by Becky Andrus | Jan 18, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
By Sammy Taormina
West Bloomfield vs Davison: This is shaping up to be a very interesting Division One State Final in downtown Detroit on Saturday afternoon. Davison is the defending Division One State Champions and they are back to defend their state crown. The Cardinals defense led by Harry Unger, Carter Herriman, and Will Watkins have been dominant allowing 10 points in the last two weeks against Novi Detroit Catholic Central and Rockford. They held the Rams to 64 yards and had two interceptions both were caught by Watkins. He would take one back for a touchdown in a 27-3 stunner over Rockford on the road in the State Semifinals. Davison has a very good secondary led by Teavon Warren, JayLen Flowers, and Clarke Hamilton. The Cardinals offensively has rely on a wide receiver turned quarterback Dion Brown. Brown is a Wayne State commit. He has played every skill position at some time during the season but particularly at wide receiver. Brown became the starting quarterback after then quarterback Brendan Sullivan enrolled early at Northwestern. He has played well as a game manager and athlete in the last two weeks including going seven for 14 for 97 yards and a 31 yard touchdown pass to Flowers whom is also a wide receiver on a fourth down and 12 to blow the game wide open against the Rams. The Cardinals have two very good running backs whom are different in nature. They have a bruising back in Carter Cryderman. Cryderman has played really well and Warren as their speed back as well as he had 30 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns against Rockford. What helps is that Davison has an experienced offensive line from the team that was in the State Finals last season against Brighton. They are well coached under Jacob Weingartz. Weingartz coached at Lapeer East and was an assistant at Lapeer before taking over the Davison job in 2019. The Cardinals will see a juggernaut of a player in Donovan Edwards. Edwards is having a monster season along with other very talented players in Dillion Tatum, Alex Short, Semaj Morgan, among others. The Lakers have been to the State Finals before in 2017 when they fell to Clarkston 3-2. This could be a low scoring game especially with how good both defenses are even though West Bloomfield played Belleville last week which required double overtime in the State Semifinals. Even though this will be the first ever meeting between the Lakers and Cardinals in varsity both of these programs are no strangers to one another. They met in junior varsity this season at Davison where the Lakers won that game. Both teams have been dominant this season but West Bloomfield has been more battle tested than Davison. Athletically favors the Lakers. They have played schools like Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston that are similar to Davison in the Red. Physically favors the Cardinals especially up front. Like I said earlier this is going to be a very interesting Division One State Final at Ford Field.
by Becky Andrus | Jan 14, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Thursday, January 14, 2021
My Thoughts.
Written Thursday January 14th at 2:15 PM
As I roam through Twitter. I see the pages of current players throughout the State that were retweeted by recruiting and other basketball sites missing the sport they love and wanting it back.
Many cheerleaders, basketball, hockey, and wrestlers want a season.
I don’t blame them.
The MHSAA has failed and our State Government has really failed these kids.
When Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director Robert Gordon announced at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that the pause would be extended to January 31st which included the four contact sports.
At least they can practice but they can’t play yet.
I thought the MHSAA would do more to defend these student athletes but now student-athletes, coaches, and athletic directors will be forced to wait.
When I wrote my column I thought the MHSAA would defend the student-athletes along with the coaches and athletic directors whom worked tirelessly putting together a schedule for the kids.
Then Whitmer and Gordon took it all away AGAIN.
I had enough, I wrote to Whitmer on Wednesday night wanting her to address my concerns. She has not responded to me yet.
The MHSAA is no innocent victim. They have put false hope on everyone thinking that there would be a season and a plan but Whitmer and Gordon have extended restrictions time and time again. This has been done twice to the student-athletes, athletic directors, and coaches, the first was when the pause was introduced in November and then again on Wednesday by Whitmer and Gordon. This has frustrated so many involved with these four sports. It feels like a double standard is being played out and that Gordon and Whitmer are playing mind games with the student-athletes.
The MHSAA released the start of the four contact sports season in February but there is no guarantee that it would stick thanks to Whitmer and Gordon.
Politicians and unelected officials like Gordon should not be involved in high school sports period but Whitmer and her administration has politicized high school sports to a point where everybody has an opinion.
Some positive, some negative.
The kids want to play bottom line.
The data and science has shown that sports can be done safely. The number of coronavirus cases has been going down in the State but still there are things that are still banned. The numbers don’t add up.
When is enough enough???
This is supposed to be the best time of the seniors lives but this looks to me like a carbon copy of 2020. Was Michigan supposed to be the standard when it comes to working together??? Where is the transparency in all this???
I’ve also been disappointed in the legislature as well. They have not stepped up to the plate and defended these students or addressed this.
High school sports was never meant to be political, pandemic or not.
To me the Whitmer administration has caused more damage than good.
It is clear that the Whitmer administration and the MHSAA has failed these kids. The false hope given twice to these student-athletes, coaches, and athletic directors. When does it end???
When is enough, enough???
by Becky Andrus | Jan 11, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
By Sammy Taormina
Oak Park at Warren DeLaSalle: The Knights have become a story as of late posting four victories in the postseason including a stunning 30-23 victory over Livonia Churchill in the regional finals last week. Oak Park will have a very tall task ahead of them as they will travel to Wayne State to play Warren DeLaSalle. The Pilots and Knights are no strangers to each other especially in the postseason. Warren DeLaSalle has eliminated Oak Park in two of the last three years including a 35-7 home loss in 2018 and a 14-7 loss in 2017. The Pilots had a very turbulent offseason with a hazing scandal that caused a ton of changes in the administration at Warren DeLaSalle. They named Dan Rohn as the new head coach back in March taking over for Mike Giannonie whom ended up taking over at New Baltimore Anchor Bay. Rohm had a ton of success coaching at Grand Rapids West Catholic. Warren DeLaSalle has a very good quarterback in Brady Drogosh. He is a very good runner and passer. Brett Stanley is very solid at running back and is also the team’s punt returner. He had two rushing touchdowns against Warren Mott. The Pilots also have very talented wide receivers Alton McCullum and Jack Yanachik. Their top defender is Will Beesley. Drogosh is an RPO quarterback. He was very instrumental throwing for a touchdown and rushing for a score against Warren Mott last week in a 45-3 blowout. Warren DeLaSalle had 395 total yards of offense in that game. The Pilots really haven’t been that tested in the postseason despite wins over Roseville, St. Clair Shores Lakeview, Port Huron and Warren Mott by a combined 174-23. They do play in the always tough Catholic League with Birmingham Brother Rice, Orchard Lake St. Marys, and Novi Detroit Catholic Central in the Catholic League Central going 2-1 with a 21-13 win over the Eaglets. Their losses were to Birmingham Brother Rice 27-25, Novi Detroit Catholic Central 13-10, DeWitt 43-3, and Detroit Cass Tech 35-0. What should help the Knights in this game is that they played in the Red and have played schools with more than 2,000 kids (Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston.) They have been on the road a ton so this will be nothing new for them. They are playing with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
West Bloomfield at Belleville: This is round three between the Lakers and Tigers. Both teams have been dominant in the postseason and have been on a collision course. West Bloomfield has been rolling very good teams in the regular and in the postseason. They have outscored their last seven opponents since the loss to Clarkston 323-23 including their last two opponents in Sterling Heights Stevenson and Romeo by a combined 115-20. Donovan Edwards has had 10 touchdowns in the last two games for the Lakers. West Bloomfield has had a lot of trouble with Belleville and they will be going back to Wayne County for a third straight year. The Lakers have lost to the Tigers in the last two years which included a 13-10 loss in 2018 and a 27-22 loss in 2019 in which they blew a 22-0 lead. Belleville has been very dominant in the postseason in 2020-2021. They have outscored their last eight opponents by a combined 474-60 in that span including a combined 177-46 in the postseason. The Tigers have a very talented quarterback in Christian Dhue-Reid. He has the State’s career record holder for touchdown passes at 132 including 37 passing scores this season. Belleville is well coached under Jermaine Crowell. This has been the round the Tigers have had problem where they have lost in the last two years. They fell 22-19 to Brighton last season and 28-16 to Chippewa Valley in 2018. Belleville besides Dhue-Reid is very talented with wide receivers Darrel Johnson and Tyree Lockett whom had two touchdowns against Detroit Cass Tech and a very good running back in Kobe Johnson. Belleville is very good defensively. The numbers have proven why they have been dominant. They have a very good defensive lineman in Damon Payne. Payne has had a strong year for the Tigers. Belleville’s linebacking core is very solid in linebackers Cameron Dyson, Aaron Alexander, Ahzahnn Byrd, along with JaShawn Green. The secondary is very good as well in defensive back Myles Rowser whom didn’t play and Charles Wilson whom is also in the secondary. The Tigers had three defensive touchdowns in their game against the Technicians in a 43-10 blowout. Belleville will pose a huge challenge to quarterback Alex Short. This could be the best defense he has seen all season long. It will be a huge challenge for Coach Ron Bellamy and his staff but this is something that the Lakers have been waiting for two years.
by Becky Andrus | Jan 11, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Sunday, January 10, 2021
By Sammy Taormina
A Look Back At Oak Park’s Incredible Journey, Still Going On.
Written Sunday January 10th at 1:00 PM
When the State Playoffs began the Oak Park Knights just went 0-6 after playing a very difficult Red schedule going up against Clarkston, Lake Orion, Oxford, Southfield Arts and Tech, and West Bloomfield. They were heading to Grosse Pointe to play a Grosse Pointe South program riding a ton of confidence after playing in the Macomb Area Red division. They had wins over Chippewa Valley, Romeo, and Utica Eisenhower and have played Sterling Heights Stevenson and Macomb Dakota.
The Knights came off a 47-0 blowout loss to Clarkston and was riding no momentum heading into the postseason.
Nobody gave them a chance including myself and Ian Locke even though there were hints due to the Knights schedule that they could do this.
After that game against Grosse Pointe South, things changed and they became whole.
The Knights have been a very successful program under Coach Greg Carter. Carter came to Oak Park in 2011 and is also the Athletic Director as well. Even though they were 3-6 that season the foundation was set for the future. The Knights have made the playoffs the last eight years.
2019-lost 12-6 to Farmington in first round
2018-lost 35-7 to Warren DeLaSalle in district final
2017-lost 14-7 to Warren DeLaSalle in regional final
2016-lost 34-7 to Detroit Martin Luther King in district final
2015-lost 38-14 to Southfield in first round
2014-lost 14-13 to Southfield in district final
2013-lost 14-8 to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit in district final
2012-lost 10-6 to Wyandotte in regional final
But in 2020 something was different outside of moving to the Red. They wanted to shock the State, going from worst to first. This team wearing the black helmet, white uniform with red elbows, and red pants.
They wanted to pull off the unthinkable.
They have been playing with nothing to lose and look where it has gotten them thus far.
They beat Grosse Pointe South 35-27 in the first round
They beat Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit 27-21 in the district semifinal
They beat Wyandotte 27-14 in the district final
Then came the regional final. A round that Oak Park hasn’t gotten past even with good teams they have had. Their season usually ends in this round.
All of that changed on Saturday afternoon
They got a huge pass play for a touchdown with 41 seconds left trailing 23-22 and the Knights players and fans went crazy. They got that defensive stand and got past Livonia Churchill 30-23 earning their first regional title in school history.
They will have a chance to make even more history and get to their first State Final. They will have to overcome a program that has given them two postseason losses when they play Warren DeLaSalle on Saturday afternoon in the Division Two State semifinals at Wayne State.
This postseason run has been nothing short of incredible when describing the Knights. They were left for dead heading into the postseason but with them being whole good things have been happening for Oak Park.
A lot of the credit has to go to lineman Rayshawn Benny. Benny has been battling an injury throughout the regular season and really got back when they played Clarkston. Ever since that game he has played like a man on a mission on both sides of the line. Benny being back has really helped guys like Bwana Miller and Davion Primm at running back make plays and create holes along with quarterback James Burnley whom looks like a completely different quarterback compared to the regular season. Amari Harris and KyShawn Jackson has saw their confidence rise with Benny’s return.
Also Carter and his staff deserves a ton of credit as well through out all of this.
Oak Park’s run in the postseason has opened up a debate. Should everyone make the playoffs??? If this were the current format or even the 2019 format they would have not made the postseason, this is something that Carter acknowledges.
The Knights are playing another week and another tough opponent. They are playing with nothing to lose.
Just how they like it.
by Becky Andrus | Dec 23, 2020 | Feature Writers
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
What Gives???
Written Wednesday December 23rd at 1:15 PM
So Fall Sports are postponed again for the third time???
Winter Sports haven’t even started yet in the State
What gives???
Someone has clearly dropped the ball.
The MHSAA announced to teams to stop practicing on Tuesday because of the testing protocols aren’t ready yet from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Players, Coaches, Fans, Athletic Directors are absolutely fed up and I don’t blame them. All the false hope just for these student-athletes to return to play. It’s like a yo-yo.
Probably villain number one has to be MDHHS Director Robert Gordon.
Gordon was the person that suggested to MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl that a return to play was possible if student-athletes do an antigen test program. I question the legality of this program because most parents don’t like or want to see their student-athletes get tested three times a week. Also by law the government cannot forcefully give something the kid doesn’t want without the parent’s consent.
Gordon and Governor Gretchen Whitmer has put so many hurdles on these student-athletes just to let them play and finish their seasons.
On November 18th Whitmer and Gordon announced through an epidemic order that new restrictions were given because of rising coronavirus cases caused “the pause.” The move included pausing school sports. Gordon said that the reason was because of the mixing of different households was why they were included in the order.
Although there have been stats that teammates are like families and playing inside a bubble could work. It was very successful in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and in the NBA restart even though they went through vigorous testing.Travel is not really an issue when it comes to high school sports.
It was in September after a Let Them Play protest in Lansing, Whitmer gave the go ahead for schools to start sports under strict safety guidelines. The move gave student-athletes a chance to play much to the disagreement of MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Joneiah Khaldun.
I did talk to my co-host Ian Locke and he is right there were the majority of kids that got to play a fall season which I get and very thankful for but there are others that haven’t finished what they started.
Look at what happened in winter in 2020 and spring sports didn’t even have a season.
Uyl said that spring season will get a guaranteed season in 2021. Uyl also said that there will be three seasons but Whitmer and Gordon have been making things very difficult for Uyl to keep his promise.
Here is a suggestion for Uyl that he and the MHSAA Representative Council need to consider. They could move Winter Sports to start in February and end in early April with the postseason tournament. Also have Spring Sports start in late April and end on Independence Day weekend.
That is an option for the MHSAA.
There will be parents and fans who want to blame Uyl but clearly looking at all the data all the blame has to fall on Whitmer and especially Gordon. Nobody is denying that COVID-19 is real. It is real but there are sporting events that can be done safely.
I just read MIPrepZone’s Drew Ellis article and he’s exactly right on the money.
All I want to say to the student-athletes, athletic directors, and coaches. Just hang in there, stay strong. This is not your fault. Things are going to get better just got to believe and trust in each other. Do the things we can control.
This is clearly a failure in government.
The State of Michigan is truly failing our kids and are not seeing the bigger picture especially from an emotional and mental standpoint.
Drew Ellis Article.
ttps://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/miprepzone/drew-ellis-get-prep-athletes-off-this-emotional-roller-coaster/article_08ae1df4-4546-11eb-8316-c727627ebd23.html
Posted by Saginaw Bay at 10:16 AM
by Becky Andrus | Dec 21, 2020 | Feature Writers
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Friday, December 18, 2020
Most Winter Sports Paused for Now but Fall Sports Can Proceed.
Written Friday December 18th at 3:00 PM
Well most Winter Sports are still paused for now.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Medical Executive Joniah Khaldun, and Director Robert Gordon announced that indoor contact sports are still banned for now in a new order that is effective until January 15th.
That could change if trends improve which they have been lately.
Gordon mentioned that fall sports like football, volleyball, and swimming and diving can end their seasons. Excluding them from the order.
Football will be played on January 2nd with the semifinals on January 9th at home sites though it is possible for those games to held at neutral sites. The State Finals on January 15th and 16th at Ford Field.
Volleyball quarterfinals will start on January 5th while the State Semifinals and Finals will be played at the Kellogg Center in Battle Creek.
Girls Swimming and Diving will be held on January 15th and 16th at the three host sites.
There will be no spectators and all safety protocols will be in place.
The OAA currently has North Farmington, Oak Park, and West Bloomfield still playing in football while Clarkston is the only school left in volleyball. North Farmington heads to Traverse City Central, Oak Park goes to Livonia Churchill, while West Bloomfield hosts Romeo. Clarkston volleyball will play Grand Blanc at Lapeer in the State Quarterfinals.
The new order is not good for the indoor winter sports except for skiing which is outdoors. It’s possible they could go to the spring. It is possible that the MHSAA could extend the seasons past June.
The MHSAA Representative Council will meet again on December 22nd to address the rest of winter sports. The spring sports remain unchanged for now.
Gordon announced a new antigen testing program that can be implemented for fall sports. Wonder if it could be addressed for winter and spring sports???
“With respect to sports, outdoor and non-contact sports are reopening. We will also be offering a new pilot program for fall sports, including contact sports that use antigen tests in order to ensure safety as students complete high school fall championships. This is a very limited number of schools that had seasons interrupted and this will be a chance to do two things, it will let students complete a season that is, of course very important to them. And it will allow schools and the State of Michigan to work together to learn how these antigen tests to encourage safe reopening in January” said Gordon.
It will be very interesting to see what happens with winter sports. It will be something to keep an eye on.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
Here is the MHSAA’s Statement.
https://www.mhsaa.com/News/Press-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9455/MHSAA-Fall-Tournaments-to-Resume-Updated-Winter-Tournament-Schedules-Forthcoming
Here is the Tweet from State Champs from MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl
https://twitter.com/statechampsmich/status/1340041028125020164
Posted by Saginaw Bay at 12:00 PM
