Postseason Watch-Week Seven.
Written Saturday September 30th at 7:00 PM
The postseason is only a month away so here are some scenarios surrounding some teams in the OAA that have a chance to make the postseason, some are locks, others are on the bubble and others need to win out.
Thanks to GoosePoop on Twitter/X for giving me some analytics on each team’s chances to make the postseason so here they are.
LOCKS:
Lake Orion (6-0): The Dragons are looking really good when it comes to the postseason. Lake Orion has had strong wins over Harper Woods, West Bloomfield, and Adams. They still have arch rival Clarkston and Saline coming up, both of whom are strong teams with Farmington in between week eight. It is possible, pending with what happens with Clarkston this week, that both teams could be undefeated going into week nine. The Dragons are safely in the postseason field in Division One.
Clarkston (4-2): The Wolves are looking really good when it comes to the postseason and they keep getting better every week. They have played a really tough schedule and have beaten some really good teams as well. Despite losing to Northville and Southfield Arts and Tech (both of whom are strong teams), they hold quality wins over Adams and West Bloomfield. Clarkston still has arch rival Lake Orion, Division Four, Harper Woods and strong Macomb Area Red power Utica Eisenhower which will all be very tough and competitive games. If you’re a Wolves fan, you won’t have to worry about not making the postseason. Clarkston is safely in the postseason field in Division One.
West Bloomfield (4-2): The Lakers have had some issues especially defensively. The win over Chippewa Valley is huge at the moment for West Bloomfield. They need to address the defense as they have a ton of injuries right now. The schedule is very interesting for the Lakers with Oxford and Oak Park, both of whom could be fighting to get into the playoffs. Southfield Arts and Tech could be a big yard stick where the Lakers stand going into the playoffs. West Bloomfield is safely in the postseason field in Division One.
Southfield Arts and Tech (6-0): The Warriors early season wins have already got them into the postseason. Southfield Arts and Tech is kind of in a lull when it comes to competition in the White with their two toughest challengers in Groves and Harper Woods they faced earlier in the season. The win over Detroit Cass Tech is looking better and better. They still have West Bloomfield which is always interesting as both teams look to that game as a barometer game. The Warriors are safely in the postseason field for Division One.
Seaholm (5-1): The Maples have been rolling with confidence heading into the postseason. Seaholm has some big wins under their belt as well and will have three quality opponents to help prepare them for the postseason in Avondale, Oak Park (possibly for the league title) and arch rival Groves who have given them a lot of problems in the past, mostly because Groves has played in the much tougher White division. Despite having to figure out their problems with Groves, the Maples are safely in the postseason field for Division Two.
Groves (4-2): The Falcons have played some very strong opponents (West Bloomfield and Southfield Arts and Tech) and picked up some big wins including a big league win over Harper Woods and a big non league win over North Farmington. Groves still has games over Division One Bloomfield Hills, Ferndale, and arch rival Seaholm, who they could possibly meet twice in the postseason in which the Falcons have gotten the better of the Maples primarily because of playing in the tougher OAA White. Groves is safely in the postseason field for Division Two.
Harper Woods (3-3): For a team who is in Division Four, the Pioneers have played a really tough schedule playing against a ton of Division One (Stoney Creek, Lake Orion, Southfield Arts and Tech) and Division Two teams (Groves). Harper Woods still has to play two more Division One programs in Rochester and powerhouse Clarkston and finish the year against Division Two Roseville. Even if they have a losing record, the Pioneers are safely in the postseason field for Division Four because of their strength of schedule and could be a state championship contender come postseason time.
Avondale (6-0): The Yellow Jackets have been rolling as of late, most likely securing the Gold Championship in the process. Avondale has also been tested with quality wins over Division Three Brandon and Division Two Oak Park. Avondale still has Division Two power Seaholm looming along with rivals Pontiac and Warren Fitzgerald. The Maples will be a barometer on where the Yellow Jackets stand when it comes to the playoffs in Division Three. They also might not have to worry about Brother Rice being in the playoffs. They are safely in the postseason field for Division Three and they could make a ton of noise.
BUBBLE:
North Farmington (3-3): The Raiders have been playing well as of late, despite playing a very daunting schedule especially early with Division Two powers Groves, Caledonia, and Seaholm. The Raiders have held their own and was able to get strong wins over Division One’s Troy and Troy Athens along with Division Two, Oak Park. The Raiders will have two strong tests coming up with Division One foes Oxford and Bloomfield Hills. Should North beat one of those teams, they will probably qualify for the playoffs. If they lose to both of them, the chances of making it will not happen. Oxford is the toughest of the three teams remaining on their schedule.
Troy (3-3): The Colts have been struggling a little bit as of late especially going against Division Two powers Seaholm, Oak Park, and North Farmington. Troy however, has benefited with wins over Division One Detroit Mumford and Division One Macomb L’Anse Creuse North but that was early in the season. The schedule lightens up again with Division Two Royal Oak and Division Two Fraser on the horizon. Troy Athens, their arch rival will be their biggest test, it is a rivalry game so you throw records out the window. Despite Troy being successful, the last few years, Athens has had a history of playing spoiler. If Troy loses one of these next three games, their chances of making the postseason is slim.
Adams (3-3): The Highlanders are a very interesting team to watch because they are a wildcard. Their chances of getting in the postseason are still very strong, probably the strongest of the bubble teams. Adams has Stoney Creek, Bloomfield Hills, and Sterling Heights Stevenson, all three Division One teams, all three teams they are capable of beating. If they win out or win two of the next three games they should be in the postseason. It’s hard to envision this program not making the postseason, is it a possibility??? Sure but it is not likely. Also whoever gets them first (should they make it), it will be a tough test going against the vaunted veer offense.
Ferndale (3-3): The Eagles could be a postseason team should they win out or at least win two out of the next three games. They have Oak Park, Groves, and St. Clair Shores Lake Shore on the horizon. Ferndale has played a tough schedule despite getting a forfeit win over Pontiac. Ferndale has finally been able to turn the corner recently with wins over Royal Oak and Berkley but strong Division Two programs like Oak Park and Groves will test this group. They win out or win two of three, they are most likely in the postseason.
Oak Park (2-4): The Knights are a darkhorse to watch when it comes to the postseason but the schedule looks very challenging. Oak Park has Division One power West Bloomfield, along with Division Two powers Seaholm and Ferndale looming. For the Knights, it’s either win out or win two out of three, Ferndale is a must win for the Knights to even consider making it to the postseason. These next three games will not be easy for the Knights but if they win at least two out of three, they should make the postseason given the schedule they have played.
NEED TO WIN OUT:
Oxford (2-4): The Wildcats are in a win now mode if they want to make the postseason. They have Division One powerhouse West Bloomfield, North Farmington, and University-Detroit Jesuit all at Wildcat Stadium. Despite playing a very tough schedule with the likes of Utica Eisenhower, Clarkston, Adams, and arch rival Lake Orion, Oxford has two wins (Division Two, Oak Park and Division One, Stoney Creek.) If Oxford can win all three home games then they are most likely a postseason team. If they lose one of these three games they are likely to miss the postseason. It’s that simple for the Wildcats, win out and most likely you’re in the postseason.