Be Patient With Lake Orion Football.

Written Saturday September 30th at 12:05 AM

People have asked me what is going on with Lake Orion Football???

"Why have they been struggling???,""why aren’t they winning games???," "they suck now."

People don’t understand at times the Rome was not built overnight. People I assume these days feel like the years from 2001-2013 when we were winning games, winning championships. I feel we were spoiled at times seeing great football, making the playoffs. I was on the 2004 and 2005 teams, we won a district championship in my Senior season, something I will always cherish for the rest of my life.

I’ve seen the 2008 team when they went through “the five weeks from hell” to get to the State Finals, to winning it all in 2010, and in 2012 only to get screwed by a bad call against Detroit Cass Tech in the State Semifinals.

I understand the frustration of the community seeing this proud program go through some dark times, going 14-20 since 2014. I know it’s frustrating but what is it that is making the program suffer???

Every Lake Orion team has fought, worked hard, and continues to work hard and fight but the league has really changed since I’ve been a player. The league has gotten better, look at West Bloomfield, they added transfers to the fold, they started winning, Clarkston has always had a solid feeder program go through their area, Southfield Arts and Tech merged schools and added kids from the Detroit area, Adams is always Adams, Bloomfield Hills added a quarterback from Birmingham Brother Rice that is going to Ball State, Oxford has had some good teams as well. West Bloomfield, Southfield Arts and Tech, and Clarkston are open enrollment schools, something I do not like very well, I’ve have always believed in homegrown talent and one or two transfers.

Sometimes transitions are always hard and that’s what we are seeing here with the football program. Now the Dragons have some flaws especially in the secondary but the reason why they sit at 1-5 is not about the talent, coaching, getting the job done, or effort.

It was the schedule and the league.

When the schedule and league were put together the Red had eight well established programs ready to beat each other up. When I saw the schedule, I knew this was the toughest I have seen in my 15 years playing or being involved with the Dragons football program. I didn’t like the reason why Chippewa Valley was on the schedule, I always believe that the first game should always be a confidence boost and getting a team well on its way to a successful season. Since putting the Big Reds on the schedule, Lake Orion has lost all four meetings to Chippewa Valley. I worried in those meetings with the Big Reds that it would damage the team’s confidence and the records have proven that statement true. I also noticed that the Dragons haven’t beaten West Bloomfield since 2013 and Clarkston since 2010, those have to change and soon if Lake Orion wants to be back where they were at years ago.

I’m optimistic with this program under first year coach John Blackstock for a few reasons. First, I’ve played under him when he was the secondary and Special Teams coach during my two seasons of playing. Second, he is a proven winner, he knows what he is doing.

Lake Orion will win games in the future. I encourage everyone in the community to be patient with this team. This proud Dragon football program will be back and better than ever and it will start with this group.

 

Dragons Depth shows at Oxford.

Written Friday September 29th at 1:45 PM

Injuries are a part of life for any team.

For the fourth ranked Orion Girls Volleyball team, having a deep bench has its positives.

The Dragons used their deep bench as they were without five players including Paige Briggs (back) and Danielle Sargent (ankle) on route to a three-game sweep of the Oxford Wildcats 25-20, 25-17, 25-19 at Oxford on Thursday night.

Orion picked up an emotional win on Tuesday over Clarkston with a three game sweep and with this win kept pace with the Wolves and Stoney Creek as all three teams remain tied at 4-1 records.

The Dragons will play North Branch on Saturday in Ann Arbor and return to league play with a road trip to Birmingham to play the Seaholm Maples. Seaholm has always been a tough to play at, not just for Volleyball but also Girls Basketball and Boys Basketball as well.

We shall see what happens.

Turnovers Doom Dragons.

Written Thursday September 28th at 11:00 PM

The Dragons couldn’t overcome four turnovers including two off special teams in a 27-21 loss to Bloomfield Hills on Thursday night.

Orion had 245 yards on the night but as mentioned the turnovers hurt tonight.

The Dragons scored three times with John Marshall throwing two touchdowns including a 45 yard score to Dylan Frank and a 15 yard touchdown to Matt Freeman. Tyler Vesterand scored on a 24 yard touchdown run to close out the scoring.

The Blackhawks were led by quarterback John Paddock, whom had a nine yard touchdown run along with two touchdown passes including one on a trick play and the other one on a 20 yard strike. Bloomfield Hills added two field goals to get the six-point win.

Orion is now 1-5 on the season and will go to Oxford to play the Wildcats next week.

Dragons Volleyball Rolling.

Written Tuesday September 26th at 11:30 PM

It’s strange to say how much a team responds after a loss.

Opening league play the Dragons lost in five games to Stoney Creek however they have managed to win three straight matches since the loss by sweeping Troy Athens and Bloomfield Hills but Tuesday match against sixth ranked Clarkston said a lot.

Orion whom was ranked fourth in the State beat the Wolves for the fourth time this season 25-23, 25-23, and 25-16 creating a three-way tie with themselves along with Clarkston and Stoney Creek whom beat the Dragons and lost to the Wolves in the season. The Cougars survived Seaholm in five games in Birmingham on Tuesday night.

Orion was without Paige Briggs whom re-aggravated her back injury during warmups.

The Dragons started out the first set with a 6-0 run early but Clarkston battled back keeping the set within striking distance. The Wolves went on a 7-0 run at one point tying the score at 21-21 before Orion escaped with the set winning 25-23.

The second set was all Clarkston, taking an 11-4 early lead before the Dragons battled back and eventually stealing the second game from the Wolves 25-23.

Orion would then dominate the third set winning 25-16 and the match creating a three-way tie for the Red.

It’s possible that Orion and Clarkston could meet at Birmingham Marian sometime later this month and likely the Dragons and Wolves will meet in the district playoffs at Clarkston on October 30^th.

Orion was led by Danielle Sargent’s 11 kills and three blocks, Riley Hunter whom replaced Briggs had eight kills, Lauryn VanLoon had seven kills, and Sydney Smith had six kills and four aces. Illyra Kalaj had 24 digs and Wren MaCauley had 35 assists on the night.

Clarkston was led by it’s Michigan bound outside hitter Abbey Malinowski whom had 11 kills, 14 digs, two blocks, and two aces.

The next time these two teams meet again, expect the same intensity as always when these two meet.

What If's Hurts Dragons.

Written Saturday September 23rd at 12:40 AM

The What ifs happened on Friday night in the Mothers Wish matchup with Southfield Arts and Tech at Orion.

What if in a tie ball game in the third quarter that the Dragons went for the field goal instead of going for it on fourth down, it would had been 19-16 Orion but it didn’t happen, they went for it and it fell incomplete. Three plays later Southfield Arts and Tech was in the endzone.

What if the penalties didn’t happen??? Orion had 17 penalties for 175 yards in the game.

What if the touchdowns weren’t called back, do the Dragons win???

What if the officials didn’t officiate the game, would the game be different???

Instead it was the Warriors that came out with a 24-16 victory. The what ifs became a factor. If these don’t happen, we’ve be talking things different right now.

Orion whom is 1-4 and 1-3 in the Red will now be on the road for three starting with Bloomfield Hills (3-2, 2-2 in the Red) on Thursday.

Dragons Get First Win of 2017.

Written Saturday September 16th at 12:35 AM

The Dragons got their first win for coach John Blackstock as the team beat the Troy Athens Red Hawks 26-6 at Troy on Friday night on Troy Athens Homecoming.

The first half went perfect on the night for Orion as Blaze Laurer (nine for 14 for 81 yards) connected with Pierce Burke on the Dragons first drive of the game from 28 yards out for a 7-0 Orion lead.

Orion would then strike again as Laurer connected with Casey Strionek on a seven-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 lead.

The Dragons would then get an interception from Chad Dolland which led to a Laurer ten-yard touchdown run for a 21-0 lead.

Orion would close a strong first half with a Parker Blust 35-yard field goal making the score 24-0 at the half.

The Dragons did not fare well in the second half which resulted in two Dylan Frank fumbles and an ejection which gave the Red Hawks some life as Bobby Birney found Patrick Graham for a 26-yard touchdown pass however the two-point conversion failed making the score 24-6.

Orion would then get a safety late in the game as Sam Kinnie made a sack on Birney making the score 26-6.

This win gives the Dragons their first on the season at 1-3. They are still in a tough spot and it doesn’t get any easier. Orion plays Southfield Arts and Tech at home next week.

We’ll see what happens.

Dragons Bounce Back.

Written Thursday September 14th at 10:30 PM

The Dragons bounced back after losing in five games to Stoney Creek with a convincing three set victory over Troy Athens 25-13, 25-20, 25-11 at home on Thursday night.

Orion was led by Paige Briggs whom returned from injury. She had 12 kills while Danielle Sargent added nine kills and Illyra Kalaj had 17 digs on the night.

The Dragons are now 27-4 overall and 1-1 in the Red on the season and will go to Portage Central on Saturday to compete in the Portage Central Invitational.

Thoughts

This was a much needed win for the Dragons, it also helped that Briggs was back from her back injury that caused her to miss the Stoney Creek game on Tuesday. Although the Red Hawks are a young team, a win is a win for this group.

Dragons Upset by Cougars.

Written Tuesday September 12th at 10:30 PM

Let downs happen.

This wasn’t supposed to happen but it did to the Orion Girls Volleyball team.

The Dragons fresh off winning the Novi Invitational on Saturday and was ranked third in the State was upset by Stoney Creek in five games 25-16, 21-25, 19-25, 25-16, and 13-15 on Tuesday night in Rochester.

Orion has had the Cougars number in tournaments but it was Stoney Creek that put the Dragons in a hole early in league play. Orion still has to go to Bloomfield Hills, Oxford, and Seaholm during the season.

Stoney Creek had big nights from the Stration sisters and Molly Asmus. Also, it was a strong team effort for former Orion coach Ross Talbott’s team.

What didn't help things was that the Dragons were without Paige Briggs whom sat out with a back injury.

No one saw this coming.

Orion is now 26-4 on the season and will host Troy Athens on Thursday.

Thoughts.

You got to give Stoney Creek credit tonight, Talbott had a great game plan. I don't know what the mindset of the Orion players were heading into the contest. I also think the Dragons were riding high after the Novi Invitational win so a letdown had to be coming and it happened.

This was a really bad loss for Orion because now this puts them behind the eight ball early in the Red but hopefully they learn from this.

 

Dragons Volleyball Sends Message to the State.

Written Saturday September 9th at 8:40 PM

When describing the Dragons Volleyball team this early season, you got to look at a team building a ton of confidence in this early season.

Red play hasn’t started yet, that starts on Tuesday.

Orion sent a message to the entire State on Saturday winning the Novi Invitational and knocking off two State Powers in Clarkston and Novi.

The Dragons were ranked fourth in the State coming into the weekend while the Wolves were ranked fifth and the Wildcats were third in the State.

Orion has beaten Clarkston now three times in this early season. The Dragons and Wolves will meet a few more times during the season including a showdown at Orion in October and likely in the District playoffs at Clarkston.

The Wolves have a player in Abbey Malanowski whom is heading to Michigan next season.

Novi is the two-time defending State Champions in Class A and has two Big Ten players on their roster in Michigan bound Erin O’ Leary and Abryanna Cannon whom is heading to Northwestern next season.

Orion has their fair share of talent and experience but not of the Big Ten caliber of talent as the Wolves and especially the Wildcats but the Dragons have Illyra Kalaj whom is heading to Western Michigan and Paige Briggs whom is a Western Kentucky recruit and that’s not even mentioning Wren Macauley, Sydney Smith, and Danelle Sargent whom should be College Volleyball offers soon.

The Dragons beat Lakeland, Plymouth Christian and Detroit Cass Tech in pool play. They would be placed in the Gold bracket in which they took on Ann Arbor Huron in which Orion won 25-20 and 25-20 in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal the Dragons took on Clarkston in which Orion beat the Wolves 25-16 and 25-20 for the third time this season. In the final it was the Dragons that beat Novi in two games 25-23 and 25-21 on the Wildcats home gym.

Orion now goes to 26-3 on the season and will travel to Stoney Creek on Tuesday to kick off the league play.

I'm sure the State now knows whom the Dragons are.

Dragons Lose Again.

Written Saturday September 9th at 12:05 AM

The Dragons took it to the chin again this time it was against the West Bloomfield Lakers. The Lakers beat Orion 49-21 on Friday night.

West Bloomfield used their Division One prospects on full display. Quarterback Bryce Veasley whom committed to Bowling Green threw for five touchdowns, four of them were to Wisconsin commit AJ Abbott whom had touchdowns of 66 yards and 90 yards.

Collin Heard added two touchdowns from six yards and one yard out in the game. Veasley threw one more touchdown to Taj Mustapha whom is heading to Wisconsin.

Orion responded with a touchdown in the first quarter from Kobe Manzo whom scored from four yards out tying the score in the first quarter at 7-7. The Dragons would get two more scores in the third quarter as quarterback Blaze Laurer ran 48 yards for a touchdown making the score 35-14 and then got an onside kick which resulted in a 12 yard touchdown run from Tyler Vesterand making the score 35-21 at the time.

The Dragons fall to 0-3 on the season and will travel to Troy Athens to take on the Red Hawks next week for Troy Athens Homecoming.

Thoughts:

I thought the Dragons played with much better effort tonight but West Bloomfield is a very good team. The secondary got exposed but there is nothing anyone can do about it. Orion has to win out if they have any chance of making the playoffs for a second straight year.