Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation

Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation

Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation.

Written Saturday September 28th at 3:00 PM

It has been a crazy week around the OAA this week. Here are some thoughts from a league perspective.

The Gold is basically locked up with Avondale winning 21-7 over Ferndale on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets have a stout defense but the offense has really picked things up which is a great sign for Coach Bob Meyer. Ferndale has a tough schedule with games against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Utica Ford II. Playoffs will be something to watch for Coach Eric Royal’s team. Berkley has to play Avondale in week seven but that game is in Auburn Hills. It will be very interesting to see how the Bears respond after winning back the Battle of Woodward trophy with a 14-7 win over Royal Oak. Berkley is a much different team since week one when they lost 7-0 to Walled Lake Central and 20-0 to Troy Athens especially offensively. The Ravens are much improved defensively which is a good sign for Coach Colin Campbell’s team. Royal Oak will be fine going forward. Pontiac is really struggling falling 19-6 to Bloomfield Hills. The Phoenix have been outscored 136-12 in the last four weeks, that’s really rough for Coach Wendell Jefferson and Pontiac. It will be really interesting to see what happens with the Phoenix going forward.

The White is basically locked up with Groves winning 28-12 over Harper Woods on Friday night. The win locks up the crown for the Falcons. The Pioneers might have to worry about the postseason if they can’t get their act together and soon. Harper Woods is without Nate Rocheleau which is a big reason why the offense has really struggled and the defense has not been the same since the Oxford game. The Pioneers need to get a ton of things addressed and soon or a trip to the postseason could be in jeopardy. Rochester has had a tough two weeks getting outscored 63-17 in the last two weeks. Stoney Creek earned a 17-0 win over Southfield Arts and Tech and has seemed to be turning the corner. The Warriors are really struggling right now getting outscored 142-14 in the last four weeks, that’s not good at all.

The Blue is down to three teams at the moment. Seaholm had a hard fought 14-6 win over Farmington behind their stout defense and veer offense. The Maples have not lost a beat since but they have a tough stretch when they head to the Swamp in week eight and to Beverly Hills in week nine. North Farmington has bounced back from an 0-2 start with a hard fought 14-7 win over Troy Athens. The Raiders are finding ways to win games. Troy has had a rough two weeks but made a statement winning 31-6 over Oak Park. Troy plays Seaholm this week and North Farmington has Oak Park. This would tell a lot when it comes to the league race. Bloomfield Hills picked up their first win of the year winning 19-6 over Pontiac. Troy Athens is really struggling and it won’t get any better when Clarkston visits next week. Oak Park hasn’t been the same team since the 28-18 loss to Seaholm two weeks ago. Farmington needs to get their quarterback Julian Johnson back and soon which could help them big time.

The Red is a complete mess. Every team still has a shot at winning the division. Adams lost quarterback Ryland Watters to a foot injury and was on crutches in their 28-25 loss to Lake Orion. It is unknown if Watters will be back and what would the Highlanders look like without Watters. The Dragons got their quarterback TR Hill back along with Will Hoffman on the defensive side of the football. Lake Orion looks to be back on schedule heading into a big showdown in the Swamp. West Bloomfield is in must win mode after losing 35-20 to Clarkston. The Lakers are sitting at 2-3 which was unthinkable to start the season. West Bloomfield needs to get a win somewhere or the postseason could be in jeopardy. Oxford has won two straight with an impressive 28-10 win over Rochester. Luke Johnson and Jack Hendrix have been good as advertised for the Wildcats and have continued to get better every week. Like I said, I still believe all five teams in this division will be postseason teams.

Rankings Explanation.

This weeks rankings, I looked at each teams postseason points which is a reason where each team is right now and based it off playoff points. Groves is the top team with their record but the rest of the schedule concerns me. South Lyon is up and down while Royal Oak is struggling and Seaholm has been really good but they have West Bloomfield before that game in week eight. The Falcons have earned the top spot in the poll but the schedule lightens up which could be a big concern.

The Red is a complete mess as mentioned. Lake Orion got quarterback TR Hill back and got a big win over Adams. The Dragons have the two spot despite the loss to Oxford because of playoff points. Adams drops to three from the top spot despite major concerns about quarterback Ryland Watters. It will be very interesting to see how the Highlanders respond without Watters for the foreseeable future. Clarkston goes to four after the big win over West Bloomfield but playing Bloomfield Hills and Troy Athens in a span of three weeks with their combined record of 2-8 is very concerning but it’s not the Wolves fault. The Utica Eisenhower and Lake Orion games weeks seven and nine will be really interesting games. Oxford stays at five because of the playoff points despite winning over Lake Orion. West Bloomfield is at seven despite the loss to Clarkston. Playoff points look really concerning for the Lakers right now. I went with the playoff points when looking at the Red teams because of the parity of the division.

Seaholm is at six despite winning 14-6 over Farmington and staying unbeaten while controlling the Blue at the moment. The Maples have Troy this week, West Bloomfield in week eight, and Groves in week nine with the two games at the end of the season on the road.

North Farmington is at eight after their 0-2 start. The Raiders have been really improving and they have Adams in week eight, they have Seaholm in week seven, and Troy in week nine. The schedule gets tough but it’s favorable from an playoff points perspective for Coach Jon Herstein and his team.

Troy is in the rankings at nine after a statement win over Oak Park. Playing Lake Orion and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep helps the Colts with their records. They have Seaholm which would be big for Coach Chris Frasier’s team if they can get that win this week. Troy has to play North Farmington in week nine which is very interesting. Overall the Colts are in a great spot for the postseason.

Avondale comes in at ten after a huge win over Ferndale likely getting the Gold crown. The Yellow Jackets started 0-2 but have turned things around. The toughest game for Avondale is Stoney Creek which is really interesting. Coach Bob Meyer has this team clicking on all cylinders right now.

Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation

Boys Soccer District Matchups

Boys Soccer District Matchups.

Written Sunday September 29th at 11:10 AM

Here are the soccer districts.

This article will be updated to include History Now’s Anthony Taormina with his thoughts on the district matchups.

 

District 6 at Davison
CLARKSTON vs. Lapeer

CLARKSTON/Lapeer vs OXFORD

 

LAKE ORION vs. Davison

Grand Blanc vs. Flushing

 

 

DISTRICT THOUGHTS: This should be a really interesting district in Genesee County. Oxford is the top seed and has wins over Lapeer and Clarkston in the regular season. It will be very interesting to see who gets to play the Wildcats again in the district semifinals. Lake Orion is the two seed after winning the White crown. They will play the host Davison in the first round. Grand Blanc and Flushing could be a really interesting first round matchup as well. If all things set up we could be seeing a Dragons/Bobcats district semifinal which could be really interesting. Oxford looks to be the favorite but Lake Orion and Grand Blanc could have strong says but the Wildcats have to be careful of that district semifinal matchup especially if it’s Clarkston.

ANT THOUGHTS: This district has a chance to be one of the better districts in the state. Would have made an interesting league with the three OAA schools and the three Saginaw Valley schools. Oxford has been one of the top teams in the state of Michigan and is in contention for the OAA Red championship. Oxford has scored quality non league wins over Marquette and Flint Powers along with league wins over Clarkston and Rochester but three ties with Adams, Berkley, and Seaholm. Oxford will finish the regular season with both Troy and Troy Athens along with rival Lake Orion. Grand Blanc always plays a tough schedule and has a strong wins over state ranked Troy, Flint Powers, and Clarkston while there only loss is to state ranked Adams. Lake Orion won the OAA White taking down Royal Oak, Groves, and West Bloomfield and has matched up fairly well against members of the OAA Red, scoring wins over Clarkston and Rochester while playing state ranked Oxford and Adams later in the week. Clarkston looks to play spoiler especially after beating OAA Red power Troy Athens earlier in the season. The Wolves have also have wins over Saline and Goodrich and a tie with state ranked Rockford. Lapeer has really improved, finishing second in the Saginaw Valley behind Grand Blanc, beat Imlay City earlier in the season, and has been competitive in their losses. Flushing is a very strong Flint Metro League power and owns a win over Lapeer earlier in the season. Davison despite their record is the host of the league. This has the chance to be one of the best districts in the state and is a very underrated district. It has the potential to be anyone’s district. Grand Blanc is playing really well. Lake Orion has been consistent all season long and their future is very bright. Clarkston has the chance to play spoiler and would love to get back at Oxford for their game earlier in the season. Lapeer and Flushing could make it interesting but Oxford has to be the favorite. They haven’t lost a game all season long also playing in the tough OAA Red has helped. Next season however, could be very challenging for the Wildcats.

 

 

 

District 7 at Waterford Mott
BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs. Walled Lake Northern

BLOOMFIELD HILLS/Walled Lake Northern vs WEST BLOOMFIELD

 

Walled Lake Central vs. Waterford Mott

NORTH FARMINGTON vs. Lakeland

 

 

 

DISTRICT THOUGHTS: This is shaping up to be a very interesting district. West Bloomfield has the top seed in the district and one of the most dynamic scorers in the OAA. Walled Lake Central could pose a challenge to the Lakers. The Vikings are more than capable. Bloomfield Hills is a sneaky team, they have games where they are good while others not so much. Overall this should be a Lakers/Vikings district final but keep a close eye on the Blackhawks.

 

 

 

ANT THOUGHTS: West Bloomfield has had a great bounce back season really benefiting from their senior experience. Also recently beating OAA Red power Berkley helps the Lakers big time along with playing against a very competitive OAA White and adding a few OAA Red schools as well. Bloomfield Hills is always a very scary team to play against. They are very young this year but always well coached. They have also have a win over OAA White power Royal Oak. The Raiders despite being in the OAA Blue has played a very tough non league schedule playing Detroit Catholic Central, Detroit Country Day, and Lake Orion. The Raiders finish out their OAA Blue schedule which looks to be that they will finish close to the top of the league. The lack of familiarity between the OAA and the Lakes Valley will be interesting as more than half of the Lakes Valley is in this district but there is some parity. Walled Lake Central is the second seed in the district but they recently lost to Walled Lake Northern in the Lakes Valley Tournament. The Vikings however, have ten wins this season, mostly playing against Lakes Valley competition. The Knights played OAA White power Groves tough earlier this year but like the Vikings played Lakes Valley competition. Lakeland and Mott have both struggled this season. The Lakers look to be the favorites in the district but never count out the Blackhawks and they would love to get back at WB for what happened earlier in the season. The Raiders have a chance to play spoiler on the other side of the bracket. The Vikings look to be the favorite in the Lakes Valley side of the bracket.

District 8 at Northville
South Lyon vs. South Lyon East

South Lyon/South Lyon East vs Northville

 

Novi Detroit Catholic Central vs. FARMINGTON

Livonia Stevenson vs. Novi

 

DISTRICT THOUGHTS: This is a really interesting district. Northville is the favorite and has the top seed along with home grass. The Mustangs have not lost this season but there are some challengers who could give them problems. Livonia Stevenson is a very interesting team despite Northville winning 4-2 over the Spartans but they got to play Novi who has been up and down this season. Novi Detroit Catholic Central could be the Mustangs biggest threat. The Shamrocks tied Northville 4-4 in the regular season and are more than capable of beating the Mustangs. Northville is the favorites but there are some challengers in this district that are more than capable of beating them.

 

ANT THOUGHTS: This is a tough spot for the Falcons. The OAA Blue Champs got the short end of the draw playing against very strong powers in Northville, Detroit Catholic Central, and Livonia Stevenson. The South Lyons and Novi are also strong challengers as well. Catholic Central and Northville stand out over everyone else. Both of them having been state powers throughout the year and will most likely battle it over who goes to Regionals.

District 14 at Royal Oak
TROY vs. SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

SEAHOLM vs. ROYAL OAK
TROY ATHENS vs. FERNDALE
BERKLEY vs. GROVES

 

DISTRICT THOUGHTS: This could be the toughest district in the State. There are five to six teams that can win this district. Troy is the top seed in the district and seem to have the much favorable path. Seaholm and Royal Oak will be a really interesting game and a possible clash between Troy Athens and Berkley pending if the Bears can get by Groves who is more than capable. This should be a fun district to watch in the Ravens Nest. Whoever wins this district has a great chance to get to the Division One State Finals.

ANT THOUGHTS: No doubt the toughest district in the state. Whoever wins this district has a great chance to possibly make it to the state final, even win the state championship. That is how tough and challenging this district has always been. You have four OAA Red powers, two OAA White powers, and two OAA Blue powers in one district. Troy has been one of the best teams in the state throughout the year and is in contention to again win a OAA Red crown with two more Red games coming up (Oxford and Clarkston). Troy has had wins over it’s archrival Athens, Birmingham Brother Rice, Seaholm, and Royal Oak. Three of those teams, they could potentially see again in the district and they still have to play Notre Dame Prep who is one of the best teams in the state. Troy Athens, the defending state champs and another state power continues to be in the conversation and will try to repeat last year’s performance this season. Athens holds quality wins over state ranked Adams, Lake Orion, and Grosse Isle and has upcoming matchups with Detroit Catholic Central and Oxford on the horizon. Seaholm has been really competitive in the OAA Red, holding ties with Oxford and Troy Athens while taking care of their non league competition including getting big wins over Detroit Country Day, Detroit Catholic Central, and Ann Arbor Pioneer. All of whom are state powers. Berkley despite being the smallest school in the OAA Red continues to impress. Having that hot start early in the season and their biggest win came against Clarkston while tying Oxford, both of whom in league play. Royal Oak and Groves, both OAA White powers will be tough outs. Having a young team this year, Groves remained one of the best teams in the OAA White with their biggest win coming against rival West Bloomfield. The Falcons will be playing Troy Athens later in the week and could be a spoiler. Their only game against the OAA Red was a loss to Seaholm earlier in the season. The Ravens, winning the OAA White last year have scored several quality wins this season both in league and non league beating Groves, Grosse Pointe South, Romeo, and taking down state ranked Dearborn Edsel Ford. The Ravens are also very young and have a great chance to play spoiler in the district and is also the host which will help with this being the toughest district in the state. Ferndale and Southfield A&T are both Blue powers. Ferndale has been competitive all season especially in league play. Same with Southfield but sadly neither team are on the level that the Red and White offer. This district is hard to pick. The Colts will barely be the favorite. The Red Hawks is a very close second. The Maples/Ravens winner will no doubt play spoiler while the Bears and Falcons may also play spoiler on the other side of the bracket.

District 15 at Rochester
STONEY CREEK vs. Sterling Heights Stevenson

STONEY CREEK/Sterling Heights Stevenson vs ADAMS

Utica Eisenhower vs. Utica Ford II

ROCHESTER vs. Utica

 

 

 

DISTRICT THOUGHTS: This is by far one of the toughest districts in the State. Whoever comes out has a great shot at getting to the Division One State title game. This looks like it could be a Adams/Utica Eisenhower district final with the way everyone has played this season. The Highlanders are loaded as is Utica Eisenhower. This should be a great district but two teams really stand out when looking at them.

 

ANT THOUGHTS: This will also be one of the tougher districts in the state but it feels like two teams stand out in state ranked Rochester Adams and Utica Eisenhower. Adams and Ike played each other earlier in the season which resulted in a scoreless tie. Adams has played a very tough schedule and is in contention to win the OAA Red. Despite their only loss to Troy Athens. Adams has either scored wins or ties against some of the best the state has to offer. Clarkston, Grand Blanc, Romeo, Ike, Troy, Oxford, Seaholm, their Rochester rivals (Rochester and Stoney Creek) and more tests to come with Berkley, Lake Orion, and Ann Arbor Huron before districts begin. Ike only has one loss which was to archrival Romeo (whom they will play again later this week) and has once again become the standard bearer in the Macomb Area Conference. Rochester has struggled in OAA Red play while being very successful in non league (Though the strength of schedule has not been strong) with their biggest win over archrival Stoney Creek. Stoney Creek has also struggled in OAA White play but has had good wins over Lapeer, Birmingham Brother Rice, and Sterling Heights Stevenson. Utica and Utica Ford have both struggled this year but both are always tough teams. The Chieftains biggest wins were against Romeo and Macomb Dakota while the Falcons was also Dakota and Sterling Heights Stevenson. This district looks like it is going to be a two team district with the Highlanders and the Eagles battling it out. The standard bearer of the OAA and the standard bearer of the MAC battling it out to see who goes to Regionals. Whoever wins this district has a great chance to possibly get to the state championship and perhaps win the state championship. Going with Adams on this one. Adams has played a tougher schedule but wouldn’t be surprised if Ike wins it either. Rochester does have home field but it looks like it will be a two team district here.

District 28 at Avondale
Holly vs. Orchard Lake St. Marys

Holly/Orchard Lake St. Marys vs Waterford Kettering
Birmingham Brother Rice vs. PONTIAC

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. AVONDALE

 

 

DISTRICT THOUGHTS: This is shaping to be a really interesting district. Waterford Kettering has been red hot coming into the season but has lost three of four in league play. They could see Holly or Orchard Lake St. Marys in the district semifinals. The Captains hope playing the likes of Lakeland, Walled Lake Central, and Milford will get them ready for this district. Birmingham Brother Rice is the two seed. They have a tricky first round game with Pontiac while Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood is the three seed but they have a tricky matchup with Avondale. The OAA schools have a chance in this district. Overall it’s anyone’s district to take at the moment.

 

ANT THOUGHTS: This unique blend of public schools and private schools makes this district quite interesting. The Yellow Jackets played in the tough OAA White and have played some tough OAA Red foes as well. At one point the Yellow Jackets were state ranked in division two but playing the stronger opponents in the White and Red have caused them to fall off a little bit. Avondale did play Kettering earlier in the season and took them to a shootout in their own invite so there is some familiarity for the Yellow Jackets. The Phoenix are a little bit in the same boat. Pontiac’s biggest win has been against Hamtramck. Both Avondale and Pontiac have tough district matchups. Cranbrook played Seaholm very tough and the Cranes have two wins over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. Brother Rice has been one of the best in the Catholic League and has a 8-0 victory over Pontiac a few weeks ago. Holly and Kettering have both strongly improved. The Captains went on a ten game winning streak, primarily over Lakes Valley competition while the Broncos have been competitive in the Flint Metro League and have played teams like state ranked Notre Dame Prep. This district, have to go with the Warriors of Brother Rice. They play in the tough Catholic League Central and pretty much stand out over everyone else.

District 30 at Melvindale
Detroit Caesar Chavez Academy vs. OAK PARK

Hamtramck vs Southgate Anderson

Melvindale vs. River Rouge

Riverview vs. Dearborn Heights Annapolis

 

DISTRICT THOUGHTS: This is a really interesting district to watch. Detroit Caesar Chavez Academy has won ten straight since their opening night loss to Allen Park Inner City Baptist. Riverview has been a proven soccer power house while the host Melvindale has the two seed. This could be a really interesting district between these three teams. Detroit Caesar Chavez Academy had the best path to the district finals but Melvindale has home field despite possibly having to deal with Riverview in the district semifinals. This should be a fun district.

ANT THOUGHTS: This is a tough district for the Knights. The Knights fielding a team throughout the season, being competitive in the OAA Blue. A lot to be proud of for Oak Park. The next challenge for the Knights is are they ready to take the next season. Going against Detroit Caesar Chavez Academy will be a challenge but won’t count the Knights who have played a tough league schedule.

Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation

Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation

Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation.

Written Saturday September 21st at 9:55 AM

The Red had a shocking result, a tight game, and a blowout crossover game. West Bloomfield had no issues on their homecoming winning 44-0 over Southfield Arts and Tech. Adams rode their quarterback and stout defense which limited Clarkston’s possessions in a 28-10 Highlanders win over the Wolves. Oxford had a strong first half but Lake Orion had a strong second half but missed a 54 yard field goal as time expired as the Wildcats survived 21-18 over the Dragons. Overall this division has proven that all five teams can make the postseason.

The White had a blowout, a tight game, and a blowout crossover game. Southfield Arts and Tech fell 44-0 to West Bloomfield and have been outscored 125-14 in the last three weeks. Groves had no problem with Rochester winning 35-7. Harper Woods had to survive 28-21 over Stoney Creek winning with five seconds left in the game. Groves and Harper Woods should be a really interesting game. Stoney Creek and Rochester should battle for who finishes third while Southfield Arts and Tech is really struggling right now.

The Gold had a blowout, a tight game, and a huge non conference win on Friday night. Royal Oak earned their first win of the season by beating Livonia Clarenceville 26-7 behind a strong defensive performance. The Ravens haven’t been bad defensively with the exception of the Detroit Lincoln King and Ferndale games where they were outscored 73-13 in those games. Ferndale had to survive Berkley 30-20. The Bears have really gotten better offensively in the last two weeks. The Eagles have that proven experience on their side. Avondale had no troubles with Pontiac winning 41-0. The Yellow Jackets have played better outscoring both opponents 75-13 in the last two weeks. This should be a really interesting week in week five, the Battle of Woodward at Hurley, the likely Gold title game, and Pontiac has a great chance to get their second win of the year next week.

The Blue had an interesting week with three blowouts and a tight game in week four. Farmington blew out Troy Athens 36-10 looking like themselves after a tough 20-7 loss to North Farmington last week. North Farmington was very impressive in their 49-14 win over Bloomfield Hills. Troy had a tough 52-28 loss to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. Seaholm had to survive against Oak Park winning 28-18. Overall the Maples look to be the class of the division but the Farmington schools will have a strong say especially Farmington who Seaholm plays next week. North Farmington plays Troy Athens, Oak Park plays Troy, and Bloomfield Hills has a tough one with Pontiac in week five.

Rankings Explanation:

These are the rankings for the week.

Adams is clearly the top ranked team after a 28-10 win over Clarkston sending their record to 4-0 on the season. The Highlanders have relied on quarterback Ryland Watters and has really taken everyone with the exception of yours truly by storm with their performance. Adams is extremely talented especially in the veer offense which I went more in depth when I interviewed Adams Coach Tony Patritto after Media Day talking about the veer offense and what the offense brings. They have a really interesting matchup with Lake Orion looming.

Here is the interview with Coach Patritto on the podcast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlbXDIDaYi8&t=87s

 

Groves is clearly ranked two with their impressive 35-7 win over Rochester keeping themselves unbeaten at 4-0. The Falcons have a ton of proven experience as mentioned. The schedule looks very winnable for Groves to possibly run the table. It will be a very interesting matchup with Harper Woods next week with the Pioneers still controlling their destiny in the White.

Seaholm checks in at three in this week’s poll. I know the Maples don’t matchup with anyone in the Red at all. The Maples started the season unranked but after their 28-18 win over Oak Park sending their record to 4-0 on the season. Maybe ranking them three was too high but they will have some big tests awaiting them with Farmington, North Farmington, and Groves are on the schedule and that’s not mentioning they have to go to the Swamp as well. It will be a tall task for Coach Jim DeWald and Seaholm going forward and if they can keep this up.

Four through seven was really tough to figure out between the rest of the Red. I thought putting West Bloomfield at four made a lot of sense despite their 2-2 record with losses to Groves and Adams. Oxford stays at five after their 21-18 win over Lake Orion because of their record at 2-2 with losses to Utica Eisenhower and Clarkston. Clarkston is also at 2-2 and has a 23-15 win over Oxford which made things complicated, I didn’t want to move Oxford down to six after their win over Lake Orion so moved the Wolves to six and kept the Wildcats at five. Lake Orion is 3-1 after the 21-18 loss to Oxford. Injuries is why the Dragons are at seven. The rankings will change weekly but that’s what I’m seeing right now but things can change really quickly.

Ferndale stands at eight after a hard earned 30-20 win over a much improved Berkley program. They have a big showdown for the division with Avondale looming. The Eagles have turned things around since their 27-18 loss to Madison Heights Lamphere and the 3-1 record looks to be strong but the game against the Yellow Jackets will say a lot for Coach Eric Royal’s team.

Farmington goes up to nine despite North Farmington entering the rankings at ten. The Raiders have turned things around since starting 0-2 on the season. North Farmington beat the Falcons 20-7 last week at Ron Holland Field but Farmington didn’t have their full team with the injury to quarterback Julian Johnson. What if Farmington had Johnson at quarterback in their game, would that have affected the outcome??? It’s kind of the same question in the Lake Orion/Oxford game, what if the Dragons had TR Hill would that have been a different outcome??? Farmington sits at nine after an impressive 36-10 win over Troy Athens but the Falcons have Seaholm, Troy, and Lake Orion still to play on the schedule.

Harper Woods, Rochester, Troy, Oak Park, and Avondale sit at 2-2 on the season while Stoney Creek, Southfield Arts and Tech, Troy Athens, Royal Oak, Berkley, Pontiac are at 1-3. Bloomfield Hills sits at 0-4 on the season.

Standings after Week Four

Red

1. Adams 2-0, 4-0

6. Clarkston 1-1, 2-2

5. Oxford 1-1, 2-2

7. Lake Orion 0-1, 3-1

4. West Bloomfield 0-1, 2-2

White

2. Groves 2-0, 4-0

Harper Woods 1-0, 2-2

Rochester 0-1, 2-2

Southfield Arts and Tech 0-1, 1-3

Stoney Creek 0-2, 1-3

Blue

3. Seaholm 3-0, 4-0

10. North Farmington 2-0, 2-2

Troy 1-0, 2-2

9. Farmington 2-1, 3-1

Oak Park 1-2, 2-2

Troy Athens 0-3, 1-3

Bloomfield Hills 0-3, 0-4

Gold

8. Ferndale 2-0, 3-1

Avondale 1-0, 2-2

Berkley 1-1, 1-3

Royal Oak 0-1, 1-3

Pontiac 0-2, 1-3

Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation

The Top 22 Boys Soccer Rankings

The Top 22 Boys Soccer Rankings.

Written Tuesday September 17th at 11:45 PM

These are the Boys Soccer Rankings.

  1. Troy Athens- Despite loss to Troy, the Red Hawks continue to be the standard bearer of the OAA.
  2. Troy- One league loss won’t hurt the Colts.
  3. Adams- Big win over Troy keeps Highlanders with the Troy schools.
  4. Oxford- Wildcats have three ties in league play.
  5. Berkley- Bears still proving that small schools can compete against bigger schools in the Red.
  6. Seaholm- Maples playing very well against the Red.
  7. Lake Orion- Dragons doing well in the White.
  8. Clarkston- Wolves struggling in the Red which is surprising.
  9. Royal Oak- Despite loss to Bloomfield Hills, Ravens focus should be on districts.
  10. Groves- Falcons trying to bounce after two tough league losses.
  11. Rochester- Falcons still scary despite being last in the Red.
  12. West Bloomfield- Lakers currently second in the White right now.
  13. Stoney Creek- Cougars getting act together out of league.
  14. Bloomfield Hills- Blackhawks still a scary team, win over Royal Oak is big.
  15. North Farmington- Tough schedule helping the Raiders.
  16. Farmington- Falcons lead the Blue right now.
  17. Avondale- Yellow Jackets struggling in the White.
  18. Pontiac- Phoenix second in Blue says something, tie with North Farmington helps.
  19. Ferndale- Eagles holding their own in the Blue.
  20. Southfield Arts and Tech- Warriors continue to compete in the Blue.
  21. Oak Park- Other than Harper Woods, Knights struggling against others.
  22. Harper Woods- Pioneers really struggling right now.
Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation

Week Four Picks

Week Four Picks

Written Wednesday September 18th at 8:08 AM

Here are the pickers and the picks for week four.

SANDY DUNES: Sammy Taormina, host of OAA Now, blogger and host of Between Taorminas, and Last Three Brain Cells on Orion Neighborhood Television.

TIM: Tim English, writer, and blogger-Lake Orion 1996 Alumni.

COTTER: Sean Cotter, Walled Lake Western video coordinator, and North Farmington boys basketball scouter.

KEITH: Keith Dunlap, writer works as a free lance writer for the MHSAA.

SCOTT: Scott Burnstein, writer for MIPrepZone and State Champs.

SANDY DUNES: 27-16

TIM: 29-14

COTTER: 34-9

KEITH: 30-13

SCOTT: 29-14

WEATHER FORECAST: Showers, thunderstorms possible most likely before kickoff otherwise cloudy, lows 62-65 degrees.

 

Here are the picks.

 

  1. Clarkston at 1. Adams: The Highlanders know how to win close games which has shown in their record. Adams has wins over Romeo, West Bloomfield, and Rochester with the all three game being really tight as mentioned. A lot has to do with their potent veer offense. The Wolves have won their last two games by a combined 71-15 ever since the Belleville game two weeks ago. Clarkston won 28-7 over Adams last season but the Wolves have not fared well at Rochester in the past. This should be a really interesting game.

SANDY DUNES: ADAMS 17, CLARKSTON 14.

TIM: CLARKSTON 35, ADAMS 28.

COTTER: ADAMS 24, CLARKSTON 21.

KEITH: CLARKSTON 20, ADAMS 17.

SCOTT: CLARKSTON 33, ADAMS 26.

 

  1. Lake Orion at 5. Oxford: The Dragons and Wildcats are no strangers to one another. Lake Orion won twice over Oxford last season but this season there are more plots and twists heading into this game. The Dragons will be without quarterback TR Hill who has a shoulder injury but quarterback Brody Thompson has really stepped up scoring three touchdowns in their 32-0 win over Troy last week. The Wildcats have played a really tough schedule and are a really dangerous team behind their quarterback Jack Hendrix and running back/linebacker Luke Johnson. Oxford had a tough 23-15 loss to Clarkston last week but they shocked Harper Woods 38-0 two weeks ago. Whoever wins the battle in the trenches will win this game.

SANDY DUNES: LAKE ORION 31, OXFORD 21.

TIM: LAKE ORION 35, OXFORD 31.

COTTER: LAKE ORION 21, OXFORD 14.

KEITH: LAKE ORION 28, OXFORD 21.

SCOTT: LAKE ORION 25, OXFORD 24.

  1. Groves at 9. Rochester: The Falcons have been on a roll to start the season with wins over Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit, West Bloomfield, and Stoney Creek by a combined 97-33. They won 42-7 over Rochester last season in Beverly Hills. The Falcons are coming off an impressive 33-14 win over Southfield Arts and Tech and has really improved despite the 28-0 loss to Adams. This might have trap game for Groves written all over it.

SANDY DUNES: GROVES 31, ROCHESTER 28.

TIM: GROVES 42, ROCHESTER 28.

COTTER: GROVES 35, ROCHESTER 7.

KEITH: GROVES 31, ROCHESTER 21.

SCOTT: GROVES 29, ROCHESTER 12.

 

  1. Seaholm at Oak Park: This might be the biggest game for both teams but especially the Knights. Oak Park has really turned things around since their 17-6 loss to Farmington. The Knights fell 42-22 to Seaholm last season in the Maple Forest. The Maples have not lost a beat outscoring Troy Athens, Avondale, and Bloomfield Hills by a combined 100-7 in the last three weeks. This will be Seaholm’s biggest test to date in Knight Valley.

SANDY DUNES: SEAHOLM 28, OAK PARK 24.

TIM: SEAHOLM 42, OAK PARK 21.

COTTER: SEAHOLM 28, OAK PARK 6.

KEITH: SEAHOLM 28, OAK PARK 23.

SCOTT: SEAHOLM 27, OAK PARK 25.

 

Southfield Arts and Tech at 7. West Bloomfield: These are two rivals that know each other really well and it’s West Bloomfield’s homecoming this week. The Lakers have not been themselves as of late to their defense they played two really good teams in Adams and Groves on the road. West Bloomfield will head a little closer to campus when they play Southfield Arts and Tech. The Warriors have not been the same team since their 46-0 win over Flint Beecher. They have been outscored by Clarkston and Rochester by a combined 81-14 since that game. Also West Bloomfield is motivated after losing to Southfield Arts and Tech 40-35 in the Division One State semifinals last season but this is a different Warriors team. It could get really ugly in the Swamp this week.

SANDY DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 63, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 0.

TIM: WEST BLOOMFIELD 9 TRILLION, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 0.

COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 49, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 6.

KEITH: WEST BLOOMFIELD 34, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 17.

SCOTT: WEST BLOOMFIELD 36, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 28.

 

Berkley at 8. Ferndale: Bears coach Casey Humes got his first win of the season and Berkley snapped a 14 game losing streak after a 41-6 win over Pontiac last week. This week it’s going to be a little more challenging to get win number two. The Bears have not fared well against their neighbors to the south getting outscored 81-19 which included a 61-8 blowout at Hurley Field to the Eagles last season. Ferndale has turned things around since losing 27-18 to Madison Heights Lamphere three weeks ago outscoring both North Farmington and Royal Oak by a combined 55-12 in the last two weeks. It looks like Coach Eric Royal has this team turned around which is a good sign going forward.

SANDY DUNES: FERNDALE 28, BERKLEY 7.

TIM: FERNDALE 28, BERKLEY 7.

COTTER: FERNDALE 35, BERKLEY 7.

KEITH: FERNDALE 24, BERKLEY 6.

SCOTT: FERNDALE 33, BERKLEY 21.

 

Troy Athens at 10. Farmington: The Red Hawks just can’t seem to catch a break this season but things have been better in the last two weeks since the 40-0 loss to Seaholm in week one. Troy Athens has played much better despite the results. The Red Hawks will be tested by a Falcons team that is coming off a really difficult 20-7 loss to arch rival North Farmington last week. The defense has been really good for Farmington despite the loss last week. Troy Athens has been a really hard team to figure out as of late.

SANDY DUNES: FARMINGTON 28, TROY ATHENS 14.

TIM: FARMINGTON 35, TROY ATHENS 0.

COTTER: FARMINGTON 21, TROY ATHENS 7.

KEITH: TROY ATHENS 24, FARMINGTON 21.

SCOTT: FARMINGTON 22, TROY ATHENS 19.

 

Stoney Creek at Harper Woods: These are two teams that are having it really rough for different reasons. The Cougars are going through a tough transition period which has to happen during the season. They have lost their last two games to Lake Orion and Groves by a combined 76-19. The Pioneers have had things much worse. Harper Woods has been outscored by Novi Detroit Catholic Central and Oxford by a combined 83-12 in the last two weeks. Also the Pioneers might be without Nate Rocheleau who got hurt against Novi Detroit Catholic Central last week. Harper Woods won 34-21 at Stoney Creek last season but these are two teams that are going through a rough patch right now.

SANDY DUNES: HARPER WOODS 31, STONEY CREEK 14.

TIM: HARPER WOODS 28, STONEY CREEK 21.

COTTER: HARPER WOODS 36, STONEY CREEK 13.

KEITH: HARPER WOODS 25, STONEY CREEK 17.

SCOTT: STONEY CREEK 40, HARPER WOODS 28.

 

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep at Troy: This is the second major test for the Colts in two weeks. Troy had outscored Bloomfield Hills and Pontiac by a combined 70-7 but they fell 32-0 to Lake Orion last week. They have a huge game at Don Hill Stadium when Pontiac Notre Dame Prep comes a calling. The Irish have been really impressive in the last three weeks outscoring Detroit Central, Jackson Lumen Christi, and Grand Rapids Catholic Central by a combined 119-38 including a stunning 42-0 win over Grand Rapids Catholic Central last week. This is going to be a really difficult matchup for Troy especially with Pontiac Notre Dame Prep being the top team in Division Five and if they can’t overcome what happened to them last week.

SANDY DUNES: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 35, TROY 14.

TIM: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 42, TROY 7.

COTTER: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 28, TROY 0.

KEITH: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 21, TROY 20.

SCOTT: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME 35, TROY 25.

 

North Farmington at Bloomfield Hills: This is a rematch of a 50-49 Blackhawks victory over the Raiders which cost them a trip to the postseason last season. These are two teams that have had a ton of rough patches. North Farmington is coming off an emotional 20-7 win at Ron Holland Field over Farmington last week behind their rushing attack of Duke Blanch and quarterback Terrance James. Bloomfield Hills has been really bad allowing 114 points in the last three weeks. The Raiders are motivated to get back at the Blackhawks after what happened last season when it was Bloomfield Hills that took them out of the postseason but they better be careful about a let down and it could happen here.

SANDY DUNES: NORTH FARMINGTON 27, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0.

TIM: NORTH FARMINGTON 56, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0.

COTTER: NORTH FARMINGTON 26, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7.

KEITH: NORTH FARMINGTON 17, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14.

SCOTT: NORTH FARMINGTON 30, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 20.

 

Avondale at Pontiac: It has been a rough two weeks for the Phoenix. Pontiac won 40-0 over Detroit Fredrick Douglass three weeks ago but has been outscored 76-6 since that game including a 41-6 loss to Berkley. The Yellow Jackets got back on track after two tough losses with a 34-13 win over Macomb Lutheran North last week. This should be a really interesting matchup between these two teams.

SANDY DUNES: AVONDALE 51, PONTIAC 12.

TIM: AVONDALE 63, PONTIAC 14.

COTTER: AVONDALE 49, PONTIAC 6.

KEITH: AVONDALE 34, PONTIAC 8.

SCOTT: AVONDALE 34, PONTIAC 15.

 

Royal Oak at Livonia Clarenceville: This is the first meeting between the Ravens and the Trojans. Royal Oak has really struggled especially in the last two weeks getting outscored 54-7 which included a 35-0 loss to Ferndale last week. Livonia Clarenceville has not been the same since the Melvindale game when they won 14-0. They have been outscored 91-28 since that game which also included a 42-22 loss to Southgate Anderson last week. These are two programs that are really struggling right now that needs to turn things around and fast.

SANDY DUNES: LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE 28, ROYAL OAK 7.

TIM: LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE 42, ROYAL OAK 7.

COTTER: LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE 21, ROYAL OAK 14.

KEITH: ROYAL OAK 21, LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE 17.

SCOTT: ROYAL OAK 23, LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE 20.

 

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Football Thoughts and Rankings Explanation

Week Three Thoughts

Week Three Thoughts

Written Saturday September 14th at 12:35 AM

West Bloomfield: The Lakers are in a rough patch after falling 21-14 to Adams on Friday night. West Bloomfield has lost two in a row which is very concerning for Coach Zach Hilbers. The Lakers have allowed 50 points in the last two weeks which is very unusual. They have Southfield Arts and Tech looming next week.

Lake Orion: The Dragons got their third win of the season winning over Troy 32-0 but it came at a cost. Lake Orion lost quarterback TR Hill to a shoulder injury. It is unknown when Hill will come back. Backup quarterback Brody Thompson had three rushing touchdowns. The key for the Dragons is to keep composed when things go hard. They have Oxford looming next week.

Clarkston: The Wolves introduced new home blue uniforms which really has me up at arms. They had a really tough game with Oxford on Friday night and scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to win 23-15. Clarkston has been an odd team to figure out but they are 2-1 and that’s the bottom line. This is a team that relies a ton on the Bowman twins. The Wolves have Adams looming next week.

Adams: The Highlanders earned a big 21-14 win over West Bloomfield on Friday night. Ryland Watters and Matteo Humbert had big games for Adams. Watters had the winning touchdown with 33 seconds left in the game and had another score early in the third quarter. Humbert added a touchdown as well. The defense was very good as well despite allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown. The Highlanders have Clarkston looming next week.

Oxford: The Wildcats had a tough 23-15 loss to Clarkston on Friday night. Oxford has proven they can compete with the Red. They have arch rival Lake Orion coming to Wildcat Stadium on Friday night.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers are really struggling all be it, it was against Novi Detroit Catholic Central where they fell 45-12 on Friday night. Harper Woods lost quarterback Nate Rocheleau to an ankle injury and was replaced by Dakota Guerrant. The Pioneers have been outscored 83-12 in the last two weeks which is not winning football. Coach Rob Oden’s team needs to bounce back in the worst way possible. They have Stoney Creek looming next week.

Groves: The Falcons had no issue with Stoney Creek winning 34-6 on Friday night. Groves has been very good lately. They have Rochester looming next week.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars had it rough with Groves falling 34-6 on Friday night. As mentioned Stoney Creek is going through a transition period and it has to happen during the season. The Cougars has Harper Woods looming next week.

Rochester: The Falcons looked really impressive against Southfield Arts and Tech winning 33-14 on Friday night. Matt Dykie is going to be a star for Rochester. He had a touchdown pass and looked really comfortable in the offense. The Falcons have a tough matchup with Groves looming next week.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors are in a lot of trouble after falling 33-14 to Rochester on Friday night. Southfield Arts and Tech struggled with Jack Lower all night and trailed 26-0 at the half. It won’t get any easier for the Warriors as West Bloomfield comes to town next week.

Farmington: The Falcons had a really tough 20-7 loss to North Farmington on Friday night. Farmington struggled offensively but they were without quarterback Julian Johnson who got hurt in the Holly game. The Falcons will be fine going forward. They have Troy Athens looming next week.

North Farmington: The Raiders earned a huge 20-7 win over arch rival Farmington at Ron Holland Field and brought the Farmington Cup to 14 Mile and Farmington Road on Friday night. Terrance James and Duke Blanch played well for North Farmington. This win might have saved North Farmington’s season. They have Bloomfield Hills looming next week.

Oak Park: The Knights are starting to put things together after winning 24-16 over Troy Athens on Friday night after trailing 16-0 in the game. Coach Greg Carter has really bounced back since the 17-6 loss to Farmington two weeks ago. The Knights have a big one with Seaholm in Knight Valley next week.

Troy: The Colts really impressed me despite the 32-0 loss to Lake Orion on Friday night. I thought quarterback Noah Oury looked really good despite not scoring. Troy will be fine going forward but they have a tough matchup with Pontiac Notre Dame Prep looming next week.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks can’t seem to catch a break falling 24-16 to Oak Park on Friday night. They blew a 16-0 lead in that game. Troy Athens has been competitive but haven’t been able to put it together. They have Farmington looming next week.

Seaholm: The Maples are rolling right now behind the veer offense. They beat Bloomfield Hills 37-0 on Friday night. Seaholm has a major test awaiting them with Oak Park looming next week.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks are really struggling in the worst way possible. They have been outscored 117-7 in three games including a 37-0 loss to Seaholm. Bloomfield Hills has North Farmington looming next week.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets bounced back after two tough losses winning 34-13 over Macomb Lutheran North on Friday night. Avondale got big games from their top players. This could save the Yellow Jackets season. They have Pontiac looming next week.

Ferndale: The Eagles had no issues with Royal Oak on Friday night winning 35-0. Ferndale looks like they have written the ship and could be in contention for the Gold crown. Ferndale has Berkley looming next week.

Berkley: The Bears snapped a 14 game losing streak on their new field with an impressive 41-6 win over Pontiac on Friday night. Berkley needed this night and it was the first win for Coach Casey Humes as coach of the Bears. They have Ferndale looming next week.

Royal Oak: The Ravens are really struggling right now. Royal Oak fell 35-0 to Ferndale on Friday night on their home field. Something is seriously a miss with this program. Coach Collin Campbell has a really tough stretch coming up with three games on the road starting with Livonia Clarenceville next week.

Pontiac: The Phoenix had a rough night at Hurley Field falling 41-6 to Berkley on Friday night. Pontiac has been outscored 76-6 in the last two weeks since winning 40-0 over Detroit Fredrick Douglass. Coach Wendall Jefferson’s team will be fine despite the struggles especially defensively. They have a tough matchup looming with Avondale next week.