Week Four Picks.

Written Wednesday September 12th at 6:10 PM

Welcome to the 2018 OAA football season. We will pick games this season with my good friends in the media this season. These 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 29-13

TRAIN 30-12

DUNLAP 30-12

STICK 29-13

BURNEY 30-12

COTTER 30-12

Stoney Creek at 1. Oak Park

This is a matchup that doesn’t favor well for the Cougars. Stoney Creek lost 28-6 last week to Groves at home. They lost 48-0 to Oak Park last season at Rochester. The Knights have gotten better playing through the toughest part of their league schedule with wins over Groves (13-7) and Harrison (23-15) last week. It could be a blowout looming this week in Knight Valley.

DUNES: OAK PARK 42, STONEY CREEK 6

TRAIN: OAK PARK 49, STONEY CREEK 7

DUNLAP: OAK PARK 42, STONEY CREEK 6

STICK: OAK PARK 35, STONEY CREEK 7

BURNEY: OAK PARK 28, STONEY CREEK 14

COTTER: OAK PARK 38, STONEY CREEK 0

2. Seaholm at South Lyon

These are two teams that are surprises this season with both teams at 3-0 after both squads had 1-8 records last season. This is the first meeting between the teams. The Maples are rolling, putting up 141 points in the last three weeks including a 47-6 win over North Farmington last week. Seaholm will go into South Lyon and face a Lions team that is quietly making some noise in the Lakes Valley Conference, although the Lions still have to play Walled Lake Western and Waterford Mott they did upset Lakeland 17-14 last week. I think this is a bigger game for South Lyon than the Maples. This could be a shootout.

DUNES: SEAHOLM 42, SOUTH LYON 31

TRAIN: SOUTH LYON 24, SEAHOLM 21    

DUNLAP: SOUTH LYON 23, SEAHOLM 16

STICK: SOUTH LYON 24, SEAHOLM 21

BURNEY: SEAHOLM 34, SOUTH LYON 33

COTTER: SOUTH LYON 24, SEAHOLM 21

10. Adams at 3. Clarkston

The Wolves after having two close games needed a blowout win and they got it in beating Troy on the road 47-7 last week. Clarkston will try to avenge one of their losses last season when they play Adams. The Highlanders beat the Wolves 21-14 last season but this season Adams has been living on the edge with their first two wins coming by a combined four points but last week the Highlanders opened up their home field and lost a 28-24 heartbreaker to Lake Orion. We don’t know where the mindset of Adams is after the loss to the Dragons but this is a game that they need badly. It will be interesting to say the least.

DUNES: CLARKSTON 24, ADAMS 20

TRAIN: CLARKSTON 28, ADAMS 14

DUNLAP: CLARKSTON 31, ADAMS 10

STICK: CLARKSTON 27, ADAMS 21

BURNEY: CLARKSTON 31, ADAMS 24

COTTER: CLARKSTON 42, ADAMS 14

4. West Bloomfield at Bloomfield Hills

The Lakers have seemed to get back on track since losing 28-25 to Clarkston two weeks ago but they had to survive 28-24 last week against Oxford in the Swamp. West Bloomfield has won five of six against Bloomfield Hills. The Blackhawks struggled last week losing 44-6 to Southfield Arts and Tech. Bloomfield Hills could be in some trouble in this matchup but remember they upset the Lakers in the pre-districts in Boys Basketball last season, there is always a chance.

DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 52, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 6

TRAIN: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

DUNLAP: WEST BLOOMFIELD 34, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 13

STICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

BURNEY: WEST BLOOMFIELD 27, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 13

COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 47, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

Troy at 5. Harrison

The Hawks should be in a bad mood after what happened to them losing 23-15 to Oak Park. Harrison beat Troy 30-3 last season. The Colts lost 47-7 to Clarkston last week and with them already losing to Avondale there is really no room for error for Troy. The Hawks are more talented and at home against the Colts could be in some trouble this week.

DUNES: HARRISON 42, TROY 7

TRAIN: HARRISON 49, TROY 0

DUNLAP: HARRISON 42, TROY 0

STICK: HARRISON 28, TROY 14

BURNEY: HARRISON 30, TROY 20

COTTER: HARRISON 42, TROY 7

Ferndale at 6. Avondale

The Yellow Jackets have been a scoring machine, scoring 149 points in three games including a 67-0 blowout of Pontiac at Wisner Stadium last week. The Eagles have been struggling since they played Seaholm where they were blown out 53-8 two weeks ago and Farmington 10-7 last week (both games were at home.) Ferndale has been outscored 63-15 in the process. Avondale beat Ferndale 21-13 on the road last season. If the Eagles can get this one it might turn their season around.

DUNES: AVONDALE 35, FERNDALE 28

TRAIN: AVONDALE 42, FERNDALE 21

DUNLAP: AVONDALE 27, FERNDALE 13

STICK: AVONDALE 30, FERNDALE 21

BURNEY: AVONDALE 35, FERNDALE 25

COTTER: AVONDALE 21, FERNDALE 14

8. Southfield Arts and Tech at 7. Oxford

This will be an interesting matchup as the Warriors have to travel north to Oxford to take on a Wildcats team that has improved. Southfield Arts and Tech has outscored their competition 83-13 since losing 28-7 to Davison two weeks ago. The Warriors destroyed Bloomfield Hills at home 44-6 last week. Oxford was in the game late with West Bloomfield but the Wildcats fell 31-24 last week. The Wildcats are as dangerous as anyone and especially on the blue turf it’s anyone’s ball game. This will be a heck of a game.

DUNES: OXFORD 30, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 24

TRAIN: OXFORD 20, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 16

DUNLAP: OXFORD 23, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 20

STICK: OXFORD 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 27

BURNEY: OXFORD 23, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 22

COTTER: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 26, OXFORD 21

Hazel Park at 9. Farmington

The Falcons have been rolling as of late winning three straight games, which included a 10-7 victory on the road at Ferndale. Farmington should be motivated against Hazel Park after losing to them 18-7 last season. The Vikings have only scored 18 points in two weeks since putting 50 on Detroit University Prep two weeks ago. Hazel Park has been going on a downward trend lately including a 16-12 home loss to Royal Oak last week. Could this season, be the revenge of the Falcons???

DUNES: FARMINGTON 21, HAZEL PARK 6

TRAIN: FARMINGTON 17, HAZEL PARK 7

DUNLAP: FARMINGTON 21, HAZEL PARK 10

STICK: FARMINGTON 21, HAZEL PARK 20

BURNEY: FARMINGTON 29, HAZEL PARK 19

COTTER:  FARMINGTON 49, HAZEL PARK 6

Groves at Rochester

I’ve had several Groves fans say that they should be back in the rankings, well they will be there soon after winning 28-6 last week at Stoney Creek and playing a n early season brutal schedule in West Bloomfield and Oak Park. The Falcons schedule will lighten up a bit with the competition ranks but they are starting to get back to their winning ways. Rochester fresh off a 23-20 overtime win over Troy Athens has had a fair share of tough close games including losing 28-27 to Adams in double time. I don’t think this game will go overtime this week.

DUNES: GROVES 35, ROCHESTER 14

TRAIN: GROVES 28, ROCHESTER 0

DUNLAP: GROVES 35, ROCHESTER 0

STICK: ROCHESTER 21, GROVES 14

BURNEY: GROVES 28, ROCHESTER 21

COTTER: GROVES 28, ROCHESTER 0

Troy Athens at Lake Orion

This will be an interesting matchup. The Red Hawks are coming off a 23-20 overtime home loss to Rochester and are off to a tough 0-3 start. The last time that coach Billy Keenest and Troy Athens went into Lake Orion they shocked the Dragons 21-14 in 2015 but Lake Orion has won two straight over the Red Hawks. The Dragons whom two weeks ago seemed to have hit rock bottom but they pulled off a stunning 28-24 win at Adams last week. Lake Orion seems to have found some offense but the defense is still a work in progress.

DUNES: LAKE ORION 35, TROY ATHENS 14

TRAIN: LAKE ORION 35, TROY ATHENS 7

DUNLAP: LAKE ORION 28, TROY ATHENS 10

STICK: LAKE ORION 28, TROY ATHENS 14

BURNEY: LAKE ORION 34, TROY ATHENS 24

COTTER: LAKE ORION 28, TROY ATHENS 7

Berkley at Royal Oak

This is a rivalry game that features a trophy called the Curb which is on the line. The Bears have won two straight games since losing to Farmington in week one. Berkley has not been impressive as of late needing to survive against Warren Lincoln 13-12 last week at Hurley Field despite being 2-1 on the season. The Ravens got a big defensive stand last week at Hazel Park winning 16-12 getting their first win of the season. The Bears have won three of four against Royal Oak. This matchup will be interesting in the Ravens nest.

DUNES: BERKLEY 17, ROYAL OAK 14

TRAIN: BERKLEY 24, ROYAL OAK 23

DUNLAP: ROYAL OAK 17, BERKLEY 14

STICK: ROYAL OAK 23, BERKLEY 20

BURNEY: BERKLEY 24, ROYAL OAK 23

COTTER: BERKLEY 28, ROYAL OAK 14

Pontiac at North Farmington

These are two teams that are coming in reeling a bit. The Raiders lost 47-6 to Seaholm last week and are off to a 1-2 start. They will be facing a Phoenix team that is also 1-2 but was destroyed 67-0 by Avondale last week at Wisner Stadium. North Farmington coach Bob Chiesa got his first win as Raiders coach last season when they beat Pontiac 26-16 at home. The Raiders are a different team than last season but the Phoenix to what I saw on film did not look good at all.

DUNES: NORTH FARMINGTON 30, PONTIAC 16

TRAIN: NORTH FARMINGTON 28, PONTIAC 0

DUNLAP: NORTH FARMINGTON 28, PONTIAC 6

STICK: NORTH FARMINGTON 21, PONTIAC 19

BURNEY: NORTH FARMINGTON 17, PONTIAC 10

COTTER: NORTH FARMINGTON 28, PONTIAC 6

Here is the Podcast this week.
https://soundcloud.com/user-539915961/oaa-now-091018