Week Seven Picks.

Written Tuesday October 2nd at 10:15 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 analyst and blogger, 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 57-21

TRAIN 59-19

DUNLAP 62-16

STICK 59-19

BURNEY 60-18

COTTER 58-20

Rochester at 1. Oak Park

This is a trap game for the Knights because the Falcons have been competitive as of late. Oak Park did beat Troy 26-9 last week but Rochester has lost three of their four games by a combined seven points including last week’s 27-24 loss to Harrison. This is an upset trap waiting to happen because if coach Greg Carter doesn’t get his team ready for this matchup then the upset could happen in Knight Valley.

DUNES: OAK PARK 28, ROCHESTER 27

TRAIN: OAK PARK 35, ROCHESTER 21

DUNLAP: OAK PARK 42, ROCHESTER 14

STICK: OAK PARK 28, ROCHESTER 21

BURNEY: OAK PARK 31, ROCHESTER 20

COTTER: OAK PARK 42, ROCHESTER 14

8. Oxford at 2. Clarkston

This is a huge game for the Wildcats to see where they stand against one of the top teams in the State and going on the road into a hostile environment. Oxford is coming off a 42-6 victory over Stoney Creek last week on the road but this week it gets much tougher as mentioned. The Wildcats have lost five straight to Clarkston however there is some optimism on the Oxford side that with their big wins over Romeo, Lake Orion, and they hung tough with West Bloomfield in the Swamp that maybe they could pull this one off. The Wolves are coming off a 55-7 blowout of Bloomfield Hills last week and really have not been tested since the Southfield Arts and Tech game but they haven’t played a game from behind yet which would be interesting. This game could be competitive to say the least on Clarkston’s homecoming.

DUNES: CLARKSTON 14, OXFORD 10

TRAIN: CLARKSTON 28, OXFORD 14          

DUNLAP: CLARKSTON 20, OXFORD 17

STICK: CLARKSTON 28, OXFORD 14

BURNEY: CLARKSTON 33, OXFORD 23

COTTER: CLARKSTON 28, OXFORD 14

Southfield Arts and Tech at 3. West Bloomfield

There are plenty of storylines heading into this game, its West Bloomfield’s homecoming and Anthony Rompf’s return to West Bloomfield after he transferred to Southfield Arts and Tech last offseason after he was the Lakers junior varsity quarterback. The Warriors have had a rough season against teams that are near or north of M-24 going 0-4 in that process. Southfield Arts and Tech has been outscored by teams that are near or north of M-24 by a 119-68 span including a 20-12 loss to Lake Orion on their homecoming last week. West Bloomfield is not near or north of M-24 but that will be the Warriors next opponent. The Lakers embarrassed Southfield Arts and Tech on their home field 62-35 last season eliminating them from the playoffs that season. West Bloomfield escaped Adams with a 24-20 victory last week. The Warriors have a tough schedule remaining with this game then Adams, and River Rouge to close out the season. Things could get real ugly this week in the Swamp.

DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 56, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 0

TRAIN: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 12

DUNLAP: WEST BLOOMFIELD 42, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 17

STICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 21, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 20

BURNEY: WEST BLOOMFIELD 34, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 18

COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 38, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 14

Adams at 4. Harrison

This is a monstrous game for the Highlanders because of where they sit. Adams sits at 3-3 after losing 24-20 at home to West Bloomfield last week. If the Highlanders can come into Farmington Hills and win, it would be a huge step if they want to make the playoffs. The Hawks had to survive 27-24 at Rochester last week on their homecoming. This is a very interesting matchup but Adams needs this game in the worst way, it would be tough for them to make it into the postseason if they finish at 5-4 because of their non-conference (Rochester and Stoney Creek are a combined 2-10) but a win over Harrison could change everything.

DUNES: ADAMS 24, HARRISON 21

TRAIN: HARRISON 24, ADAMS 21

DUNLAP: HARRISON 24, ADAMS 21

STICK: HARRISON 27, ADAMS 21

BURNEY: HARRISON 24, ADAMS 21

COTTER: HARRISON 24, ADAMS 21

Berkley at 5. Seaholm

Perhaps there is no hotter team right now than the Maples with the record and point production they have produced as of late. Seaholm has been competitive in their only loss against South Lyon (31-28) but they have been rolling people including a 58-8 beat down of Pontiac in front of the Maple Forest on homecoming last week. The Bears have been on a tailspin losing three straight games where they have been outscored 118-14 in that stretch including a 53-0 beat down against Avondale last week. It could be more of the same for Berkley this week in Birmingham.

DUNES: SEAHOLM 45, BERKLEY 0

TRAIN: SEAHOLM 49, BERKLEY 7

DUNLAP: SEAHOLM 35, BERKLEY 10

STICK: SEAHOLM 35, BERKLEY 14

BURNEY: SEAHOLM 35, BERKLEY 15

COTTER: SEAHOLM 49, BERKLEY 7

Troy at 6. Groves

Happy times are back again for the Falcons. In their four game winning streak, Groves has outscored the competition 154-48 and 91-13 in the last two weeks which included last week’s 42-6 blowout of Troy Athens. The Falcons will play a Colts team that has been abysmal, losing four straight games. Troy has been outscored 147-46 including losing 26-9 on their homecoming to Oak Park last week. It could get ugly in Beverly Hills this week.

DUNES: GROVES 63, TROY 7

TRAIN: GROVES 42, TROY 7

DUNLAP: GROVES 28, TROY 10

STICK: GROVES 31, TROY 14

BURNEY: GROVES 28, TROY 22

COTTER: GROVES 35, TROY 3

7. Ferndale at Pontiac

The Eagles are back and riding on all cylinders during their toughest four game road trip of the season including a 55-0 beat down at Hazel Park last week. Ferndale is on a three game winning streak where it has outscored their opponents 121-26 on that span. That span will likely increase at Wisner Stadium where they will take on a Phoenix team that looks lost. Pontiac is on a five game losing streak where they have been outscored 249-22 in that stretch including a 58-8 loss to Seaholm last week. It’s going to be a long week for the Phoenix.

DUNES: FERNDALE 66, PONTIAC 0

TRAIN: FERNDALE 49, PONTIAC 0

DUNLAP: FERNDALE 50, PONTIAC 0

STICK: FERNDALE 28, PONTIAC 13

BURNEY: FERNDALE 30, PONTIAC 10

COTTER: FERNDALE 56, PONTIAC 0

Royal Oak at 9. Avondale

This will be the biggest game of the season for the Ravens if they want to make the playoffs. With 5-4 likely not getting them into the postseason, this is Royal Oak’s playoff game right here. The Ravens won 14-7 at North Farmington last week. The Yellow Jackets are coming into this game finding their offense in a big way last week over Berkley beating them 53-0 on their homecoming. As mentioned if the Ravens don’t win in Auburn Hills then they a return trip to the playoffs is likely not in the cards.

DUNES: AVONDALE 42, ROYAL OAK 7

TRAIN: AVONDALE 49, ROYAL OAK 14

DUNLAP: AVONDALE 31, ROYAL OAK 13

STICK: AVONDALE 35, ROYAL OAK 28

BURNEY: AVONDALE 25, ROYAL OAK 21

COTTER: AVONDALE 35, ROYAL OAK 7

North Farmington at 10. Farmington

The Farmington Cup is one of those interesting trophies that will divide Farmington next season now that the Farmington School District will have two schools next season. The Falcons have won four of the last five trophy games. Farmington is coming off their first loss of the season losing 28-6 to a very good Madison Heights Madison team. The Raiders really disappointed last week losing 14-7 to Royal Oak. North Farmington’s defense has gotten better (allowing 42 total points in the last three games) but the offense has to get better. It will be a tricky chore for the Raiders this week against an angry Farmington team.

DUNES: FARMINGTON 35, NORTH FARMINGTON 21

TRAIN: FARMINGTON 3, NORTH FARMINGTON 2

DUNLAP: FARMINGTON 28, NORTH FARMINGTON 12

STICK: FARMINGTON 32, NORTH FARMINGTON 17

BURNEY: FARMINGTON 26, NORTH FARMINGTON 19

COTTER: FARMINGTON 42, NORTH FARMINGTON 0

Bloomfield Hills at Lake Orion

This is a big one for the Dragons on their homecoming after winning 20-12 over Southfield Arts and Tech on their homecoming last week putting their record at 3-3. Lake Orion has won three of four since losing to Oxford 28-7 and have outscored opponents 111-92 in that span. The Blackhawks have had a rough season thus far but have won the last two meetings at home against Lake Orion but as mentioned they have fallen on hard times as of late getting outscored 222-48 in their five game losing streak which included a 55-7 homecoming loss to Clarkston last week. It could be a long night for Bloomfield Hills if the Dragons are starting to put things together.

DUNES: LAKE ORION 42, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

TRAIN: LAKE ORION 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

DUNLAP: LAKE ORION 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

STICK: LAKE ORION 24, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 21

BURNEY: LAKE ORION 29, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 17

COTTER: LAKE ORION 49, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

Troy Athens at Stoney Creek

It’s been a challenging season for both teams as they come into this matchup with a combined 1-11 record. Both teams are building for the future after having tough seasons and fell by the same 42-6 scores to Oxford and Groves last week. The Cougars since their win over Utica Ford has allowed over 27 points in each game since their five game losing streak and seven of nine since October of last season. The Red Hawks are in a much tougher position going 1-23 since 2016 getting outscored 864-322 in that stretch. Someone will break a long dreaded losing streak this week.

DUNES: STONEY CREEK 24, TROY ATHENS 20

TRAIN: TROY ATHENS 21, STONEY CREEK 20

DUNLAP: TROY ATHENS 21, STONEY CREEK 17

STICK: STONEY CREEK 27, TROY ATHENS 20

BURNEY: STONEY CREEK 20, TROY ATHENS 18

COTTER: STONEY CREEK 21, TROY ATHENS 7

Hazel Park at Madison Heights Lamphere

This is an interesting matchup of two struggling teams coming into this game in Madison Heights on Madison Heights Lamphere’s homecoming no less. The Rams have lost seven of their last eight games coming into this game and on a three game losing streak where they have been outscored 149-39. The Vikings have allowed 142 total points this season but they allowed 55 to Ferndale in a 55-0 loss last week. This will be a future Macomb Area Conference rivalry to keep an eye on in the near future.

DUNES: MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 30, HAZEL PARK 14

TRAIN: MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 28, HAZEL PARK 6

DUNLAP: HAZEL PARK 28, MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 13

STICK: MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 21, HAZEL PARK 20

BURNEY: MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 27, HAZEL PARK 14

COTTER: MADISON HEIGHTS LAMPHERE 21, HAZEL PARK 6

Week Six Recap.

Written Saturday September 29th at 1:20 AM

INSIDE THE OAA TOP 10

1. Oak Park

2. Clarkston

3. West Bloomfield

4. Harrison

5. Seaholm

6. Groves

7. Ferndale

8. Oxford

9. Avondale

10. Farmington

Week Six Scores

AVONDALE 53, BERKLEY 0

Madison Heights Madison 28, FARMINGTON 6

ROYAL OAK 14, NORTH FARMINGTON 7

SEAHOLM 58, PONTIAC 8

FERNDALE 55, HAZEL PARK 0

OAK PARK 26, TROY 9

HARRISON 27, ROCHESTER 24

GROVES 42, TROY ATHENS 6

OXFORD 42, STONEY CREEK 6

WEST BLOOMFIELD 24, ADAMS 20

CLARKSTON 55, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

LAKE ORION 20, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 12

BIG WIN: West Bloomfield: The Lakers had trouble on Friday night in Rochester needed to survive a  rally to beat Adams 24-20. West Bloomfield had a 21-0 lead early but the Highlanders fought back making it a game but it wasn't enough. Adams still has a chance to make the playoffs but they will need to win next week at Harrison and in two weeks against Southfield Arts and Tech. The Lakers host Southfield Arts and Tech next week for their homecoming. It could be an interesting matchup in the Swamp that is for sure.

TOUGH LOSS: Rochester: The Falcons had three of their four losses by seven points or less and it included their 27-24 loss to Harrison on Friday night on their homecoming. Rochester has improved but the record hasn’t showed it. The Falcons will have Oak Park in Knight Valley next week while the Hawks host Adams.

TEAM THAT SENT A STATEMENT: Ferndale: It’s time to say that the Eagles are back. Ferndale had a 1-2 start but is rolling now winning three straight games including a 55-0 blowout at Hazel Park over the Vikings. The Eagles dominated and used a strong effort on both sides of the football including scoring five touchdowns in the second quarter. Ferndale travels to Wisner Stadium next week against Pontiac while Hazel Park travels to future Macomb Area Conference rival Madison Heights Lamphere.

TEAM THAT’S IN TROUBLE: Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors are in huge trouble after losing 20-12 to Lake Orion on Friday night on their homecoming. Southfield Arts and Tech has a tough schedule to close the season with three tough road games starting with a trip to the Swamp to take on another green and white team in West Bloomfield then they go to Adams in two weeks and then in three weeks they go to River Rouge. There are serious problems with the Warriors right now.

WHAT HAPPENED? Farmington: The Falcons couldn’t stop Austin Brown nor the Eagles running game on Friday night resulting in a 28-6 win for Madison Heights Madison over Farmington. The Falcons were without one of their top players in Donovan King whom was out with an injury but according to my source is that he is expected to play next week. Farmington will have a chance to bounce back next week at home for the Farmington Cup against North Farmington.

TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Pontiac: It has been a rough season for the Phoenix and it didn’t get any better on Friday night in Birmingham against the Maples of Seaholm which resulted in a 58-8 blowout on homecoming for Seaholm. Pontiac just didn’t stand a chance in this game and it was going to be a tall order for them to compete in this game. The road doesn’t get any easier for the Phoenix as they have Ferndale coming to Wisner Stadium next week.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME: North Farmington: The Raiders have a ton of experience but they fell to Royal Oak, a team that was rebuilding after making the playoffs for the first time since 2006, 14-7 on their homecoming. The Ravens have an interesting schedule to close out the season with Monroe Jefferson and Detroit Edison in two and three weeks respectively but the game that coach Ray McMann needs is at Avondale next week. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 53-0 blowout victory over Berkley on Friday night. For North Farmington this is inexcusable, they will need to bounce back next week when they go to Farmington to play for the Farmington Cup against the Falcons.

Week Six Picks.

Written Tuesday September 25th at 3:20 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 and blogger, 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 46-20

TRAIN 47-19

DUNLAP 51-15

STICK 47-19

BURNEY 49-17

COTTER 47-19

1. Oak Park at Troy

The Knights have been on a roll lately including winning on Troy Athens’s homecoming 33-14 last week. Oak Park is preparing for their final two games of the season when they play Clarkston and West Bloomfield. The Knights should have no issues with a Colts team that has been struggling lately including losing on their homecoming 35-20 to Rochester last week. It could get ugly for Troy against the Knights.

DUNES: OAK PARK 56, TROY 0

TRAIN: OAK PARK 49, TROY 7

DUNLAP: OAK PARK 43, TROY 7

STICK: OAK PARK 42, TROY 7

BURNEY: OAK PARK 33, TROY 20

COTTER: OAK PARK 42, TROY 10

2. Clarkston at Bloomfield Hills

The Wolves come in rolling as of late including a huge 30-21 victory last week over Southfield Arts and Tech. This week, Clarkston travels to Bloomfield Hills to face a struggling Blackhawks team that is coming off a 49-7 loss to Groves last week. Going from Groves to Clarkston then Lake Orion next week and then Oxford in two weeks is no easy task for the Blackhawks. It could be a long night for Bloomfield Hills on their homecoming.

DUNES: CLARKSTON 42, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0

TRAIN: CLARKSTON 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14    

DUNLAP: CLARKSTON 42, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0

STICK: CLARKSTON 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

BURNEY: CLARKSTON 31, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 17

COTTER: CLARKSTON 49, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

3. West Bloomfield at 10. Adams

The Lakers have been rolling lately but penalties have been an issue which is something that coach Ron Bellamy has to fix. The Lakers won 42-21 over Lake Orion last week in the Swamp. West Bloomfield this week goes back to Rochester to play the Highlanders. Adams lost 17-16 at home to the Lakers last week. The Highlanders got a huge win stunning Oxford 17-8 last week on the road getting their record to 3-2 on the season. If Adams can pull this one out then it would prove they are back.

DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, ADAMS 14

TRAIN: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, ADAMS 21

DUNLAP: WEST BLOOMFIELD 34, ADAMS 17

STICK: ADAMS 21, WEST BLOOMFIELD 20

BURNEY: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, ADAMS 21

COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, ADAMS 17

4. Harrison at Rochester

This will be an interesting matchup between the Falcons and Hawks on Rochester’s homecoming. The Falcons have been very competitive winning two of the last three games including last week’s 35-20 victory at Troy. Harrison blew out Stoney Creek 39-7 on its homecoming last Saturday. It could be a tense drama on Livernois and Walton Blvd.

DUNES: HARRISON 34, ROCHESTER 24

TRAIN: HARRISON 42, ROCHESTER 28

DUNLAP: HARRISON 31, ROCHESTER 17

STICK: HARRISON 24, ROCHESTER 21

BURNEY: HARRISON 30, ROCHESTER 22

COTTER: HARRISON 28, ROCHESTER 0

Pontiac at 5. Seaholm

This is homecoming week for the Maples in the Maple Forest and for Seaholm they are heading in the right direction even though they are 4-1. The Maples beat Royal Oak 41-21 last week. The Phoenix have been struggling including losing 48-0 to Hazel Park last week at Wisner Stadium. It could be a long night for Pontiac in Birmingham.

DUNES: SEAHOLM 77, PONTIAC 0

TRAIN: SEAHOLM 56, PONTIAC 0

DUNLAP: SEAHOLM 48, PONTIAC 0

STICK: SEAHOLM 28, PONTIAC 7

BURNEY: SEAHOLM 35, PONTIAC 15

COTTER: SEAHOLM 56, PONTIAC 0

6. Groves at Troy Athens

The Falcons have been rolling lately since starting 0-2 by winning three straight games including a 49-7 blowout of Bloomfield Hills last week. The Red Hawks have started to play better as of late and they took strides even though they lost 33-14 to Oak Park last week. Groves does have more athletes and depth than Troy Athens. It will be interesting to see what happens going forward.

DUNES: GROVES 35, TROY ATHENS 14

TRAIN: GROVES 42, TROY ATHENS 14

DUNLAP: GROVES 42, TROY ATHENS 0

STICK: GROVES 34, TROY ATHENS 14

BURNEY: GROVES 34, TROY ATHENS 18

COTTER: GROVES 35, TROY ATHENS 7

7. Farmington at Madison Heights Madison

This will be an interesting matchup between the Falcons and the Eagles. Farmington comes into this game unbeaten but it will be severely tested in Madison Heights against quarterback Austin Brown and the Eagles. Farmington’s offense will need to show up against this game against a very good Madison Heights Madison team. If the Falcons can score and keep their defense off the field then it could be possible that they could upset the Eagles. We shall see what happens in this matchup.

DUNES: MADISON HEIGHTS MADISON 28, FARMINGTON 14

TRAIN: MADISON HEIGHTS MADISON 35, FARMINGTON 7

DUNLAP: MADISON HEIGHTS MADISON 24, FARMINGTON 17

STICK: MADISON HEIGHTS MADISON 35, FARMINGTON 14

BURNEY: MADISON HEIGHTS MADISON 26, FARMINGTON 23

COTTER: MADISON HEIGHTS MADISON 26, FARMINGTON 21

8. Ferndale at Hazel Park

The Eagles have found themselves after beating Avondale 39-12 two weeks ago and last week won 27-13 over Birmingham Detroit Country Day. This week, Ferndale starts their four game road trip against Hazel Park. The Vikings rolled past Pontiac at Wisner Stadium 48-0 last week. It will be interesting to see what happens in this matchup.

DUNES: FERNDALE 77, HAZEL PARK 6

TRAIN: FERNDALE 63, HAZEL PARK 10

DUNLAP: FERNDALE 31, HAZEL PARK 10

STICK: FERNDALE 21, HAZEL PARK 20

BURNEY: FERNDALE 27, HAZEL PARK 17

COTTER: FERNDALE 44, HAZEL PARK 8

Royal Oak at 9. North Farmington

The Raiders have won two straight games and sit in an unusual position at 3-2 on the season. North Farmington won 22-14 at Hurley Field last week. This week, the Raiders will take on Royal Oak on their homecoming. The Ravens lost 41-21 to Seaholm last week and they need this game in the worst way as well. If Royal Oak can win this game then they would need to be Avondale next week with their next two games being favorable against Monroe Jefferson and Detroit Edison. It will be interesting to see what happens this week in Farmington Hills.

DUNES: NORTH FARMINGTON 24, ROYAL OAK 21

TRAIN: ROYAL OAK 6, NORTH FARMINGTON 3

DUNLAP: ROYAL OAK 17, NORTH FARMINGTON 14

STICK: ROYAL OAK 21, NORTH FARMINGTON 14

BURNEY: ROYAL OAK 21, NORTH FARMINGTON 14

COTTER: ROYAL OAK 28, NORTH FARMINGTON 14

Lake Orion at Southfield Arts and Tech

This is an interesting matchup on Southfield Arts and Tech’s homecoming between the Warriors and the Dragons. Southfield Arts and Tech lost 30-21 to Clarkston last week while Lake Orion lost 42-21 to West Bloomfield. The Warriors have a tough schedule to close out the season which includes this game this week followed by Adams, West Bloomfield, and River Rouge. This will be an interesting football game between two teams that need this game very bad.

DUNES: LAKE ORION 35, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 20

TRAIN: LAKE ORION 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 24

DUNLAP: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 27, LAKE ORION 13

STICK: LAKE ORION 24, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 22

BURNEY: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 28, LAKE ORION 27

COTTER: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 28, LAKE ORION 21

Berkley at Avondale

The Yellow Jackets have had some issues including being outscored 67-26 in the last two games which were losses, including a 28-14 defeat to Farmington. Avondale’s defense has had issues as mentioned. They have been struggling keeping Ferndale and Farmington out of the end zone. If the Yellow Jackets want to fix their issues then maybe Berkley could be the perfect team to do just that. The Bears have struggled losing two straight games including losing 22-14 to North Farmington last week at Hurley Field. It will be interesting to see what happens this week.

DUNES: AVONDALE 42, BERKLEY 7

TRAIN: AVONDALE 35, BERKLEY 21

DUNLAP: AVONDALE 21, BERKLEY 10

STICK: AVONDALE 34, BERKLEY 21

BURNEY: AVONDALE 24, BERKLEY 16

COTTER: AVONDALE 42, BERKLEY 7

Oxford at Stoney Creek

The Wildcats were rolling until last week when they were upset 17-8 by Adams last week. This week Oxford takes on a Stoney Creek team that is struggling lately. The Cougars lost 39-7 to Harrison last week in Farmington Hills. It will be interesting to see what happens in this game.

DUNES: OXFORD 31, STONEY CREEK 7

TRAIN: OXFORD 28, STONEY CREEK 7

DUNLAP: OXFORD 35, STONEY CREEK 14

STICK: OXFORD 24, STONEY CREEK 14

BURNEY: OXFORD 32, STONEY CREEK 18

COTTER: OXFORD 35, STONEY CREEK 7

Week Five Recap.

Written Saturday September 22nd at 3:20 PM

INSIDE THE OAA TOP 10

1. Oak Park

2. Clarkston

3. West Bloomfield

4. Harrison

5. Seaholm

6. Groves

7. Farmington

8. Ferndale

9. North Farmington

10. Adams

ADAMS 17, OXFORD 8

FARMINGTON 28, AVONDALE 14

FERNDALE 27, Birmingham Detroit Country Day 14

WEST BLOOMFIELD 42, LAKE ORION 21

CLARKSTON 30, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 21

GROVES 49, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

SEAHOLM 41, ROYAL OAK 21

ROCHESTER 35, TROY 20

NORTH FARMINGTON 22, BERKLEY 14

HAZEL PARK 48, PONTIAC 0

OAK PARK 33, TROY ATHENS 14

HARRISON 39, STONEY CREEK 7

BIG WIN: North Farmington: The Raiders have come from a long ways under coach Bob Chiesa but going into Hurley Field and winning is not an easy thing to do but that’s what North Farmington did on Friday night winning 22-14 in the process over the Berkley Bears. The Raiders host Royal Oak next week but things are looking up for North Farmington.

TOUGH LOSS: Troy: The Colts lost a tough one to Rochester 35-20 and are likely going to miss the playoffs this season. Troy whom made the postseason last season has struggled defensively and the schedule has toughen as well having to play Clarkston last week. The Colts host Oak Park next week.

WHAT HAPPENED: Oxford: Where did the Wildcats offense go on Friday night against an Adams team that was struggling heading into that matchup??? The Highlanders pulled off the biggest upset of the night stunning Oxford on the road 17-8 on Friday night. Adams hosts West Bloomfield next week while the Wildcats go to Stoney Creek.

TEAM THAT’S IN TROUBLE: Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors suffered a tough 30-21 home loss to Clarkston on Friday night. Southfield Arts and Tech still must play Lake Orion, West Bloomfield, Adams, and River Rouge to close the season. It could be a tough road for the Warriors this season if they want to make the playoffs for the first time in two years.

TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Lake Orion: The Dragons played well early against West Bloomfield but mental breakdowns and poor officiating cost Lake Orion in their 42-21 loss to the Lakers. The Dragons now sit at 2-3 needing to win out. They go to Southfield Arts and Tech next week. Lake Orion needs to fix some things and quick.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Avondale: The Yellow Jackets have not been the same since losing to Ferndale two weeks ago. They went into Farmington and lost 28-14 on Friday night. Avondale which had hope and an opportunity to do wonders now is struggling to find an identity. They are struggling right now.

Week Five Picks.

Written Wednesday September 19th at 8:00 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 analyst, blogger, 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 38-16

TRAIN 39-15

DUNLAP 41-13

STICK 39-15

BURNEY 40-14

COTTER 39-15

1. Oak Park at Troy Athens

This week it’s homecoming at Troy Athens but the football team has been struggling adjusting to new coach Billy Kennest’s system. The Red Hawks lost 42-14 last week at Lake Orion and has a tough matchup with the Knights. Oak Park has been rolling lately and will look to keep improving after last week beating Stoney Creek 41-14 in Knight Valley. It could be a long homecoming for Troy Athens.

DUNES: OAK PARK 52, TROY ATHENS 0

TRAIN: OAK PARK 42, TROY ATHENS 14

DUNLAP: OAK PARK 47, TROY ATHENS 6

STICK: OAK PARK 42, TROY ATHENS 6

BURNEY: OAK PARK 40, TROY ATHENS 20

COTTER: OAK PARK 44, TROY ATHENS 0

2. Clarkston at Southfield Arts and Tech

This is a big game for the Warriors especially with what they have coming up. Southfield Arts and Tech lost 41-28 to Oxford last week. The Wolves have been rolling behind their rushing attack and strong line play. Clarkston won 30-8 over Adams last week. The last time the Wolves went into Southfield they lost in overtime 24-18, something that the Warriors want a repeat performance of that game.

DUNES: CLARKSTON 21, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 14

TRAIN: CLARKSTON 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 14 

DUNLAP: CLARKSTON 34, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 13

STICK: CLARKSTON 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 20

BURNEY: CLARKSTON 31, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 21

COTTER: CLARKSTON 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 7

8. Lake Orion at 3. West Bloomfield

The Lakers have been rolling since losing to Clarkston a few weeks ago. West Bloomfield won 50-7 over Bloomfield Hills and has won five straight meetings against Lake Orion. The Dragons however have been improving lately including winning 42-14 over Troy Athens last week. It will be an interesting ball game between Lake Orion and the Lakers in the Swamp.

DUNES: LAKE ORION 28, WEST BLOOMFIELD 24

TRAIN: LAKE ORION 28, WEST BLOOMFIELD 27

DUNLAP: WEST BLOOMFIELD 42, LAKE ORION 14

STICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, LAKE ORION 21

BURNEY: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, LAKE ORION 24

COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 38, LAKE ORION 7

Stoney Creek at 4. Harrison

This will be Harrison’s final homecoming as a school as the game will be played on a Saturday afternoon. The Hawks bounced back from losing to Oak Park with a 39-10 victory last week over Troy. This week, Harrison takes on a Stoney Creek team that has been struggling losing three straight games including a 41-14 defeat to Oak Park last week. The Cougars are trying to get things adjusted under first year coach Nick Merlo. It will be an interesting matchup for both teams but athleticism favors the Hawks in this matchup.

DUNES: HARRISON 35, STONEY CREEK 14

TRAIN: HARRISON 42, STONEY CREEK 7

DUNLAP: HARRISON 41, STONEY CREEK 10

STICK: HARRISON 35, STONEY CREEK 14

BURNEY: HARRISON 30, STONEY CREEK 15

COTTER: HARRISON 38, STONEY CREEK 7

Adams at 5. Oxford

The Wildcats are rolling lately winning five of their last six games if you include last season. Oxford has found a foundation and it resulted in their 41-28 win over Southfield Arts and Tech last week. The Wildcats have been rising while the Highlanders have been going downward as of late. Adams has lost two straight games including a 30-8 loss to Clarkston last week. This is a must win game for the Highlanders, if not they are in some trouble.

DUNES: OXFORD 42, ADAMS 7

TRAIN: OXFORD 35, ADAMS 21

DUNLAP: OXFORD 24, ADAMS 17

STICK: OXFORD 28, ADAMS 24

BURNEY: OXFORD 35, ADAMS 27

COTTER: OXFORD 28, ADAMS 14

6. Seaholm at Royal Oak

The Maples will be looking for some revenge after losing a tough one to South Lyon 31-28 last week. Seaholm came from 21-0 down to tie the Lions until late in that game where they fell on a 32 yard field goal. This week, the Maples travel to Royal Oak to face a Ravens team that won the Curb back winning 37-0 over Berkley. Royal Oak will be tested against an experienced team like Seaholm has. It will be a tough task for the Ravens in this game.

DUNES: SEAHOLM 63, ROYAL OAK 0

TRAIN: SEAHOLM 42, ROYAL OAK 14

DUNLAP: SEAHOLM 35, ROYAL OAK 7

STICK: SEAHOLM 21, ROYAL OAK 20

BURNEY: SEAHOLM 33, ROYAL OAK 23

COTTER: SEAHOLM 42, ROYAL OAK 7

Bloomfield Hills at 7. Groves

The Falcons are rolling after starting off the season at 0-2 but those games were against Oak Park and West Bloomfield which should be a a pass. Groves defense has become a bit of a concern after what happened last week against Rochester even though they won 35-28. The Falcons offense has started to heat up in the last two weeks which is a positive. If there is any cure for a defense it could be that Groves has Bloomfield Hills this week. The Blackhawks lost 50-7 to West Bloomfield last week. It could be a long day for coach Dan Loria’s team in Beverly Hills.

DUNES: GROVES 56, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0

TRAIN: GROVES 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

DUNLAP: GROVES 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 17

STICK: GROVES 21, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 20

BURNEY: GROVES 34, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 21

COTTER: GROVES 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14

Avondale at 9. Farmington

This is a rematch of a 45-26 victory by the Yellow Jackets over Farmington. This time around the Falcons bring in a 4-0 record but their best win was over Ferndale 10-7. Farmington rolled past Hazel Park with a 48-6 win last week. Avondale was a scoring machine scoring 152 points in three straight weeks prior to their shocking 39-12 home loss to Ferndale. We don’t know where the mindset of the Yellow Jackets is right now but they need this matchup badly against the Falcons.

DUNES: AVONDALE 21, FARMINGTON 17

TRAIN: AVONDALE 35, FARMINGTON 28

DUNLAP: FARMINGTON 21, AVONDALE 17

STICK: AVONDALE 28, FARMINGTON 21

BURNEY: FARMINGTON 22, AVONDALE 21

COTTER: FARMINGTON 35, AVONDALE 12

Birmingham Detroit Country Day at 10. Ferndale

This is a rematch of last season’s 17-7 win by the Eagles over Birmingham Detroit Country Day in Beverly Hills. The Yellow Jackets have won five of their last six games including a 28-12 victory over Detroit Loyola last week. Ferndale sent a statement when they went to Auburn Hills and stunned Avondale 39-12 last week. The Eagles were scuffling a bit after losing two straight prior to their game against the Yellow Jackets. It will be an interesting game in Ferndale but every game is huge from here on out.

DUNES: FERNDALE 24, DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 21

TRAIN: FERNDALE 24, DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 21

DUNLAP: FERNDALE 24, DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 14

STICK: DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 28, FERNDALE 19

BURNEY: DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 27, FERNDALE 20

COTTER: DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 17, FERNDALE 7

Rochester at Troy

This week is the Colts homecoming but the football team has had some issues as of late. Troy has been outscored in their last two games by a combined 86-17 including last week’s 39-10 loss to Harrison. This week the Colts will take on a Rochester team that has been in a ton of close games lately. The Falcons lost a tough one 35-28 last week to Groves. Rochester’s defense has been a major concern as they have allowed 20 points in every game this season. If they can keep their points allowed below 20 points then maybe they can do some damage. It will be interesting between the Falcons and Troy.

DUNES: ROCHESTER 42, TROY 7

TRAIN: ROCHESTER 35, TROY 14

DUNLAP: TROY 21, ROCHESTER 20

STICK: ROCHESTER 28, TROY 14

BURNEY: ROCHESTER 29, TROY 28

COTTER: TROY 31, ROCHESTER 21

North Farmington at Berkley

The Raiders bounced back in a big way beating Pontiac 34-14 at home last week. Looking at the schedule moving forward, it looks favorable for North Farmington if they want to make a run. This week, coach Bob Chiesa’s Raiders will take on a Bears team that was humiliated last week by Royal Oak 37-0. Berkley coach Sean Shields has had trouble with his offense especially with turnovers. Turnovers have plagued his team in recent weeks which is something that needs fixing. If North Farmington’s experience pays off  and causes turnovers against Berkley at Hurley Field then the Raiders will be heading in the right direction.

DUNES: NORTH FARMINGTON 35, BERKLEY 14

TRAIN: BERKLEY 28, NORTH FARMINGTON 14

DUNLAP: NORTH FARMINGTON 27, BERKLEY 17

STICK: BERKLEY 14, NORTH FARMINGTON 13

BURNEY: BERKLEY 26, NORTH FARMINGTON 19

COTTER: BERKLEY 35, NORTH FARMINGTON 6

Hazel Park at Pontiac

The Vikings suffered a rough loss last week at the hands of Farmington 48-6. This week Hazel Park will go to Wisner Stadium and take on a Pontiac team that has really struggled including losing 34-14 to North Farmington last week. The Phoenix have been outscored 146-14 in their last three games, which is not good. This is something that coach Charles Talley needs to get fixed. Vikings coach Kyle Rowley has his own problems that his team needs to fix as well. This looks to be an interesting matchup on paper.

DUNES: PONTIAC 14, HAZEL PARK 7

TRAIN: HAZEL PARK 6, PONTIAC 3

DUNLAP: HAZEL PARK 34, PONTIAC 12

STICK: HAZEL PARK 21, PONTIAC 7

BURNEY: HAZEL PARK 27, PONTIAC 17

COTTER: HAZEL PARK 26, PONTIAC 8

Podcast

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Week Four Recap.

Written Friday September 14th at 11:50 PM

INSIDE THE OAA TOP 10

1. Oak Park

2. Clarkston

3. West Bloomfield

4. Harrison

5. Oxford

6. Seaholm

7. Groves

8. Lake Orion

9. Farmington

10. Ferndale

Week Four Scores

ROYAL OAK 37, BERKLEY 0

FERNDALE 39, AVONDALE 12

NORTH FARMINGTON 34, PONTIAC 14

GROVES 35, ROCHESTER 28

South Lyon 31, SEAHOLM 28

HARRISON 39, TROY 10

OXFORD 41, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 28

OAK PARK 41, STONEY CREEK 14

LAKE ORION 42, TROY ATHENS 14

WEST BLOOMFIELD 50, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7

FARMINGTON 48, HAZEL PARK 6

CLARKSTON 30, ADAMS 8

BIG WIN: North Farmington: The Raiders are 2-2 on the season with a 34-14 home victory over Pontiac. North Farmington has a ton of starters back from a team that has struggled in recent years. They have seem to be improving under coach Bob Chiesa. The schedule looks favorable for North Farmington even though they have to travel to Hurley Field to face a Berkley team that was destroyed by Royal Oak 37-0. The Phoenix will get back to the drawing board next week when they have Hazel Park coming to Wisner Stadium.

TOUGH LOSS: Rochester: The battle of Falcons occurred on Friday night but it was Groves that had to survive against Rochester winning 35-28. Rochester has been an odd team to figure out they had trouble with Troy Athens two weeks ago and Adams early in the season. Groves is back at 500 at 2-2 on the season while Rochester drops to 1-3. Groves plays Bloomfield Hills next week. Rochester travels to Troy to play the Colts.

TEAM THAT SENT A MESSAGE: Oxford: The Wildcats are going to be a playoff team this season thanks to a statement 41-28 win over Southfield Arts and Tech. Oxford had a game plan against the Warriors defense thanks to the play of Drew Carpenter and Trent Myre. The schedule gets tougher for Southfield Arts and Tech whom sits at 2-2 on the season as they have to play West Bloomfield, Lake Orion, and Clarkston that looms. The Wildcats host Adams next week.

WHAT HAPPENED: Avondale: The Yellow Jackets were a scoring machine including scoring 67 points last week. That was until they ran into Ferndale. The Eagles got a measure of revenge after losing 21-13 last season at home, they went into Auburn Hills and pounded Avondale 39-12 on Friday night. The Yellow Jackets struggled against a very big and athletic line that Ferndale has. I’m shocked that Avondale had trouble scoring in this game. The Eagles looked like they might have saved their season with this win going to 2-2 while the Yellow Jackets drop to 3-1 on the season. Ferndale hosts Birmingham Detroit Country Day next week while Avondale travels to Farmington.

ITS TIME TO PANIC: Adams: If losing to Lake Orion at home last week wasn’t bad enough for the Highlanders then losing to Clarkston 30-8 may be worse. Adams was down 16-8 in the middle of the third quarter but the Wolves pulled away late. The Highlanders who sit at 2-2 on the season still has to play Oxford, West Bloomfield, Harrison, and Southfield Arts and Tech. Trouble is looming for coach Tony Patrino’s team here.

TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Seaholm: The Maples fought from a 21-0 second quarter deficit to tie the score at 28-28 against South Lyon however it wasn’t meant to be as the Lions kicked a winning 32 yard field goal to beat Seaholm 31-28 in South Lyon. The Maples (3-1) will be fine for the rest of the season but this one is a tough one to take. Seaholm will be back in league next week when they play at Royal Oak.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???: Berkley: So much for harmony but what the heck happened to the Bears after they were destroyed by Royal Oak 37-0 on Friday night dropping their record to 2-2 on the season. The Ravens whom is also 2-2 dominated in all three phases of the game and getting the Curb trophy for the first time in five years in the process. Royal Oak hosts Seaholm next week while Berkley has North Farmington coming to Hurley Field.

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.
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