggled at times, allowing 288 points last season, including 48 in the playoff meeting against Macomb Dakota, 42 against Utica Eisenhower, 42 against Warren Mott, 36 against Romeo, and 38 in the regular season meeting against Macomb Dakota (1-4 in those games) but the balk of the defense is back for coach Scott Merchant’s team. The Big Reds will be led by defensive end Kevin Krasniqi and a deep linebacking core of Marcel Lewis, Donvan Edsell, Brian Naidus, and Brian Schieweck along with Terry Brazil, Mitchell Smiecinski, Celestino Guerrerro, and Kyle Baranski. The defensive backfield should also be solid led by Stanley Williams, Jalen Jennings, Kimpson, and Booker along with Adam Schihl, Matthew Bolden, Nick Leksutin. Their defensive lineman will be deep as well, led by Shakur McGarrity, Nicholas Nikpreljevic, and Dwayne Lewis along with Reginald Reid, Mikel Kola, Connor Montilla, and Joe Stavale.

Schieweck and Rybicki will also be the Big Reds top returning men for Merchant.

This will be an interesting matchup in front of the “Rowdy Red Zone.” This will be a test for the Dragons secondary especially against Schieweck and Rybicki. Rybicki scored a touchdown last season. Chippewa Valley is one of the top teams in Macomb County behind Utica Eisenhower and Romeo.

We shall see what happens.

Transfer Update.

Written Monday August 14th at 5:10 PM

Here is the update of transfers that are coming into Orion High School and could make an impact right away for the Dragons.

Football:

The Dragons Football program added two new players in the form of Sam Kinne and Issac Kinne.

Both Kinne’s transferred in from Lapeer. Sam will be a Senior while Issac will be a Junior.

They were both a force in Lapeer. Sam will be expected to play multiple positions along with his brother as well.

Sam has gotten multiple Division One offers.

The Dragons will be tested week one against Chippewa Valley, whom has their fair share of experience back. Orion will also have experience back under first year head coach John Blackstock.

Volleyball:

The Dragons Volleyball program might have gotten stronger with the addition of two solid players. Orion got Sydney Smith from Avondale and Paige Briggs from Oxford. Briggs is a Western Kentucky commit for Volleyball.

Both players should make an immediate impact right away for the team. Coach Tony Scavarda’s team returns Danielle Sargent, Erin Collins, Wren Macaulay, Illyra Kalaj, and Lauryn Van Loon.

Briggs will be a Junior while Smith will be a Sophomore.

Orion should be pretty good this season and could be a team to watch in the State. They open up the season on Saturday at Michigan Elite.