Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Week Nine Picks.

Written Wednesday October 17th at 7:00 PM

Welcome to the 2018 OAA football season. We will pick games this season with my good friends in the media this season, here are the pickers for the season. Anthony Taormina-Host Between Taorminas and History Now on ONTV, Scott Burnstein-State Champs insider, Oakland Press sports writer, Keith Dunlap-Detroit Free Press sports writer, Dan Stickradt-North Oakland Sports, sports writer, and Sean Cotter-Farmington video coordinator. Anyway good luck everyone this season.

DUNES 76-27
TRAIN 77-26
DUNLAP 81-22
STICK 71-32
BURNEY 78-25
COTTER 76-27

3. Seaholm at 1. Groves

This maybe the game of the season as the battle of Birmingham takes place. The Falcons have owned the Maples winning the last four meetings and have played a tougher schedule than Seaholm. Groves has won six straight since a 0-2 start. The Maples have had a renaissance winning four straight since losing to South Lyon leading to the Blue crown for the first time since 2013. This one will be a good one that is for sure.

DUNES: GROVES 27, SEAHOLM 24
TRAIN: GROVES 35, SEAHOLM 28
DUNLAP: GROVES 24, SEAHOLM 21 OT
STICK: GROVES 21, SEAHOLM 14
BURNEY: GROVES 31, SEAHOLM 28
COTTER: GROVES 28, SEAHOLM 7

Troy Athens at 2. Oxford

The Wildcats have made the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and have won three straight since being upset by Adams. Oxford looks to stay healthy as they get ready for the postseason. The Red Hawks and former Oxford quarterback and coach Billy Keenest has had a rough season but they did get their first win of the year by beating Troy 31-0 last week. There are better days ahead for Troy Athens but it will be interesting how Wildcats coach Bud Rowley plays this against his former quarterback.

DUNES: OXFORD 35, TROY ATHENS 21
TRAIN: OXFORD 42, TROY ATHENS 7        
DUNLAP: OXFORD 48, TROY ATHENS 7
STICK: OXFORD 35, TROY ATHENS 14
BURNEY: OXFORD 27, TROY ATHENS 17
COTTER: OXFORD 42, TROY ATHENS 7

4. Oak Park at 6. Clarkston

It’s always hard to recover from a loss but the loss to West Bloomfield 27-21 last week may have been the best thing to happen to Oak Park. The Knights had won seven straight heading into that matchup with the Lakers. If Oak Park wants to make a statement then why not go into Clarkston and make that statement. The Wolves beat Lake Orion 24-14 last week and have not looked impressive since. This is the Knights best chance if they want to host a regional.

DUNES: OAK PARK 30, CLARKSTON 27
TRAIN: CLARKSTON 24, OAK PARK 21
DUNLAP: CLARKSTON 27, OAK PARK 24
STICK: OAK PARK 28, CLARKSTON 21
BURNEY: CLARKSTON 27, OAK PARK 24
COTTER: CLARKSTON 24, OAK PARK 21

5. Ferndale at Redford Thurston

This is a big matchup for both teams but for different reasons with both teams named Eagles. Ferndale is red hot winning five straight games to make their third straight playoff appearance including last week’s 20-7 victory at Hurley Field over Berkley. Redford Thurston is also red hot since losing three straight early in the season as they sit at 5-3 needing one win to get to the playoffs. It will be a good one in Redford that is for sure.

DUNES: FERNDALE 28, REDFORD THURSTON 21
TRAIN: FERNDALE 42, REDFORD THURSTON 14
DUNLAP: FERNDALE 35, REDFORD THURSTON 10
STICK: FERNDALE 21, REDFORD THURSTON 19
BURNEY: FERNDALE 24, REDFORD THURSTON 14
COTTER: FERNDALE 28, REDFORD THURSTON 6

Orchard Lake St. Marys at 7. West Bloomfield

The Battle of Orchard Lake is upon us. It is the first ever meeting between these two neighborhood rivals on the gridiron. The Lakers are playoff bound after a 27-21 victory over Oak Park last week. The Eaglets lost 24-21 to Birmingham Brother Rice last week and will not make the playoffs for a second straight season. This could be a highly entertaining game in the Swamp.

DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 42, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 14
TRAIN: WEST BLOOMFIELD 49, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 7
DUNLAP: WEST BLOOMFIELD 42, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 18
STICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 14
BURNEY: WEST BLOOMFIELD 33, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 25
COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 27

8. Avondale at North Farmington

The Yellow Jackets are in the playoffs for a second straight season including locking up a 45-6 victory over Hazel Park to secure a playoff berth. The Raiders are improving but lost 23-17 to Macomb Lutheran North last week. It will be interesting to see where North Farmington’s mindset is at heading into next season but for Avondale it’s about staying healthy and getting ready for the playoffs.

DUNES: AVONDALE 42, NORTH FARMINGTON 22
TRAIN: AVONDALE 49, NORTH FARMINGTON 7
DUNLAP: AVONDALE 31, NORTH FARMINGTON 14
STICK: AVONDALE 28, NORTH FARMINGTON 20
BURNEY: AVONDALE 23, NORTH FARMINGTON 20
COTTER: AVONDALE 42, NORTH FARMINGTON 7

Stoney Creek at 9. Adams

This is a must win game for the Highlanders as they look to get to the playoffs for a third straight season which included a huge 33-14 win over Southfield Arts and Tech last week. Adams has won eight of nine against Stoney Creek but this is a different Cougars team than the Highlanders have seen. Stoney Creek has really improved, outscoring their opponents 59-14 in the last two weeks which included a shocking 25-0 victory over Rochester last week. This one could surprise some folks as the Cougars really have nothing to lose and Adams has everything to lose.

DUNES: ADAMS 28, STONEY CREEK 24
TRAIN: ADAMS 35, STONEY CREEK 7
DUNLAP: ADAMS 31, STONEY CREEK 13
STICK: ADAMS 24, STONEY CREEK 14
BURNEY: ADAMS 32, STONEY CREEK 21
COTTER: ADAMS 38, STONEY CREEK 6

Farmington at 10. Harrison

This will be an interesting matchup to close the season on Harrison’s final home game of the regular season. Both teams are coming off losses, the Falcons to Seaholm 21-0 and the Hawks to Groves 25-6 last week. Harrison has owned the series over Farmington by going 30-5 in that span. This will be an interesting matchup to say the least.

DUNES: HARRISON 35, FARMINGTON 0
TRAIN: HARRISON 35, FARMINGTON 14
DUNLAP: HARRISON 42, FARMINGTON 7
STICK: HARRISON 35, FARMINGTON 21
BURNEY: HARRISON 30, FARMINGTON 23
COTTER: HARRISON 35, FARMINGTON 0

Rochester at Bloomfield Hills

I’m still in shock to see what happened to the Falcons at Stoney Creek when looking at the score. Rochester was shocked 25-0 by the Cougars last week with all the close losses they have had during the season. The Blackhawks have not been competitive losing seven straight games and been blown out in six of them. It’s going to be interesting to see who comes out and finishes the season strong.

DUNES: ROCHESTER 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7
TRAIN: ROCHESTER 17, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14
DUNLAP: ROCHESTER 24, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 20
STICK: ROCHESTER 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 21
BURNEY: ROCHESTER 23, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 20
COTTER: ROCHESTER 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

Lake Orion at Monroe

It’s do or die for the Dragons as they travel south down I-75 to Monroe to take on a 6-2 Trojans team that is really athletic and solid. It’s the first meeting between the teams since 1998 when they met in the regional. Lake Orion is coming off a 24-14 loss to Clarkston. Monroe lost 28-6 to Saline last week. The Dragons has a size advantage and has played a tougher schedule than the Trojans. If Blaze Lauer shows up and not make mistakes then Lake Orion will be playoff bound at 5-4 even though this will be their first game on grass since Romeo in the postseason in 2015.

DUNES: LAKE ORION 35, MONROE 28
TRAIN: LAKE ORION 28, MONROE 14
DUNLAP: LAKE ORION 31, MONROE 21
STICK: LAKE ORION 21, MONROE 20
BURNEY: LAKE ORION 23, MONROE 20
COTTER: LAKE ORION 28, MONROE 21

Southfield Arts and Tech at River Rouge

The Warriors saw their playoff hopes dashed last week by Adams 33-14 which will make them miss the postseason for a second straight season. We don’t know what the mindset of Southfield Arts and Tech will be as they travel to River Rouge to play the Panthers. River Rouge has not played a game in two weeks so it’s possible they could be rusty but it will be a tough task to say the least for the Warriors.

DUNES: RIVER ROUGE 37, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 30
TRAIN: RIVER ROUGE 35, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 31
DUNLAP: RIVER ROUGE 27, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 20
STICK: RIVER ROUGE 22, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 20
BURNEY: RIVER ROUGE 34, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 31
COTTER: RIVER ROUGE 26, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 14

Troy at Berkley

The Colts have lost their scoring touch in their six game losing streak which included getting shutout by a combined 69-0 in the last two weeks. The Bears meanwhile has lost five straight including a 20-7 defeat to Ferndale last week. Someone has to win this game at Hurley Field.

DUNES: BERKLEY 10, TROY 3
TRAIN: BERKLEY 14, TROY 10
DUNLAP: TROY 21, BERKLEY 14
STICK: TROY 21, BERKLEY 20
BURNEY: TROY 28, BERKLEY 26
COTTER: BERKLEY 7, TROY 3

Riverview Gabriel Richard at Pontiac

It’s been another rough season for the Phoenix as they look to next season. Pontiac has lost seven straight games and they haven’t even been competitive in any of them getting outscored 337-28 in that span. They will take on a Riverview Gabriel Richard team that is one win away from making the playoffs. The Pioneers have won two straight outscoring their opponents 72-21 in that span. It’s going to get ugly at Wisner Stadium.

DUNES: RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD 56, PONTIAC 0
TRAIN: RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD 35, PONTIAC 0
DUNLAP: RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD 28, PONTIAC 6
STICK: RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD 21, PONTIAC 13
BURNEY: RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD 26, PONTIAC 16
COTTER: RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD 49, PONTIAC 8

Monroe Jefferson at Royal Oak

The Ravens will need a ton of help if they want to make the playoffs. Monroe Jefferson lost 17-0 at home to Royal Oak last season. The Bears have been outscored 81-0 in the last two weeks which is not good. The Ravens won 35-0 over Detroit Edison last week. It could be a long ride up north for Monroe Jefferson.

DUNES: ROYAL OAK 24, MONROE JEFFERSON 0
TRAIN: ROYAL OAK 28, MONROE JEFFERSON 7
DUNLAP: ROYAL OAK 35, MONROE JEFFERSON 14
STICK: ROYAL OAK 24, MONROE JEFFERSON 21
BURNEY: ROYAL OAK 30, MONROE JEFFERSON 22
COTTER: ROYAL OAK 35, MONROE JEFFERSON 0

Detroit Science and Math at Hazel Park

It’s the final game in the OAA for the Vikings as they are leaving for the MAC next season. The Vikings are coming off a 45-6 loss to Avondale last week. Detroit Science and Math won 20-18 over Marine City Cardinal Mooney last week. It will be an interesting matchup for Hazel Park.

DUNES: DETROIT SCIENCE AND MATH 24, HAZEL PARK 16
TRAIN: HAZEL PARK 35, DETROIT SCIENCE AND MATH 0
DUNLAP: HAZEL PARK 23, DETROIT SCIENCE AND MATH 15
STICK: HAZEL PARK 22, DETROIT SCIENCE AND MATH 7
BURNEY: HAZEL PARK 25, DETROIT SCIENCE AND MATH 15
COTTER: HAZEL PARK 32, DETROIT SCIENCE AND MATH 8

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I have highest function of autism (Asperger Syndrome.) I'm a huge Dallas Stars fan. I like to play and watch football, especially when the Dragons play on Friday nights. I am a 2006 alum and used to play football for the Dragons. I ran track, I ran the 100, 200, 400 meter dashes along with shot-put and discus. During my time in Orion I was a manager for Junior Varsity Boys Basketball team. I'm the volleyball, girls basketball, and football announcer for the team and do the book on the road for girls basketball. I do the clock for volleyball in the fall along with girls basketball in the winter and announce some boys basketball games as well. In the spring I coach shot-put at Scripps Middle School, in my fifth season coaching. I run the shot-put for high school meets. I played Special Olympics Basketball, I've won three gold medals for them. I host "Between Taorminas" which is on ONTV along with a podcast called "OAA Now". In other various things outside of Lake Orion, I love to jet ski over Saginaw Bay. Saginaw Bay is basically my life. I'm a trained weather spotter for the National Weather Service for Oakland and Huron counties.