Football-Week One Non Conference Games.

Written Saturday June 24th at 1:45 PM
Updated Sunday July 30th at 3:00 PM

The OAA in the last two seasons has not fared well heading into their week one games. Sometimes the losses have cost the league vital playoff points and have kept teams from not getting into the postseason at 5-4. Orion and West Bloomfield got in at 5-4 while Harrison was left out of the fold last season.

Here are some key week one non-conference games the league needs to win this upcoming season, not counting OAA vs OAA matchups.

Orion at Chippewa Valley: Perhaps this is the biggest of the games that the OAA needs. The Dragons have a new coach in John Blackstock along with a ton of talent back from a team that sneaked into the playoffs last season but they have lost three straight meetings to Chippewa Valley. This will be a big test for Orion as the Big Reds are a veteran group whom will have 40 players back along with 16 projected starters from a team that went 6-3 last season. Chippewa Valley will be led by linebacker Brian Schieweck, defensive back/running back Javon Kimpson, wide receiver Jacob Rybicki, and linebacker Marcel Lewis.

Oak Park vs Utica Eisenhower at Wayne State: This is another game the OAA needs. The Knights have their fair share of talent and athletes but it will be the Oak Park defense that will be tested against quarterback Max Whitmir along with the Eagles read-option offense. If the Knights can figure out the zone-read of Whitmir and the rest of Utica Eisenhower squad then they can win this game. The Eagles are still solid but they lost some talent from a team that went to the State Semifinal a season ago where they lost to Detroit Cass Tech on a heartbreaking touchdown by Donovan Peoples-Jones whom is now at Michigan.

West Bloomfield vs Walled Lake Western at Wayne State: This will be the most interesting game in the State and also will be the first game of the MHSAA docket. Both teams have athletes and are State title contenders in their respective divisions. Walled Lake Western brought in quarterback Sam Johnson III from Southfield Arts and Tech and lineman Spencer Brown from Walled Lake Northern to go along with four returning offensive starters in receivers Abdur Rahmaan-Yaseen, and Justin Thomas. Brown will join Joey George, Jake Dean, Zach Fodal, and Ryan Dickinson. The Lakers have brought in their own set of transfers to the fold including Wisconsin commit AJ Abbott, Collin Heard, and Bryce Thompson. They also have two transfers whom transferred in from Lathrup two seasons ago in quarterback Bryce Veasley (Bowling Green commit) to go along with receiver Taj Mustapha whom recently committed to Wisconsin. West Bloomfield also has a stout defense but line play will be a major concern for the Lakers in this game despite having Central Michigan commit Javon Foster. For the OAA to make a statement, they need West Bloomfield to win this game.

Southfield Arts and Tech vs Davison at Wayne State: The Warriors had an interesting first season that saw a ton of twist and turns in 2016. This season Southfield Arts and Tech went through a ton of defections but they still are very talented. The Warriors open up the year with Davison and their star  running back Tariq Reid. Reid was a force for the Cardinals all of last season in the Saginaw Valley League, that was until he and Davison met Clarkston in the District Final in which the Wolves shut Reid down on route to a 31-14 win in Genesee County. Reid will look to have a big game against a very athletic and talented Southfield Arts and Tech defense that is used to being at Wayne State. This will be a tough game for Davison, the Warriors are very athletic and will look to make a statement in this game.

Oxford vs Romeo at Michigan: The Wildcats sent a statement when they shocked Romeo 27-26 on the blue turf last season. Oxford and the Bulldogs will head to Ann Arbor to renew their rivalry this season. The Bulldogs have won nine of their last 12 since that game which led to their second straight State Semifinal appearance after winning a State title in 2015. Romeo has Nathan Goraliski returning. He was huge in their Regional Final win over Clarkston. They also have quarterback Brandon Hicks along with wide receivers Evan Smith, Brooke Horne, and Ronnie Wood back as well. This will be an interesting matchup for the Wildcats as they play the Bulldogs in the Big House.

Harrison at East Grand Rapids: The Hawks season last season was a game of inches, unfortunately they didn't make the playoffs for the first time since 2008. This will be the third all time meeting between Harrison and the Pioneers, both teams split the two previous meetings. East Grand Rapids plays in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold Division. This is a big game for both teams especially for the Hawks. This will test Harrison's depth and also the travel will be interesting as well.

Groves vs Novi: The Falcons have been 21-3 in the last two seasons but Groves was hit hard this off-season with recent graduation losses and the shocking departure of Collin Heard whom went to West Bloomfield. Novi has been 12-10 in the last two seasons but they have won some big games since eliminating an undefeated West Bloomfield squad from the postseason in 2015. The Falcons do not match up well with the Wildcats heading into this matchup but if they can play well, maybe they can pose a big upset in this matchup and a huge win for the OAA.

Hazel Park at Warren Fitzgerald: The Spartans and Vikings have something called the Battle of Nine Mile in which Nine Mile Road and Dequindre Road divide both schools, only by a mile. However, the rivalry has not fared well for one side of the rivalry, the east siders of Nine Mile have dominated the last three meetings against the west siders in the Battle of Nine Mile, outscoring them 157-18 in those games, including a 65-6 beat-down at Hazel Park last season. Warren Fitzgerald is going to be very good again with their strength being both lines up front despite losing a ton of play makers last season. The Spartans opened up a new facility last season. The Vikings has experience coming back but can they compete against their east side rivals??? If the west siders can put up a fight, maybe there is a chance.

North Farmington vs Greenville at Grand Valley State: The coach Bob Chiesa era will start at North Farmington. He’ll have a tough task turning around a team that went 0-9 last season. The Raiders will be tested against the Yellow Jackets at Grand Valley State. (Grand Valley State is in Allendale and is 44 miles from Greenville.) Greenville will be led by wide receiver Kyle Lorenz and lineman Jacob Gladding. The Raiders have to improve on a ton of things on both sides of the football. If North Farmington can get things figured out then it will be interesting at Grand Valley State.

Clarkston vs Lapeer at Michigan:  Clarkston will once again be back at the Big House against a team they have dominated in the past against Lapeer. The Lightning have fared well as a merged school, only losing five games in their history but three of them were to Clarkston. Lapeer will be solid again this season as they have quarterback Brady Apple and lineman Will Sollie. If the Wolves can beat the Lightning again, then it proves something.

Ferndale vs Madison Heights Lamphere: The Eagles made the playoffs for the first time since 2008 after winning seven games, one of those wins came against the Rams where Ferndale won 42-7 in Madison Heights. The Eagles are part of a MHSAA CoOp program with Ferndale University and have done well with the program. Madison Heights Lamphere has a new coach in Jeff Glynn and a ton of experience coming back, so this will be interesting in Ferndale.

Troy Athens at Warren Mott: I wonder why the Red Hawks are playing Warren Mott on a yearly basis??? The last three times these two teams played the Marauders have won by outscoring Troy Athens 116-20 in that span. I know that Red Hawks coach Josh Heppner and Warren Mott coach Tom Mulanov are good friends but you got to wonder what is going on with Troy Athens with their recent struggles. Also, Heppner lost his offensive coordinator in Billy Keenest whom is now the head coach at Berkley. This is a tough game for sure for the Red Hawks, whom is 13-33 since their heartbreaking playoff loss to Romeo in 2011.

Pontiac at Detroit Old Redford Academy: This will be a rematch of a week one game that happened at Wisner Stadium. The Phoenix lost a tough one 21-15 to the Ravens. Detroit Old Redford Academy finished 2-7 while Pontiac went 0-9 last season. The Phoenix haven't won a game since 2014 when they beat Hazel Park 17-0. Pontiac is 2-43 since their last playoff loss to Clarkston in 2011. If coach Charles Talley wants to change the culture and turn things around this is a game they need bad.

Royal Oak vs St. Clair Shores Lakeview: This will be a rematch after the Ravens were shutout 21-0 by the Huskies in St. Clair Shores. Royal Oak is an unknown heading into the season for coach Ray McMann. I thought personally that the Ravens were making the right step since they finished 4-5 in 2015, instead they finished 2-7 and was a disappointment last season. Royal Oak is 6-21 since 2014, something they got to fix. St Clair Shores Lakeview made the playoffs last season winning six games and they look to get back once again. This will be interesting in Royal Oak.

Stoney Creek at Utica Ford II: The Cougars and Falcons have met in a ton of other sports but this will be the first time these two teams will meet in football. Stoney Creek will be traveling to Runkel Field to play Utica Ford II. Cougars coach Bob Lantzy has a ton of experience with the Falcons being at one of their rivals Utica Eisenhower. Utica Ford II is 12-34 in five seasons, went 2-7 last season, and have had one playoff appearance since 2011. This is a perfect opportunity for Stoney Creek to get off to a strong start.