Top Five Storylines after Week Six.

Written Sunday October 2nd at 10:15 PM

1. Clarkston and West Bloomfield is a MONSTROUS game.

The Lakers had high expectations heading into the season led by Davion Johnson and Garrett Wynn. They also added two transfers from Lathrup in Bryce Veasley and Taj Mustapha but looking at what happened to West Bloomfield at home against another desperate team in Southfield Arts and Tech needing to win. The Lakers failed to live up to the task giving up 33 points in a shocking 33-14 loss to the Warriors on their homecoming last week. West Bloomfield because of their forfeit loss to Groves sits at 3-3, needing this game on the road against a Wolves team that struggled offensively against Oak Park last week losing 14-7. They are also motivated after losing 35-21 last season. Clarkston sits at 4-2 on the season does not have an easy schedule if they want to get to the playoffs. The Wolves have to go to Orion and host Adams to close the season out. Whoever wins this game will have a clear shot of making the playoffs.

2. Harrison and Southfield Arts and Tech have tough roads to get to the playoffs.

The Hawks have had two heartbreaking losses to Groves and Adams and now stand at 3-3 on the season. Harrison has a tough game this week as they travel to Oak Park to take on the Knights. The Hawks still have to travel to Oxford to play the Wildcats to close the season out. If Harrison win out, then they have earned their way to the playoffs.

The Warriors got a huge win last week at West Bloomfield winning 33-14 but they still face the danger of missing the playoffs as they sit at 3-3 on the season. Southfield Arts and Tech still has to play at Oxford, a place that has given them fits in the past and the travel up there will be rough and also they will host Oak Park, a team that destroyed Southfield last season 50-14. They shouldn’t have a problem this week as they play Stoney Creek at home but the next two games are must wins if they want to make the playoffs as one Southfield community.

3. Hazel Park and Royal Oak are not good.

The Vikings made headlines this week about them possibly leaving the OAA. Hazel Park did not have a good homecoming as they were flat out embarrassed by Avondale 39-6 last week. It was the first win for the Yellow Jackets and as for the Vikings all the good fortunes of beating Royal Oak and possibly making the playoffs could be as good as gone.

The Ravens lost to Bloomfield Hills 31-14 all but costing them their playoff dreams. Royal Oak does have a chance to ruin Rochester’s playoff hopes as they go to Stoney Creek to play the Falcons. I had high hopes for the Ravens but they haven’t met them, I thought they would be a better team but in the end, all is for not.

4. Bloomfield Hills FINALLY gets tested.

The Blackhawks have been cruising along in the regular season and have only been tested once by Ferndale, whom they survived 23-20 at home but October is here and there are three teams that will test Bloomfield Hills as they get ready for the playoffs. The fun starts this week with a trip to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep to take on the Irish. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep has faced two Blue teams already in Berkley and Rochester. The Irish beat the Bears 26-3 at Hurley Field and the Falcons beat Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 38-32 in overtime in Pontiac earlier in the season. The Blackhawks have two tough home games against Berkley and Orion to close out the season. It will be a huge October and a tough task for Bloomfield Hills to come out of this unbeaten, if they do come out unbeaten then they earned it.

5. Rochester and Ferndale have favorable schedules to get to the playoffs.

The Falcons have suffered a very bad loss to Troy last week 28-21 at Stoney Creek but the schedule is still favorable for them as Rochester though sits at 3-3. The Falcons have to go to Stoney Creek to play the Cougars and they have Royal Oak coming to Stoney Creek as well along a trip to Hazel Park on the way. Rochester is trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010 but for them to get their sixth win on the season, they must win out because a 5-4 trip is out of the cards.

Another team that has a favorable schedule is Ferndale. The Eagles sit at 4-2 on the season and also have a manageable schedule to close the season. They have to play at Royal Oak and host Hazel Park and Dearborn Edsel Ford. The Edsel Ford game will be a tough one for Ferndale as they are a pretty good team themselves. If the Eagles win out, then they will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2008.