by orionontv | Sep 19, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
My Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsbH1LrTFZ4
by orionontv | Sep 19, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
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.
by orionontv | Sep 9, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Friday September 6th at 11:55 PM
UPDATED TOP TEN
- Lake Orion
- Adams
- Clarkston
- Groves
- Oxford
- West Bloomfield
- Farmington
- Seaholm
- Harper Woods
- Troy
WEEK TWO SCORES
Dearborn Divine Child 42, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0.
FARMINGTON 33, Holly 7.
TROY 35, PONTIAC 0.
SEAHOLM 21, AVONDALE 7.
TROY ATHENS 20, BERKLEY 0.
FERNDALE 20, NORTH FARMINGTON 12.
OAK PARK 19 ROYAL OAK 7.
OXFORD 38, HARPER WOODS 0.
CLARKSTON 48, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 0.
ADAMS 28, ROCHESTER 0.
GROVES 28, WEST BLOOMFIELD 13.
LAKE ORION 42, STONEY CREEK 13.
WIN OF THE WEEK: Oxford: The Wildcats pulled off one of the biggest shockers in the State by beating the defending Division Four State Champions Harper Woods 38-0 on Friday night. Oxford had a strong game plan for the Pioneers high octane offense and the Wildcats offense had a field day against a really good defense. This is a huge win for Oxford especially with Clarkston looming next week.
WHAT IN THE BLUE WORLD: North Farmington: The Raiders are in a ton of trouble after falling 20-12 to Ferndale on Friday night. North Farmington is in must win mode after having another tough loss. They have Farmington looming in the Farmington Cup next week.
TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: West Bloomfield: The Lakers had a rough start on Friday night in Beverly Hills falling 28-13 to Groves. West Bloomfield couldn’t stop the run early trailing 14-0 but they found some momentum but the Falcons got it back and ended up winning. The Lakers have Adams looming next week.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks are really struggling falling 42-0 to Dearborn Divine Child on Friday night falling to 0-2 on the season. Bloomfield Hills needs to bounce back in the worst way possible next week and they have Seaholm looming.
by orionontv | Sep 9, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday September 7th at 12:55 AM
West Bloomfield: The Lakers had a really tough outing on Friday night against Groves falling 28-13. West Bloomfield trailed 21-7 at one point but tried to battle back but the Falcons always had an answer for West Bloomfield. The Lakers have another tough matchup looming with Adams next week.
Lake Orion: The Dragons had no trouble with Stoney Creek on Friday night winning 42-13. Lake Orion used a balance attack while the defense was solid for the second straight week. The Dragons will have their home opener with Troy next week.
Clarkston: The Wolves bounced back in a big way by blowing out Southfield Arts and Tech 48-0 on Friday night. Clarkston used their balance along with a 41 point second quarter to create a running clock. The Wolves have a big one looming with Oxford next week.
Adams: The Highlanders had no trouble with Rochester on Friday night winning 28-0 but it was closer than the score indicated. Adams defense was very good all night shutting down the Falcons offense. The Highlanders have their home opener with West Bloomfield looming next week.
Oxford: The Wildcats were really impressive at home against a really good opponent in Harper Woods winning 38-0 on Friday night. Oxford was really disciplined and it showed in their game. The Wildcats have Clarkston looming next week.
Harper Woods: It was a disaster for the Pioneers on Friday night in Oxford as Harper Woods fell 38-0 to the Wildcats. Penalties were a big problem and it showed in this game. Harper Woods has been outscored 66-6 by teams that are on the M-24 corridor the last two years. It doesn’t get any easier for the Pioneers with Novi Detroit Catholic Central looming next week.
Groves: The Falcons look like they are in the drivers spot in the White after making another statement by winning over West Bloomfield 28-13 on Friday night. Groves has outscored Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit and the Lakers by a combined 63-27 in the last two weeks. They have Stoney Creek looming next week.
Stoney Creek: It was a rough night for the Cougars on Friday night in their home opener against Lake Orion. Stoney Creek fell 42-13 on their home field. The Cougars are going through a transition period and it has to happen during the season. They have another tough matchup looming with Groves next week.
Rochester: The Falcons battled tough with Adams on Friday night in the Falcon Frenzy game but they fell to the Highlanders 28-0 on Friday night. Rochester hung with Adams tough throughout but they couldn’t get enough offense against a stout Highlanders defense. The Falcons have Southfield Arts and Tech looming next week.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors had a sense of reality on Friday night when Clarkston came to Southfield. Southfield Arts and Tech had no chance with Clarkston falling 48-0. The Warriors had a ton of trouble all night with the Wolves. They have Rochester looming next week.
Farmington: The Falcons had no issue with Holly winning 33-7 on Friday night. Farmington has been rolling as of late, outscoring Oak Park and Holly by a combined 50-13 in the last two games. The Falcons have a big game looming for the Farmington Cup with arch rival North Farmington looming next week.
North Farmington: The Raiders have lost two close games which is not good. North Farmington fell 20-12 to Ferndale on Friday night at Ron Holland Field. The Raiders can’t afford to lose anymore and they have the Farmington Cup looming with arch rival Farmington next week.
Oak Park: The Knights had a bounce back win over Royal Oak winning 19-7 on Friday night in a defensive type game. Oak Park found enough offense against a Ravens defense that showed some promise especially defensively. They have Troy Athens looming next week.
Troy: The Colts had no issue with Pontiac winning 35-0 on Friday night. Troy really hasn’t been tested outscoring both Bloomfield Hills and Pontiac by a combined 70-7. The Colts should be tested when they head to Lake Orion next week.
Troy Athens: The Red Hawks got their first win of the season winning 20-0 over Berkley on Friday night. Troy Athens needed their experience to come through and they got it. They have a big one with Oak Park looming next week.
Seaholm: The Maples had a hard fought 21-7 win over Avondale on Friday night behind a very strong defensive effort. Seaholm looks like they haven’t lost a beat. They have Bloomfield Hills looming next week.
Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks had a really disappointing 42-0 loss to Dearborn Divine Child on Friday night. Bloomfield Hills has been outscored 77-7 in the last two weeks which is not good. The Blackhawks have Seaholm looming next week.
Avondale: The Yellow Jackets are really struggling on both sides of the football. Avondale fell 21-7 to Seaholm on Friday night. The Yellow Jackets need to turn things around and quick if they want to make some noise. They have Macomb Lutheran North looming next week.
Ferndale: The Eagles got back on track with a huge win at Ron Holland Field stunning North Farmington 20-12 on Friday night. This could be the start that could turn things around for Ferndale. The Eagles have Royal Oak looming next week.
Berkley: The Bears took another tough loss on Friday night to Troy Athens falling 20-0. Berkley has lost 14 straight games and they have been outscored 27-0 this season. The Bears need to bounce back in a big way. They have Pontiac looming next week.
Royal Oak: The Ravens played much better despite falling 19-7 to Oak Park on Friday night. Royal Oak held Oak Park to 19 points but the offense has struggled especially in the last two games where they have scored 20 points. They have a rivalry game with Ferndale looming next week.
Pontiac: It was a rough night for the Phoenix falling 35-0 to Troy on Friday night. Pontiac will be all right. They have Berkley looming next week.
by orionontv | Sep 9, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday September 7th at 1:15 AM
The Red went 4-1 this week with some impressive wins against the White outscoring the division 171-41. Oxford had the biggest win of the week stunning Harper Woods 38-0. This was supposed to be a matchup of two different styles but it wasn’t meant to be. West Bloomfield fell 28-13 to Groves in a tough matchup that could had gone either way. Lake Orion had no issues with Stoney Creek winning 42-13. Clarkston won 48-0 over Southfield Arts and Tech. Adams had a struggle with Rochester winning 28-0. Overall the Red had a good week besides West Bloomfield which is mind boggling. It should be very interesting to watch with Clarkston/Oxford and West Bloomfield/Adams looming next week. Lake Orion will host Troy next week.
The White went 1-4 this week against the Red getting outscored 171-41 this week. Groves had the biggest win of the week stunning West Bloomfield 28-13 on their home field. Stoney Creek fell 42-13 to Lake Orion. Rochester battled with Adams falling 28-0. Southfield Arts and Tech fell 48-0 to Clarkston. The biggest upset had to be Harper Woods falling 38-0 to Oxford. Overall the White had a rough week. It should be very interesting with Rochester and Southfield Arts and Tech and Groves and Stoney Creek looming while Harper Woods has to go to Novi Detroit Catholic Central next week.
The Blue had an interesting week. Farmington was really impressive against Holly winning 33-7 in northern Oakland County. Oak Park won 19-7 over Royal Oak. Troy won 35-0 over Pontiac. Seaholm won 21-7 over Avondale. Troy Athens beat Berkley 20-0 but North Farmington fell 20-12 to Ferndale. Bloomfield Hills fell 42-0 to Dearborn Divine Child. Overall the division really hasn’t changed with Farmington and Seaholm right now ahead of Troy and Oak Park. Seaholm plays Bloomfield Hills, Troy Athens plays Oak Park, and the Farmington Cup is next week. Troy has a tough matchup looming with Lake Orion next week.
The Gold had a rough week. Ferndale had the biggest win of the week by beating North Farmington 20-12. Avondale fell 21-7 to Seaholm. Royal Oak fell 19-7 to Oak Park. Pontiac fell 35-0 to Troy. Berkley fell 20-0 to Troy Athens. Overall Ferndale looks like they are the early favorite but can’t count Avondale out after two really tough losses. Berkley has not scored a point and has lost 14 straight games. Pontiac has really improved despite falling to Troy. Royal Oak it’s really hard to trust them going forward. This division as mentioned is still wide open.
Rankings Explanation.
I’m introducing a new segment called rankings explanation explaining the rankings each week.
Lake Orion moves up to the top spot after their win over Stoney Creek. Adams was ranked ahead of the Dragons to start the season and is also at 2-0. The reason why the Dragons are ahead of the Highlanders in the poll is because Northville is 1-1 after coming back to beat Plymouth after they had a strong second half. Romeo is 0-2 after losing to Grosse Pointe South.
Clarkston goes up to three in the poll. I kept them at five after losing to Belleville in week one and that’s because they came back from two touchdowns down to tie Belleville only to see Bryce Underwood have the best game of his career. Felt the Wolves resiliency kept them at five and wasn’t right to move them down despite the loss. Clarkston moves up two spots after losses by West Bloomfield and Harper Woods.
Groves looks like they are the best team in the White after making a statement. They moved up three spots in the last two weeks from seven to four with wins over Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit and West Bloomfield. The 28-13 win over the Lakers was a stunner. The Cubs are sitting at 0-2 which is surprising to the season. The Falcons are in a really good spot to keep moving up in the rankings.
Oxford makes the biggest jump in the poll. The Wildcats started the season ranked sixth because of quarterback play and the rushing attack. I had concerns about their defense. It didn’t fair well with a 33-16 loss to Utica Eisenhower after Bryce Hurley went nuts on them. I thought of dropping Oxford out of the poll after that loss but the Eagles have been a proven powerhouse so I kept them in at nine in week two. The statement win over Harper Woods moves them up four spots from nine to five in the poll this week.
West Bloomfield started at two in the poll and retained the spot after winning 42-0 over West Bloomfield but the 28-13 loss to Groves dropped them to six in the week three poll. The Lakers have a ton of opportunities ahead of them to go up with the schedule looming.
Farmington is off to a strong start after an impressive 33-7 win over Holly. Farmington started the year at ten but has moved up three spots after beating Oak Park 17-6 and Holly as mentioned. The Falcons have a big test with North Farmington. They are at seven for this reason.
Seaholm has been really impressive. I had questions about how they would do after losing a ton of talent but Coach Jim DeWald knows how to do more with less. They moved from being unranked to eighth after two impressive wins. The Maples are at eight because of their impressive start especially against Avondale who is shockingly off to a slow start.
Harper Woods made the biggest drop in the poll. The Pioneers started at the top spot but they have been shaky as of late especially defensively. Harper Woods won 43-21 over Redford Union but was shut out 38-0 by Oxford. The Pioneers have not fared well against the M-24 corridor getting outscored 66-6 in the last two years. Harper Woods sits at nine in the poll after their loss to Oxford.
Troy comes into the poll at ten. The Colts haven’t played the most impressive schedule with Pontiac and Bloomfield Hills. They have a tough schedule coming up so we’ll see what happens.
by orionontv | Aug 27, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Tuesday August 27th at 11:00 AM
Hello and welcome to the 2024 season. Here are our pickers for the season.
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.
STICK: Dan Stickradt, writer for North Oakland Sports, and also top soccer guys in the State.
Here are the Games.
PROJECTED WEATHER FORECASTS:
Thursday: Cloudy, chance of storms after midnight, lows 63-66 degrees.
Friday: Chance of showers and storms, lows 58-61 degrees.
We’ll update TIM and STICK’s projections when need be.
Redford Union at 1. Harper Woods: This is shaping up to be a battle of two Wayne County powers. The Pioneers are coming up their first State crown in school history winning the Division Four crown last season. Harper Woods might be better than they were last season which is a scary omen. Redford Union is 37-12 since 2019 and is well coached. This should be a really interesting matchup on Beaconsfield Street.
SANDY DUNES: HARPER WOODS 56, REDFORD UNION 21.
TIM:
COTTER: HARPER WOODS 42, REDFORD UNION 6.
KEITH: HARPER WOODS 32, REDFORD UNION 17.
SCOTT: HARPER WOODS 35, REDFORD UNION 13.
STICK:
Chippewa Valley at 2. West Bloomfield: This is a rematch of a classic 22-21 Lakers win over the Big Reds at Wayne State last season. Chippewa Valley has a new quarterback and a new coach taking over their program. West Bloomfield is loaded up front and features a quarterback in Beau Jackson although Jamal Shakesphere could see some reps. The Lakers secondary should be tested in this matchup in the Swamp.
SANDY DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 49, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 21.
TIM:
COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 21.
KEITH: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 17.
SCOTT: WEST BLOOMFIELD 27, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 26.
STICK:
- Adams at Romeo: The Highlanders and the Bulldogs are no strangers to one another. They are 4-4 in their history against each other and are very similar in school size. Adams brings the veer offense to Dan Barnabo field while Romeo is a hard and physical nosed football team. This should be a fun matchup in Macomb County between two teams that know each other quite well.
SANDY DUNES: ADAMS 28, ROMEO 14.
TIM:
COTTER: ADAMS 17, ROMEO 14.
KEITH: ROMEO 21, ADAMS 17.
SCOTT: ADAMS 32, ROMEO 24.
STICK:
- Lake Orion at Northville: This is the first ever meeting between the Dragons and the Mustangs. Both teams won double digit games but had rough postseason ousters to bitter rivals. Northville lost twice to Belleville which included a regional final loss while Lake Orion fell 38-37 to Clarkston in the district finals last season. The Mustangs have a lot of inexperience but they are well coached under second year coach Brent Luplow. The Dragons have the majority of their team back for Coach Chris Bell. It should be a really interesting matchup between two teams that are ranked really high in their respective conferences.
SANDY DUNES: LAKE ORION 38, NORTHVILLE 31.
TIM:
COTTER: LAKE ORION 38, NORTHVILLE 35.
KEITH: LAKE ORION 31, NORTHVILLE 28.
SCOTT: LAKE ORION 35, NORTHVILLE 30.
STICK:
- Clarkston vs Belleville at Wayne State: This is shaping up to be a really interesting matchup at Wayne State. The Wolves had an up and down year last season. Clarkston’s defense had things very rough will be challenged with a proven Tigers squad that features quarterback Bryce Underwood and his high octane Belleville offense who is coming off a 36-32 loss to Southfield Arts and Tech in the Division One State title game last season. The Wolves will need to ride the Bowman twins and which quarterback needs to control the football for Clarkston to have a chance.
SANDY DUNES: BELLEVILLE 56, CLARKSTON 42.
TIM:
COTTER: BELLEVILLE 56, CLARKSTON 21.
KEITH: BELLEVILLE 35, CLARKSTON 21.
SCOTT: BELLEVILLE 36, CLARKSTON 23.
STICK:
- Oxford at Utica Eisenhower: This is a rematch of a 20-6 Eagles win at Wildcat Stadium last season. Oxford has a proven experienced team led by Jack Hendrix and Luke Johnson. They are also well coached under Coach Zach Line. The Eagles lost a ton of talent from last season but they are well coached under Coach Chris Smith. This should be a really interesting matchup at Swienhart Field between two teams that know each other quite well.
SANDY DUNES: OXFORD 27, UTICA EISENHOWER 6.
TIM:
COTTER: UTICA EISENHOWER 21, OXFORD 14.
KEITH: UTICA EISENHOWER 24, OXFORD 17.
SCOTT: OXFORD 28, UTICA EISENHOWER 27.
STICK:
- Groves at Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit: The Falcons have been a model of consistency making the postseason 10 of the last 11 years. Groves has a ton of proven experience and that could be a huge thing in their first meeting with the Cubs. Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit won seven games last season but they have a new coach in Kevin Glenn who spent 18 years in the Canadian Football League as a quarterback. They also added Clarkston transfer Brady Collins this offseason. This should be a really interesting matchup to say the least.
SANDY DUNES: DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT 35, GROVES 14.
TIM:
COTTER: DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT 31, GROVES 21.
KEITH: GROVES 28, DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT 20.
SCOTT: GROVES 26, DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT 23.
STICK:
Cedar Springs at 8. Avondale: This is the first meeting between the Yellow Jackets and the Red Hawks. Both teams are very similar running the Wing T offense. Cedar Springs runs the Power T offense which has three backs and everyone lined up in the Wing T formation. The Red Hawks have a ton of proven players that can run the football. They also return 14 starters from last season’s 4-5 season and have a legendary coach in Gus Kapolka who is 72-29 in his 11 years at the school. Avondale has a ton of proven athletes and are well coached under Coach Bob Meyer. Whoever controls the football the longest will win this game.
SANDY DUNES: AVONDALE 21, CEDAR SPRINGS 17.
TIM:
COTTER: AVONDALE 21, CEDAR SPRINGS 14.
KEITH: AVONDALE 27, CEDAR SPRINGS 20.
SCOTT: AVONDALE 31, CEDAR SPRINGS 26.
STICK:
- Stoney Creek at Warren Cousino: This is considered the first of the Rick Powell flashback tour. Powell went to school at Warren Cousino and is a Patriot. He takes his new program to his Alma Manner. The Patriots have made the postseason three of the last four years and 10-8 in the last two years. This should be a really interesting game in Warren.
SANDY DUNES: STONEY CREEK 35, WARREN COUSINO 7.
TIM:
COTTER: STONEY CREEK 21, WARREN COUSINO 7.
KEITH: WARREN COUSINO 20, STONEY CREEK 17.
SCOTT: STONEY CREEK 28, WARREN COUSINO 23.
STICK:
Oak Park at 10. Farmington: This is the first meeting since the 2019 first round of the postseason when the Falcons shocked the Knights 12-6 but these teams are in different places since that game in Knight Valley. Farmington struggled last season in the White going 2-7. Oak Park was in a much worse place going 6-21 since 2021. This should be a really interesting matchup of two teams that are projected to be top teams in the Blue and winning this game could go a long way for both of these teams.
SANDY DUNES: FARMINGTON 31, OAK PARK 24.
TIM:
COTTER: FARMINGTON 21, OAK PARK 20.
KEITH: OAK PARK 18, FARMINGTON 15.
SCOTT: OAK PARK 28, FARMINGTON 20.
STICK:
Fraser at Rochester: This is a huge game for both teams trying to get off to a strong start. The Falcons are loaded with senior experience but they have questions particularly at quarterback. The Ramblers made a ton of noise last season knocking off Troy Athens 14-6 and upsetting Troy 20-19 keeping the Colts out of the postseason. This should be a really interesting matchup on Hall of Fame night in Rochester.
SANDY DUNES: ROCHESTER 42, FRASER 14.
TIM:
COTTER: ROCHESTER 28, FRASER 14.
KEITH: FRASER 17, ROCHESTER 14.
SCOTT: ROCHESTER 29, FRASER 22.
STICK:
Flint Beecher at Southfield Arts and Tech: This is the first meeting between the schools and both teams were looking for a week one. The Warriors are coming off their first State crown in school history but they have had a ton of departures this offseason. Southfield Arts and Tech named Keith McKenzie as their new head coach in April. Flint Beecher is 11-16 since 2021 but they have made the postseason five of the last six years. This should be very interesting.
SANDY DUNES: FLINT BEECHER 18, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 12.
TIM:
COTTER: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 30, FLINT BEECHER 12.
KEITH: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 31, FLINT BEECHER 14.
SCOTT: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 28, FLINT BEECHER 24.
STICK:
Bloomfield Hills at Troy: This is the first meeting since the Blackhawks beat the Colts 21-10 in the 2021 season giving them the Blue crown but things have changed since that game. Bloomfield Hills is 4-15 since that game. Troy has had better success with a 12-8 record since that game but the Colts missed the postseason for the first time in four years after allowing the winning touchdown to Fraser in a 20-19 stunner. This looks like a complete mismatch on paper.
SANDY DUNES: TROY 42, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0.
TIM:
COTTER: TROY 24, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7.
KEITH: TROY 24, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 23.
SCOTT: TROY 38, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 26.
STICK:
Seaholm at Troy Athens: This is a rematch of a 49-14 Maples blowout at the Maple Forest last season. Both teams love to run the football, Seaholm is a veer team while Troy Athens is a misdirection team. Both teams are also very young. Time possession is key in this game and whoever wins should start their season off on the right track. This should be a fun game on John R Road.
SANDY DUNES: TROY ATHENS 21, SEAHOLM 14.
TIM:
COTTER: SEAHOLM 35, TROY ATHENS 6.
KEITH: SEAHOLM 14, TROY ATHENS 10.
SCOTT: SEAHOLM 27, TROY ATHENS 26.
STICK:
North Farmington at Livonia Stevenson: This is the 22 meeting between these two former Kensington Valley Conference rivals where the Raiders hold a 12-9 series advantage over the Spartans. Both of these teams have had postseason droughts. North Farmington is 9-18 since 2021 while Livonia Stevenson is 16-29 since 2018 and haven’t made the postseason since 2017. This should be a really interesting matchup of two teams looking for positive momentum heading into the season.
SANDY DUNES: NORTH FARMINGTON 35, LIVONIA STEVENSON 21.
TIM:
COTTER: NORTH FARMINGTON 26, LIVONIA STEVENSON 7.
KEITH: LIVONIA STEVENSON 28, NORTH FARMINGTON 20.
SCOTT: NORTH FARMINGTON 38, LIVONIA STEVENSON 24.
STICK:
Berkley at Walled Lake Central: This is a rematch of a 42-0 stunning blowout at Hurley Field last season. The Vikings are 6-12 in the last two years and haven’t made the postseason since 2017. Berkley was historically bad last season on both sides of the football. They have a new coach in Casey Humes taking over the program. If the Bears want to start the “Revenge Tour” on the right note, they need to go into Walled Lake and win this game.
SANDY DUNES: BERKLEY 27, WALLED LAKE CENTRAL 20.
TIM:
COTTER: BERKLEY 28, WALLED LAKE CENTRAL 14.
KEITH: WALLED LAKE CENTRAL 24, BERKLEY 20.
SCOTT: BERKLEY 24, WALLED LAKE CENTRAL 23.
STICK:
Detroit Fredrick Douglass at Pontiac: This is the first meeting of two teams that are trying to get back on track. The Hurricanes have really struggled as a program going 13-79 since 2013. The Phoenix have really struggled as well but got three wins under Coach Wendell Jefferson last season. Whoever wins this game should develop some confidence as the season moves on.
SANDY DUNES: PONTIAC 36, DETROIT FREDRICK DOUGLASS 12.
TIM:
COTTER: PONTIAC 24, DETROIT FREDRICK DOUGLASS 12.
KEITH: PONTIAC 26, DETROIT FREDRICK DOUGLASS 23.
SCOTT: PONTIAC 25, DETROIT FREDRICK DOUGLASS 23.
STICK:
Madison Heights Lamphere at Ferndale: This is a very interesting matchup of two teams that have a ton of experience and are well coached. The Eagles have a ton of proven experience but no postseason experience. The Rams are 30-10 since 2020. Ferndale has won all seven meetings against Madison Heights Lamphere but that was before Coach Roy Ostrowski got to Madison Heights. Coach Eric Royal will have his hands full in this matchup.
SANDY DUNES: FERNDALE 24, MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 21.
TIM:
COTTER: FERNDALE 26, MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 21.
KEITH: FERNDALE 28, MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 21.
SCOTT: FERNDALE 34, MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 22.
STICK:
Detroit Lincoln King Academy at Royal Oak: The Ravens are a mystery team heading into the season. They are a ton of questions with Royal Oak. The Ravens should be tested by a very dangerous Wolves squad that won their last two games by a combined 80-13 over Memphis and Hamtramck. This is the same program that took Pontiac to overtime last season as well. Detroit Lincoln King Academy is no push over. If there is a team that needs to be on upset alert it’s the Ravens.
SANDY DUNES: DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY 48, ROYAL OAK 21.
TIM:
COTTER: ROYAL OAK 35, DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY 6.
KEITH: ROYAL OAK 17, DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY 10.
SCOTT: ROYAL OAK 22, DETROIT LINCOLN KING ACADEMY 19.
STICK:
