Week Eight Thoughts.

Written Friday November 6th at 10:40 PM

I was very disappointed with the Oak Park pass defense allowing three touchdowns in the air on Friday night against a very Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit program on the road. The Knights had to rely on running back Davion Primm most of the night and quarterback James Burnley made some very critical  plays when he needed too with his legs and arm. Burnley had two rushing touchdowns including the winning score from a yard out to give them the lead to go along with a two point conversion to go up by six points. The Oak Park defense did make amends after getting torched in the air all night by getting a huge fourth down stop after the special teams tried to execute a fake punt that didn’t work. The Knights would close out the Cubs with a 27-21 victory. They will head to Wyandotte next week to play the Bears in a 2012 rematch. Oak Park will need to shore up that defense and quick against a good Wyandotte squad who has a very high octane offense.

The Battle of Birmingham lived up to the hype on Friday night with Groves earning a huge 30-21 victory over arch rival Seaholm snapping a two game losing streak to their arch rival in the process. The game started very oddly with turnovers galore. The Maples scored first off a fumble after being turning the football over themselves on their first series giving the maple and white a 7-0 lead. Groves responded with a punt return for a score and added a two point conversion for an 8-7 lead for the green, gold, and black. The Falcons would add two more scores take a 23-7 at one point. The Maples would answer with two huge scores and they had a chance to tie the game but they couldn’t get it or get the onside kick. Groves would add a pick six to seal it. They will play Warren Mott next week in Warren.

It got really ugly for Berkley on Friday night against Warren Mott. The Bears would give up an 80 yard rushing touchdown to open the game and they couldn’t recover against the Marauders. The Berkley offense struggled as well in this game. They was basically outmatched. Warren Mott would win 49-14 over the Bears. Berkley has a ton of experience coming back next season.

West Bloomfield dominated on Friday night against Troy in the Swamp. Donovan Edwards had a 57 yard rushing touchdown. He also caught a receiving touchdown as well in a 56-3 blowout. The Lakers were just dominant in this game. If there was a bright side for the Colts they did end West Bloomfield’s four straight shutout streak with a field goal and they improved during the season. The Lakers have a big showdown looming next week when they head to Runkel Field to play Sterling Heights Stevenson.

Southfield Arts and Tech had a very tough loss on Friday night. They had a great start on both sides of the football against Sterling Heights Stevenson but it was the Titans that survived 19-14 at Runkel Field. The Warriors scored on a 33 yard passing touchdown from quarterback Isiah Marshall to wide receiver Daveon Young. Sterling Heights Stevenson would respond by scoring two touchdowns of their own to take a 13-7 lead but RaeQuan Lee scored on a 44 yard touchdown run to make it 14-13 Warriors which would the score at the half. Sterling Heights Stevenson would go to a Wing T to start the third quarter which led to a touchdown on a 12 play 76 yard drive which took up under eight minutes to make it 19-14 Titans. Sterling Heights Stevenson would get a interception to seal the game. The Warriors didn't help themselves at all with penalties and mistakes that cost them some points. The Titans advance to meet West Bloomfield next week in the district finals. Southfield Arts and Tech should be in the mix next season.

North Farmington made a statement on Friday night going into Genesee County and knocking off an undefeated Fenton squad on Friday night 44-28. The Raiders were just dominant controlling everything in that game against the Flint Metro League Champions. The Tigers kept the game close for a time. They trailed 16-14 in the second quarter after trailing 16-0 to start the game however North Farmington answered and then some behind the play of Jacob Bousamara and Justus Whitehorn and just cruised from there. The Raiders will head to South Lyon next week.

I was shocked that Grand Blanc started fast against Clarkston, normally they are a slow starting team but that all changed on Friday night. The Bobcats used a fast pace offense very similar to what they did against Lake Orion against the Wolves which gave them a hard earned 42-35 victory at Clarkston. The Wolves needed running back Ethan Clark to come back in a big way and he did scoring a touchdown in this game but he fumbled the ball in the third quarter which set up a Grand Blanc drive. The air attack  the Bobcats showed against Clarkston proved to be a huge difference led by quarterback Ty Brotebeck and running back Elijah Jackson. The combo combined for three touchdowns through the air. Brotebeck had four passing touchdowns for Grand Blanc. They made a ton of impressive plays especially through the air with crazy one handed catches and a hook and latter that gave the Bobcats a 17-7 lead at the half. Grand Blanc really exposed the Wolves pass defense big time in this game. This is the most points that Clarkston allowed all season and the most since they allowed 64 points to Oak Park last season. Mike DePillo had three rushing touchdowns for the Wolves. Despite the loss of some key players return including DePillo, Clark, Cole Delinger, and Davis York. Clarkston should be back in the mix next season.

Stoney Creek used their strong offensive line and Cameron Burford against Chippewa Valley. Burford had 44 carries for 250 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-21 victory over the Big Reds on Friday night. It was their first ever postseason win as a school. The Cougars would score first behind a time possession football effort which led to a Burford score. Chippewa Valley answered with an explosive one play 84 yard passing play for a touchdown. Stoney Creek responded by scoring a 28 yard passing touchdown on fourth down and 16 thanks to Ryan Echout to Eric Boothe to make it 14-7 Stoney Creek. Burford in the third quarter  got a huge chunk of yardage but fumbled the ball which Grant Lowery recovered and scored a five yard touchdown making the score 21-7 Cougars. The Big Reds answered right back on their next drive to make the score 21-14 Stoney Creek. They would recover the onside kick and took advantage of a roughing the quarterback call which went in their favor. The call resulted in a huge touchdown to tie the game at 21-21. Burford would then answer giving the Cougars a 28-21 lead. The Stoney Creek defense stopped Chippewa Valley on their final drive and Burford sealed the deal for the Cougars which earned themselves a huge showdown at home with Romeo next week. I was not surprised at the outcome of this game. Stoney Creek is in a good spot right now.