by orionontv | Sep 30, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday September 28th at 2:00 PM
West Bloomfield: The Lakers had a tough 35-20 loss to Clarkston on Friday night. West Bloomfield defense had a ton of trouble with the Bowman twins and Brady Beck. Kam Flowers and Elijah Durham had touchdowns for West Bloomfield. They have Lake Orion looming next week.
Lake Orion: The Dragons earned a monster 28-25 win over Adams on Friday night. TR Hill returned from a shoulder injury and was really effective. Jayden Borrero, Jamari Cooper, and Jackson Vasquez had touchdowns for Lake Orion. Fumbles is an issue for Coach Chris Bell’s team. The defense did just enough to secure the win against a really good Adams team. They head to the Swamp next week.
Clarkston: The Wolves had an impressive homecoming with a 35-20 win over West Bloomfield on Friday night. The Bowman twins along with Brady Beck had a big night for Clarkston. It’s a big win for Coach Justin Pintar’s team after falling 28-10 to Adams last week. They have Troy Athens looming next week.
Adams: The Highlanders lost their quarterback in Rylan Watters to a foot injury in a 28-25 loss to Lake Orion on Friday night. Matteo Humbert was solid for Adams. The Highlanders have a quarterback in Nolan Farris who played really well for Adams taking over for the injured Watters. It will be very interesting to see how the Highlanders respond after losing Watters which could be for an extended amount of time. They have Oxford looming next week.
Oxford: The Wildcats had a strong game winning 28-10 over Rochester on Friday night. Oxford has been gaining a ton of confidence since their 21-18 win over Lake Orion last week. Luke Johnson, Jake Champagne, and Jack Hendrix has played really well for the Wildcats. Hendrix threw for two touchdowns both to Champagne while Johnson added two rushing touchdowns. Oxford has Adams looming next week.
Harper Woods: The Pioneers have been struggling going 1-3 in their last four games which included a 28-12 loss to Groves on Friday night. Harper Woods has been struggling on both sides of the football which is rough and they have not been the same team without quarterback Nate Rocheleau who got hurt against Novi Detroit Catholic Central a few weeks ago. Dakota Guerrant had both touchdowns in the game. They have Southfield Arts and Tech looming next week.
Groves: The Falcons earned a hard fought 28-12 win over Harper Woods on Friday night likely giving them the White crown. Groves was really in control the whole contest. Mario Lovasco had two touchdowns while Ryan Counts has been solid for the Falcons. They have South Lyon looming next week.
Stoney Creek: The Cougars got their second win of the season on Friday night winning 17-0 over Southfield Arts and Tech. Sam Fogler had a big night and the Stoney Creek defense shut down the Warriors offense. The Cougars are trending in the right direction under Coach Rick Powell. They have Rochester looming next week.
Rochester: The Falcons had a tough 28-10 loss to Oxford on Friday night. Rochester has been outscored 66-17 in the last two weeks which is rough but their postseason dreams are still in play. They have Stoney Creek looming next week.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors had another rough night falling 17-0 to Stoney Creek on Friday night. Southfield Arts and Tech has scored only 14 points in league play which is a big problem. They have Harper Woods looming next week.
Farmington: The Falcons had a tough 14-6 loss to Seaholm on Friday night likely costing them the Blue crown with two losses in league. The defense recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the first quarter and that was it for the Farmington offense. The defense was solid for the Falcons but the offense hasn’t been the same since Julian Johnson got hurt against Oak Park. Johnson is out for the season according to Farmington TV-10. They have Bloomfield Hills looming next week.
North Farmington: The Raiders had to survive Troy Athens on Friday night winning 14-7 on the Red Hawks homecoming. North Farmington is red hot right now especially defensively and they kept their Blue title hopes alive with this win. They have Oak Park looming next week.
Oak Park: The Knights had a stunning 31-6 loss to Troy on Friday night. Oak Park dealt with a tough Troy defense and the Colts just shut the Knights down. They have North Farmington looming next week.
Troy: The Colts were really impressive in a stunning 31-6 blowout of Oak Park on their homecoming. Troy has been battle tested in the last two weeks which helped and they have kept their Blue title hopes alive as well. The Colts have Seaholm looming next week.
Troy Athens: The Red Hawks had a tough 14-7 loss to North Farmington on Friday night in their homecoming. The defense played better but they have a really tall task awaiting them as Clarkston comes in next week.
Seaholm: The Maples had a goal line stand and big plays alike in a stunning 14-6 win over Farmington on Friday night. Penn Roberts and Nathan Walsh had touchdowns for Seaholm. It’s a big win for Coach Jim DeWald which puts them in the hunt for the Blue title yet.
Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks earned their first win of the season winning 19-6 over Pontiac on Friday night. Bloomfield Hills has started to put up some points which is a good sign for Coach Dan Loria’s team. The Blackhawks have Farmington looming next week.
Avondale: The Yellow Jackets defense really showed in their 21-7 win over Ferndale with the game being finished on Saturday afternoon in Auburn Hills after safety concerns. Avondale has really changed since their 0-2 start winning three straight and controls their destiny in the Gold. They have Royal Oak looming next week.
Ferndale: The Eagles had something off the field that hindered them for the second straight year. First it was against Oak Park that cost them a trip to the postseason and this season with the game having to be moved to Auburn Hills because of safety concerns. Ferndale seen their Gold title dreams take a hit after falling 21-7 to Avondale. The Eagles had no answers for the Yellow Jackets defense. They have Pontiac looming next week.
Berkley: The Bears had a battle with arch rival Royal Oak on Friday night at Hurley Field taking back the Battle of Woodward trophy winning 14-7. Berkley has turned things around which is very promising heading in the final month of the season. The Bears have Jackson Northwest looming next week.
Royal Oak: The Ravens had a battle with arch rival Berkley on Friday night at Hurley Field falling 14-7 in a hard fought game. Royal Oak has really been impressive defensively. They will be fine but they have Avondale looming next week.
Pontiac: The Phoenix had a tough 19-6 loss to Bloomfield Hills on Friday night. Pontiac has scored 12 points in the last four weeks which is not good and 136 allowed in the last four weeks as well. They have Ferndale looming next week.
Standings After Week Five
Red
- Adams2-1, 4-1
- Clarkston 2-1,3-2
- Lake Orion 1-1, 4-1
- Oxford 1-1, 3-2
- West Bloomfield 0-2, 2-3
White
- Groves 3-0, 5-0
Harper Woods 1-1, 2-3
Rochester 1-1,2-3
Stoney Creek 1-2, 2-3
Southfield Arts and Tech 0-2, 1-4
Blue
- Seaholm 4-0, 5-0
- North Farmington 3-0, 3-2
- Troy 2-0, 3-2
Farmington 2-2, 3-2
Oak Park 1-3, 2-3
Bloomfield Hills 0-3, 1-4
Troy Athens 0-4, 1-4
Gold
- Avondale 2-0, 3-2
Ferndale 2-1, 3-2
Berkley 2-1, 2-3
Royal Oak 0-2, 1-4
Pontiac 0-2, 1-4
by orionontv | Sep 30, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
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.
by orionontv | Sep 30, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
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.
by orionontv | Sep 23, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
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
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.
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