Scouting the Opponents.

Written Thursday July 30th at 7:45 PM

When looking at the upcoming football season for the OAA, we'll go more into depth about the Week One opponents OAA teams face, this will not count the North Farmington/Pontiac, Farmington/Royal Oak, Adams/Stoney Creek, Groves/Seaholm match ups for the first week of the season because all of these teams are facing other OAA teams, so here they are.

Detroit Cass Tech (vs Southfield at Wayne State)

The Technicians are a team that has been in the State semifinals in the last four seasons. Detroit Cass Tech is no stranger to facing OAA teams, in 2010 and 2012 it was Orion, in 2011 it was Harrison, 2014 Oak Park, and 2013 Southfield. This will be a rematch of the game won by Detroit Cass Tech 18-14. The Technicians are 3-2 against the OAA since 2010 and will feature a strong junior class and at least 18 to 19 future college players like Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rodney Hall, Demetrice Vance, and Michael Owenau. This will be a tough match up for Southfield but knowing coach Tim Conley and his staff, they will be ready for this match up at Wayne State.

East Kentwood (at Harrison)

The Falcons last season had a magician run finishing at 11-2, losing to Clarkston in the State semifinals however the defending Ottawa Kent Red division champions will be young since they lost a lot of senior talent from that team. This will be the first ever meeting between these two teams. The Hawks are loaded especially on defense with Khalid Kareem at one end of the field. This is a perfect matchup for Harrison because the Falcons are young and lost a lot of talent. They would like to take out some of their anger after losing to Muskegon Mona Shores last season.

Dearborn (vs West Bloomfield)

The Pioneers struggled to make the playoffs last season after suffering an 0-2 start but they ended up finishing 6-4 last season. Dearborn played the Lakers and lost 35-13 at Wayne State and will have some experience coming back. West Bloomfield is loaded with talent but if there is one advantage the Pioneers have it will be up front and the game is in Wayne County. Dearborn is 5-6 vs the OAA currently but the Lakers will certainly give the Pioneers a tough test.

Macomb Dakota (vs Clarkston)

The Cougars are no stranger to the OAA and also success but they haven't made it out of the regional since their back to back State Championships in 2006 and 2007. Dakota and Clarkston have met four times in its history with the Wolves going 3-1 in that span. Clarkston won 24-21 at Clarkston last season on rout to another State Championship. Dakota is 7-6 vs the OAA in it's history. The Cougars have depth this season at all positions and the Wolves are replacing a lot of starters from the back to back State title runs. The game is at Dakota so it will be tough for Clarkston unless they can attack early.

Zeeland West (vs Oak Park at Grand Valley State)

The Dux has been successful the last two seasons with their high octane offense scoring near or over 600 points. Zeeland West has never went up against an OAA opponent but has went up against coach Greg Carter when he was at Inkster. Carter now coaches at Oak Park and has a very good defensive mind. His Inkster team beat the Dux 27-22 in 2008 and will be looking to carry his mastery of beating Zeeland West when his Knights go to Grand Valley State. If Oak Park can shut down the high octane offense the Dux has then they will be going home very happy.

Chippewa Valley (vs Orion at Wayne State)

The Big Reds surprised everyone last season with their run to the regional finals. They eliminated Macomb Dakota from the playoffs 28-27 which ended a 14 game losing streak against the Cougars. Chippewa Valley has 40 seniors coming back and is expected to compete for a State title. The Big Reds beat Orion 38-35 last season and is 2-6 against the OAA in it's history. This will be a tough matchup for the Dragons as said Chippewa Valley has 40 seniors back and a very good quarterback/wide receiver combo in Patrick Brigestool and Stephan Claboure. Also they will be playing with a heavy heart for the third time as Duncan Blair passed away in August. This one at Wayne State could be a shootout again.

Holly (at Berkley)

The Bronchos last season would like to forget what happened when they only scored 86 points. Their defense was awful allowing 240 points. Holly has not made the playoffs since 2011 has made some major changes including bringing in former Orion defensive coordinator Dave Tooley. Tooley is part of a major staff overall which should bring Holly back to respectability. The Bronchos are getting new helmets as they are going to a Michigan design. Holly was destroyed 34-7 last season by Berkley at home and now will have to visit Hurley Field. The Bronchos are 15-46-2 all time against the OAA in it's history. This game will have upset trap for the Bears as Holly has more experience despite the travel and also the coaching to have them succeed.

Romeo (vs Oxford)

The Bulldogs are no strangers to the OAA. Romeo last season lost to Lapeer in the playoffs and another of their losses was to Oxford 28-20 on the blue turf. The Bulldogs are 21-5 all time against the Wildcats and feature quarterback Paul Hurley. Hurley has done damage against OAA teams in the playoffs and in the regular season and will have the Wildcats on grass this season at Dan Baranbo Field. Oxford replaces some key peaces but they are tough and will certainly give Romeo all they can handle in that game.

New Boston Huron (at Avondale)

The Chiefs had a successful run last season at 11-2 before losing to Orchard Lake St Mary's in the State semifinals. Now they have to rebuild a bit for this season and it starts with a good Yellow Jackets team that might not have Travis Janes. New Boston Huron has played one OAA opponent in its history and it was Oak Park as the Knights won 12-6 in 1959. This will be an interesting matchup to say the least for coach Steve Deutch and his Yellow Jackets.

Garden City (at Ferndale and at Berkley Week Nine)

The Cougars took a step back last season finishing 3-6 after a 4-5 season in 2013. Garden City has not made the playoffs since 2011 and they do have a tough schedule this season which will feature Ferndale and Berkley. Ferndale will be the first OAA opponent for Garden City this season while Berkley will be the second OAA opponent, not to mention the Western Wayne Blue schedule. The Eagles were on the way up for coach Eric Lloyd, finishing 4-5. This game should be a low scoring affair as both teams are not bad defensively but the question will be is which offense will show up?

Detroit University Prep (at Lathrup)

This could be a tough matchup for the Chargers as they take on a good Panthers team that has made the playoffs the last three seasons, finished 6-4 last season but has not won a district title in Division Five. This will be the first OAA opponent for Detroit University Prep as they started play in 1996. Defensely the Panthers were good a season ago allowing 116 points, Lathrup will have it's hands full with a very good Detroit University Prep team.

L'Anse Creuse North (vs Troy Athens)

The Red Hawks are 6-21 since 2011 which included three straight 2-7 seasons but one of their wins last season was over the Crusaders. Macomb L'Anse Cruse North had to forfeit four wins from last season after ruling a transfer from Anchor Bay was ineligible but one of their five losses was to Troy Athens at Troy 34-31. It was a huge win at the time for the Red Hawks. The Crusaders are 0-3 all time against the OAA with one of those losses to Troy Athens and the other two were to Rochester. This season will be tough for the Red Hawks as Macomb L'Anse Creuse North will be motivated to not only get back at Troy Athens but also maybe the MHSAA after having their wins forfeited.

Sterling Heights Stevenson (at Troy)

In a game that would had been huge 20 years ago both the Colts and Titans have history against each other. Sterling Heights Stevenson is 19-8 all time against the OAA and beat Troy 7-3 on rout to the playoffs at 7-3 last season. The key in this game for the Colts is use their home field advantage and use it's defense. If Troy's offense can get going and shut down Sterling Heights Stevenson then the Colts could return the favor after last season's game at Runkel Field.

Lapeer (at Rochester)

The Lightning debuted in style last season destroying the Falcons 42-0 on rout to an undefeated season before losing to Clarkston in the district finals. Lapeer will be a very good football team once again this season and Rochester has struggled historically. This is a horrible matchup for the Falcons even though they are at home, it could be disastrous.

Walled Lake Northern (vs Bloomfield Hills)

The Knights are known for their offense and they are expected to be once again in the KLAA North. Walled Lake Northern's two playoff appearances they scored 400 points each but last season they didn't make the playoffs and scored 300 points. The Knights are 1-4 against the OAA in it's history. The Blackhawks defense has been generous to opposing offenses in the league and including last season when they allowed 34 points on rout to a 34-12 defeat. Bloomfield Hills returns eight starters but they must address their defense in a hostile environment in Walled Lake. They will have their hands full, we'll see if they are for real or not.

Warren Fitzgerald (vs Hazel Park)

The Spartans made the playoffs last season at 6-4 for the first time since 2010 but have struggled since. Warren Fitzgerald scored 283 points a season ago and might need to again this season. The Spartans and Vikings have no love loss for each other as Warren Fitzgerald is 15-19-2 against Hazel Park in football and these two teams are district rivals in other sports. Last season was Kyle Rowley's first season and his Vikings were no match for the Spartans as they were pounded 44-0. Hazel Park must run the football and slow the game down if it has any chance to beat Warren Fitzgerald in Macomb County this season.

Week Nine Games:

Livonia Franklin (at Royal Oak)

The Patriots have been falling from grace since their playoff run in 2010. The big problem has been their defense. Livonia Franklin is 31-35 vs the OAA but they have never faced Royal Oak, neither Kimball or Dondero or Royal Oak. The Ravens are 6-57 since 2008 and this could be a start to the Jim McMann era if they can close out the season with a win over the Patriots.

Waterford Kettering (at Avondale)

The Captains regressed a bit last season finishing 5-4 after making the playoffs in 2013 but they did take the Yellow Jackets out of the playoffs with a 63-20 beatdown in Waterford. Waterford Kettering was a one time member of the OAA and is 86-139-1 all time against the league. It will be an interesting test with Avondale and the Captains.

Ann Arbor Pioneer (at Groves)

The Pioneers have been a football rich tradition but have fallen on hard times recently since last making the playoffs in 2012. Ann Arbor Pioneer is 9-10 since. The Pioneers are 10-5 vs the OAA in it's school history. This will be a good test for the Falcons as their defense will be tested against an experienced Ann Arbor Pioneer team.

Detroit Consortium (at Ferndale)

The Cougars are a team that has regressed since the 2012 season when they made the playoffs. Detroit Consortium was 3-6 last season with a lot of questions heading into this season in the Metro Conference. The Eagles have been surging and this game could be a clincher for Ferndale to get into the playoffs. The Cougars have never faced an OAA opponent in its history so this should be interesting this season.

Flat Rock (at Hazel Park)

The Rams are a team that has not made the playoffs since 1990 and haven't won a game since 2012, which oddly is very similar to what the Vikings are going through in their two seasons. Flat Rock has not played an OAA opponent in it's history. This will be an interesting matchup between two teams looking to get a win in some sort of way.

Redford Union (vs Pontiac)

The Panthers have been a struggling football team in the past. They have not made the playoffs since 2006 and could struggle again this season. Redford Union was 2-16 in the last two seasons with their only win being a forfeit. The Panthers haven't faced an OAA opponent in its history and the Phoenix will be the first opponent. Pontiac is also a small school so this will be an interesting game between two teams that will struggle this season.

Westland John Glenn (vs Lathrup)

The Rockets were a playoff team the last two seasons and last season was no different. Westland John Glenn went into Lathrup Village and beat the Chargers 48-13 sending Lathrup to 4-5 which eliminated them from the playoffs. This will be the third meeting between the two teams as the Rockets are 2-0 against the Chargers. Westland John Glenn has done well against OAA teams in the past as they are 64-30-2 against the league. This game will be an interesting matchup to say the least.

Stay tuned to OAA Now as we will go more in depth surrounding the week one games.

Pontiac scored big win over Walled Lake Central BUT can't overhype big win.

Written Thursday July 30th at 4:40 PM

When looking at the league you can't really judge summer league. As I read in Scott Bernstein's article Burney Bytes, I saw that he wrote about how Pontiac beat Walled Lake Central 58-52 in Detroit on Wednesday night.

Yes there is a lot of excitement for Ronald McDonald, Jaylen Kelso, and Israel Williams but you got to look at it from a different value.

Summer League is a lot different from the fall. Walled Lake Central whom went to the State Quarterfinals last season might have not had their full team there at all, it's still summer vacation.

The Phoneix will play in the White this winter for coach Ben Kelso but the teams in that league are much tougher than Walled Lake Central. West Bloomfield, Avondale, and Bloomfield Hills will be solid teams this winter and the district is no easy cupcake either as Pontiac will see Orion and state powerhouse Clarkston in Waterford this spring.

Pontiac had a good season last season only to get destroyed in the second half by Troy Athens in the district semifinals.

Summer league doesn't indicate where a team is at. You got tryouts to go through and a program to develop. That's where I have a problem in which you need that sub varsity program to develop your team throughout the season. Pontiac will be good this season but what about in seasons to come when guys like McDonald and Williams aren't there???

That's a question for another time.

Romeo could be on a very similar path to Macomb Dakota.

Written Monday July 13th at 9:40 PM

The Romeo Bulldogs won the State Crown in 2014 for Volleyball, the second team in three seasons from Macomb County to win the crown but it could be on a similar path to a former State Champion, it's MAC Red rival Macomb Dakota.

Yes the Bulldogs return Gia Milana whom is a Miss Michigan candidate for Volleyball and will be heading to Maryland next season but this Romeo team coached by Stacy Williams might be on a very similar course that Tracy Ferguson had in 2014 with her team.

The Cougars had Carly Snyder, a very talented lady and won Miss Michigan for Volleyball whom is at Florida now and she led a young Dakota team. She had to carry them and then got hurt. The Cougars struggled until she returned. Dakota won a district title but fell to Romeo in the regional finals in 2014 at Sterling Heights Stevenson.

But this could be different.

Romeo has Milana back but the supporting cast is much better than Snyder had in her senior season. The Bulldogs lost four seniors but they will be very good besides Milana. Romeo returns Payton Klein, Erica LeBere, Breanna Olley, and Jordie Kelly. Williams's Bulldogs also have experience playing without Milana as she was out last season for a few months due to a back injury that forced her to miss half of the regular season after she was out after two stress fractures in 2014.

However this road could be much tougher for Romeo as they are in a much tougher district with Macomb Dakota and Anchor Bay in there. The Cougars should be improved and the Tars won the district last season at Dakota's expense and is very good again.

If the Bulldogs were to win the district it will host the regional but it will be a tough regional semifinal especially if the matchup is against Orion.

Orion matches Romeo much better than Clarkston even though the Dragons have had trouble beating the Wolves when it counts in districts. The Dragons know Milana very well and have two girls in Natalie Wehner and Kori Varney that played on the same AAU team as Milana that won a National Championship in Florida.

The Dragons have the size to match the Bulldogs but Clarkston would like to have another shot at Romeo after losing in the regional finals last season and if Romeo goes that far then they would clash with either Seaholm or Marian in the State Quarterfinals.

We'll see what happens.

Farmington Coach Charged with Stealing Team's Money.

Written Thursday July 9th at 8:00 PM
Updated Information Sunday July 12th at 2:05 PM

Cheerleading in itself does make a lot of money with tournaments, fundraisers, and hard work.

On Thursday according to WDIV in Detroit, however one coach stole money from her team and the sad part of it was she was the Coach of the Year in the district.

Farmington High School coach Kandace Hernandez, 25 from Westland was arraigned on one count of larceny for stealing more than $9.000 for her own personal gain.

Police said that she used the money to pay bills, plane tickets to Florida, and so much more. She was in court on Friday and admitted to doing this in June during an interview with the Farmington Public Safety unit according to the Detroit Free Press.

According to the same newspaper, there was suspicion when a fundraising company hired by the Farmington cheerleading boosters contacted Falcons Athletic Director Mary Sheltron because a check wasn't cashed due to insufficient funds. This lead to an investigation where it was said that Hernandez took information from the booster's president and vice president to add them to the account but didn't do it. She closed the account on May 19th, the day the investigation started.

The case was adjourned to July 22nd at 1:30 PM on a request that the defense get more time to examine the case according to WXYZ in Detroit.

Hernandez used to be the team's Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Middle School cheerleading coach but she no longer holds those positions now.

The Falcons went to the regional at Holly after taking fourth in the districts at Warren Woods Tower last season.

The cheerleaders thought the money they raised would go towards getting new mats and new uniforms but it did not.

Sheltron will be looking for a new cheerleading coach for next season. They do have a Car Wash fundraiser coming up and are hoping to raise $5,000.

We'll keep an eye on the court case on OAA Now and what happens to the Falcons cheerleading program.

Basketball Top 24.

Written Thursday July 9th at 6:45 PM

Well the Summer Leagues are mostly over and I liked what I saw so here is the Top 24 for both Girls and Boys Basketball.

Boys.

1. Clarkston: Wolves have Foster Loyer and Dylan Alderson but can they find help for Tabin Throgmorton and that front court this winter?

2. Southfield: No coach, no problem. Blue Jays still have talent and will be a huge threat in the Red this winter led by Amari Hardy and crew.

3. North Farmington: Raiders will be solid led by Billy Thomas but they aren't the same team without Jerome Rogers and company last season.

4. West Bloomfield: Tristion Jackson will lead a solid group of Lakers for coach Jermey Dehna this season.

5. Adams: Joey Zilinti and Spencer Littleson will be key if the Highlanders want to go far this upcoming winter.

6. Avondale: Yellow Jackets will still be good even without Chris Barton whom graduated last season.

7. Bloomfield Hills: New coach Mike Maryanski will have a lot of experience back but the question is can they jell???

8. Orion: Dragons return four starters and have a new head coach in Jim Manzo, looks like Zo ball is back.

9. Pontiac: The trio of Jaylen Kelso, Israel Williams, and Ronald McDonald will be creating havoc this winter for the Phoenix.

10. Stoney Creek: John Paul Sincola and his three point shooting friends will be in line for a good winter, if they aren't hitting them then coach Steve Norgrove's team is in trouble.

11. Troy: Colts are always scrappy and will be tough to handle in the White as they always are for coach Gary Fralek.

12. Oak Park: Jamie Thomas returns to coach the Knights. He should have a good team to work with in Knight Valley.

13. Lathrup: Chargers look to improve this season in the final season in Lathrup Village.

14. Rochester: Coach John Pleasent's team finished 0-21 last season, could he take a page out of Steve Norgrove's playbook. Falcons have talent led by Ivan Bazzeria and Hunter Schlater.

15. Hazel Park: Vikings three sophomores look to make a huge step up after being in the Gold race last season.

16. Groves: Falcons look to be in contention for a Gold title this season.

17. Royal Oak: New coach Aaron Smith has two very good athletic guards. The Ravens could be a sleeper in the Blue this season.

18. Farmington: Falcons have some consistency questions but will be all right this year for coach Terrance Porter.

19. Oxford: Wildcats could struggle a little bit but coach Stephan Henning will have things rolling this season.

20. Seaholm: Maples could have trouble scoring this season but defense will be solid.

21. Troy Athens: It could be a long year for coach Dave Scott and his Red Hawks. The Red Hawks have a brutal schedule and is in a tough district as well.

22. Ferndale: Eagles will be interesting to watch but in district play they are a different basketball team.

23. Berkley: Bears lost Johnathan Radner to graduation and could struggle at times but will work hard this season.

24. Harrison: Hawks could struggle this season after losing John Rexroth to graduation.



Girls.

1. Lathrup: It's State title or bust for the Chargers in their final season as a school.

2. Harrison: Hawks return Kristen Nelson and Amber Stephans which will be huge for coach Tim Micklash.

3. Adams: Highlanders will still be solid this season led by Ryian Owusu and Maggie Rogers for coach Shay Lewis.

4. Orion: Dragons return three starters from a 13 win team last season.

5. Bloomfield Hills: Blackhawks could be in line for a special season this season.

6. Stoney Creek: Ally Voss and Emily Solek are key for coach Brad Crighton and his Cougars this season.

7. North Farmington: Kierra Crockett and the Cherney sisters (Samantha and Alexa) are key returnees for the Raiders.

8. Southfield: Blue Jays return four starters from an 18-2 season last year.

9. Clarkston: Kayla Lucenbach, Megan Deardorff, and Kayla Russell will be primed to have a big season this year.

10. West Bloomfield: Charlika Stubbs and Taylor Pierce along with three talented freshman up for coach Zach Hilbers will be interesting for the Lakers.

11. Rochester: Zo Schultz, Riley Gaber, Jenna Norgrove, and Paola Bazerria return for coach Adam Sheldon's Falcons. Rochester was hot all of Feburary and is expected to contend in the Blue this season.

12. Oxford: Christina Medici and Abigail Butkiewicz will have to carry the Wildcats in a tough Red division this season.

13. Troy: Colts return two starters but the question for Simon Bato is can they catch up in time before the season starts.

14. Royal Oak: There are a lot of questions for coach Brian Sopota's Ravens but heart and effort isn't one of them.

15. Berkley: Cecilia Somers and Zoe Anderson are two big parts to what the Bears hope to be a Gold title this season.

16. Seaholm: Losing Molly Stuenberg to Chicago, Illinois hurt the Maples last season, it will put more pressure on Mackenzie Harbort and Dana Hoerman this season for coach January Hlaski.

17. Oak Park: Knights return four starters for coach Diane Jones but the question is consistency for them.

18. Troy Athens: Maddy Crum has done very well for her AAU Michigan Storm team but will need to take the leadership role for the Red Hawks and coach Stacie Krump if they want to contend for a Gold crown.

19. Avondale: Yellow Jackets have the size led by Addie Saltaterri and Alyssa Smith but whom will help Toya Golden in the guard front will be the question for coach Darius Whiteside.

20. Hazel Park: Trinity Benton will be a name to remember in the Gold for coach Jessica Wiesler.

21. Pontiac: Phoenix getting better, winless two seasons ago to six wins last season. Expect A'Nya Erkins and crew to take the next step up for coach Christopher Wright.

22. Groves: Shea Carter and Madison Meredith will be forced to do more for coach Amos Thompson's Falcons this season.

23. Farmington: Mya Douse returns for the Falcons but doesn't have a lot of help to back them up.

24. Ferndale: Raven Brinkley will lead the Eagles this season in what could be another long one again.

Volleyball Story Lines heading into 2015 and Early Top 10.

Written Thursday July 9th at 2:05 AM

1. Can Seaholm do it to Marian AGAIN???

Birmingham Marian and Seaholm are no strangers to each other and likely could see each other in the District Playoffs at Bloomfield Hills. The Maples return Lauren McCeod, Kate Carey, and Annie Schecteler for coach Heather Lippert. Seaholm went into Birmingham Marian and beat the Mustangs in the district finals for their second district title in three seasons (2012 and 2014, both at the expense of Marian.) The Mustangs eliminated the Maples in 2011 and went to the State finals in 2013. Birmingham Marian returns Delaney Backonen for coach Angela Kalczynski, whom will be in her third season since taking over for coach Irick Gardner.

2. Can Orion beat Clarkston WHERE IT COUNTS???

The Dragons do return five starters to a team that won 60 games last season for coach Tony Scavarda but this program has had a HUGE problem beating Clarkston where it counts. Last season was a complete disaster as Orion was swept on it's home court by Clarkston. Since 2011, the Dragons have beaten the Wolves ONCE and that was the State Semifinals in Battle Creek other than that Clarkston has owned Orion since including winning three straight district titles at their expense and also have dominated the Red as well. If the Dragons whom returns Kori Varney, Marley Redd, Leah Kalugar, Natalie Wehner, and Danielle Sargent want any sort of playoff success they must go through Clarkston and their top returnees Sarah Austin, Ashley Schwartz and Abbey Malinowski in the district to do so.

3. Can Stoney Creek Win a District Crown???

Cougars coach Mandy Moran returns Sammy Sattaman and Alexa Tomlak may have gotten a huge break and possibly win a district title for the first time in their history. Stoney Creek does not have Orion or Clarkston in a district or Romeo. They are in a district with Adams, Rochester, Utica, and Utica Eisenhower in a district where they need a host, I think Stoney Creek should host but if the MHSAA decides to put it where the Girls Basketball district would be, it would be at Utica. Utica returns a lot of talent this season and will likely be the biggest threat to Stoney Creek. The Chieftains will be led by Jessica Lodge, Natalie Suchoski, Gina Duff, and Danielle Kaschalk. Eisenhower fresh off their MAC White crown is also loaded as well led by Katie Hayes and Jillian Chambers. Adams returns a lot of experience led by Paige Staduacher and Madison Tuscany for Coach Irick Gardner and Coach Lauren Duquette at Rochester returns some talent as well, led by Maddie Hausey and Riley Gaber.

4. Can Troy Athens bounce back after a dissapointing district loss to Troy???

The Red Hawks do return some key players led by Alexis Van Hoef and Katie Scudder hope to rebound from a disappointing district final loss to Troy last season. Troy and Troy Athens will be split up this season once district play starts. The Colts will head southwest to Birmingham and deal with Seaholm, Marian, and Groves while the Red Hawks will head southeast into Macomb County with Royal Oak. The toughest team that looks to threaten Troy Athens will be Warren Cousino. The Patriots will be led by Alyssa Lee and some other talent coming back but Sterling Heights will have a say who wins the district but you got to go with Troy Athens here in the district.

5. Who will be that team South of Birmingham???

With apologies to Groves and Seaholm they will not be on this list. There will be some candidates that could contend for league titles and possibly a district. The district at Lathrup is anyone's ball game there with Oak Park, Lathrup, Southfield, Berkley, and Detroit Renaissance. Berkley returns Celia Somers but a team to keep an eye on is Harrison, they return two starters from a team that has a lot of expectations for coach Michael Love. North Farmington is included here because even though they are on 14 Mile, they are southwest of Birmingham. Anyway the Raiders will have a lot of experience led by coach Jessica Condeci. It's anybody's guess who will be that team south of Birmingham.

Inside the OAA Top 10.

1. Seaholm: When you return a lot of experience as the Maples do with Lauren McCeod, Kate Carey, and Annie Schecteler then your expected to do a lot of things.

2. Clarkston: Coach Kelly Averall Pinner returns three starters and will be there led by Sarah Austin, Ashley Schwartz and Abbey Malinowski

3. Orion: Dragons return five starters from a team that had a disappointing postseason last season. Orion will be led by Kori Varney, Marley Redd, Leah Kalugar, Natalie Wehner, and Danielle Sargent.

4. Stoney Creek: Cougars return the balk of their team led by Sammy Sattaman and Alexa Tomlak. The division will help them get ready for a tough district.

5. Oxford: Wildcats should be mentally tougher this season for coach Kristi McDevitt and that starts with Grace Wysocki and crew.

6. Troy: Emma Loken will lead a young group of Colts but the problem is they are in a tough division and in a tough district, talk about irony.

7. Troy Athens: Alexis Van Hoef must be ready to carry an even bigger role if the Red Hawks want to be successful this season.

8. Harrison: Stefanie Jankiewitcz and Mikael Coleman returns for a young Hawks team ready to make some noise in the White.

9. Adams: Coach Irick Gardner returns the balk of his team back led by Paige Staduacher and Madison Tuscany. The Highlanders moved up a division and could be in for a rough ride early like they were last season but finished strong.

10. Groves: The Falcons return Shelby Pitts and Anya Lev for a team that won a district last season for coach Jenny Brown but the road will be harder from here.

End of an Era at Harrison? It's possible.

Written Wednesday July 8th at 7:10 PM

Could it be an end of an era in Farmington?

There has been rumblings around the Farmington School district with it's school board considering closing one of it's three high schools in the next year or two after the school district's Building and Site Utilization Committee found that the community may be better off having two high schools and not three.

It seems like Harrison could be the odd school out even though they are the newer of the three Farmington high schools. Farmington opened up it's doors in 1950, North Farmington in 1961, and Harrison in 1970.

Oddly enough Harrison will have 1,218 students heading into the school year. North Farmington has 1,267 students while Farmington has the lowest of the three Farmington schools with 1,176 students.

John Herrington, the Hawks legendary football coach has been there for all of the time that Harrison has existed. The Hawks have won 13 State titles as a school with it's last one in Division Two in 2010 and have produced several players like Drew Stanton (Michigan State), Devin Funtchess (Michigan), Mark Dell (Michigan State), Mario Ojemima (Michigan), and recently Khalid Kareem (Alabama) to top notch college football programs and into the NFL.

It would be rough if Harrison were to close it's doors for good for the OAA. I hope the Farmington School District doesn't close a high school especially with how they are based in location and that the buildings can be used to teach high school students. Farmington is to the south, North Farmington is to the north, and Harrison is in the middle of Farmington.

It will be interesting to find out. This blog article will be updated once we get more information. Stay tuned to OAA Now for coverage.

Football Odds and Storylines heading into the 2015 Season.

Written Wednesday July 8th at 2:45 PM

Well here are the 11 story lines heading into the 2015 season with the questions and the odds if or if not they will happen.

1. Can Southfield win a State Title?

When looking at the chances of the Blue Jays winning a State title and heading to Ford Field for the first time in school history, this team has a great chance led by elite talent in running back Matt Falcon and the arrival of quarterback Sam Johnson III along with other top notch players for coach Tim Conley. Southfield has a tough schedule to start the season with Detroit Cass Tech at Wayne State and games against Adams, Harrison, and Oak Park. I think the Blue Jays are a playoff team for sure, gave them a 98.6 percent chance at making the playoffs. Once they get to the playoffs they may have to deal with Detroit Martin Luther King, a team they beat last season and reloaded themselves with top elite transfers from Wayne and Macomb counties. Southfield has a great chance to do special things as next season they will merge with Lathrup to become a big high school.

2. Can West Bloomfield go deep into the Playoffs?

With five Division One prospects this Lakers team should have no problem going deep into the playoffs right, well here is the thing with West Bloomfield. The Lakers will be a playoff team with 99.8 chance of getting into the postseason with all of the tough teams they have coming to the Swamp but the question will always be location, if they go southeast they will play Detroit Cass Tech, in which I think they have a great shot of beating them. If they go north they will run into Orion and Clarkston but I think the best case is if they go south and west where they'd like to get revenge on Walled Lake Central for knocking them out of the playoffs last season after finishing 7-2, making the playoffs for the first time since 2008. I like the odds of West Bloomfield going forward at 85.7 percent.

3. Can Clarkston Three Peat?

The chances of the Wolves three-peating isn't good despite the fact they do return Nolan Eriksen at running back but there are too many problems that linger here. Clarkston has a two quarterback competition and have some holes they need to fill after losing a strong class that won two State titles. The schedule isn't good either with trips to Macomb Dakota and West Bloomfield in the first three weeks of the season. The Orion game will not be easy either despite the fact the last time the Dragons beat the Wolves was 2010 and Orion hasn't beaten Clarkston on the road since 2007 and then you have the crossover which will be tough. Odds of the Wolves making the playoffs are at 80.2 percent and odds of three peating is at five percent.

4. Can Orion return to the Playoffs?

Last season was very unusual for the Dragons to have a under 500 record (4-5), not make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, and got destroyed on homecoming. Orion has a lot coming back from a team that was horrible the last two seasons on defense. The Dragons need to win at least two big games if they want to return to the playoffs. Orion has a favorable home schedule with Oxford, Stoney Creek, and the crossover coming to Dragon Country. The tough games will be at Clarkston, at West Bloomfield, and Chippewa Valley at Wayne State. The odds of the Dragons making the playoffs are 75.6 percent.

5. Can Groves win a Big Time Playoff Game?

The Falcons have made the playoffs three of the last four seasons since 2011 and is expected to be four of the last five seasons after they make the playoffs in 2015 but the question lingers is can Groves win a playoff game not in their division. They played Birmingham Brother Rice the last two seasons and lost. If the Falcons want to emerge as a top contender and not settle on winning Blue titles then they must win a district title and prove they can go far in the playoffs. Odds of Groves winning a big time playoff game against a good team not in their division is 10 percent.

6. Can Adams return to the Playoffs?

The Highlanders season thought 6-3 would get them into the playoffs but losing to Stoney Creek in week one, after being up 20-7 in the third quarter and losing 28-20 derailed those plans. Adams ended up missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. The Highlanders return a lot of talent and has a favorable home schedule despite having to go to Southfield and the crossover. Adams has the talent but can they get to the playoffs. Odds of making the playoffs for the Highlanders are 52.5 percent.

7. Can Harrison handle the Distractions?

With Khalid Kareem going to Alabama now he can focus on his Senior season but the question looms for the Hawks is what will happen to them in the future especially with the rumblings that Harrison could close as a school. The Hawks does have talent and the makings of a State title team but the question is can they handle the distractions that they can't control. Odds that Harrison handles the distractions are 85.8 percent.

8. Can Royal Oak turn things around?

The Ravens are 6-57 since 2008, which included four 0-9 seasons. Royal Oak hasn't made the playoffs since 2007, their first season as a merged school when Kimball and Dondero merged. The Ravens brought in Jim McMinn to replace Tim Chapman as coach in January and does know the city and community real well. Royal Oak moved back down to the Blue and will be playing the likes of Groves, Avondale, Berkley, Lathrup, Hazel Park, Ferndale, and Pontiac. I don't know if the Ravens are a playoff team this season knowing that Groves, Avondale, Berkley, Ferndale will be good teams. Odds of Royal Oak turning things around are 45.4 percent.

9. Will Oxford's gamble pay off when it comes to scheduling?

When Wildcats Athletic Director Mike Watson made the schedule giving his team five tough home games in 2014, Oxford won three of them on route to a 6-3 season with a playoff appearance. Now the schedule is reversed. The Wildcats have to travel to Romeo, Orion, Stoney Creek, West Bloomfield, and Clarkston in which those five games could be possible losses but they have the crossover at home which helps. Odds of Oxford making the playoffs with that vicious schedule are 51 percent.

10. Can Ferndale make the Playoffs?

The Eagles haven't made the playoffs since 2008 but this season could be different when it comes to the schedule. If Ferndale can win the games they are suppose to win because they won't be favored against Groves, Berkley, or Avondale then they will make the playoffs for the first time since 2008. It will be huge in Eric Lloyd's second season if his Eagles were to make the playoffs and get them confidence going forward. Odds of Ferndale making the playoffs 70 percent.

11. Can Berkley find Balance? 

The Bears were a playoff team last season for the first time since 2010 and there has been some hype surrounding Nolan Given and Austen Wood as there should be in Berkley but the question will be the depth and also can they find a running threat besides Wood and Given. Expect the Bears to have a strong passing attack but if that passing attack gets shut down, it could be difficult for Berkley to win games. Odds of the Bears finding balance are 78.6 percent.

Odds are made by the projections on how things will go. Stay tuned to OAA Now for complete coverage.