Sports
Avondale Coach Deutsch Looks Forward to Another Battle with Hazel Park
When the teams met in August, the shootout took almost three-and-a-half hours to finish.
Hazel Park won the OAA Blue Division title this season. The Vikings can look back to the Week 2 fireworks display against Auburn Hills Avondale as a key to that title run.
Hazel Park won the old-fashioned shootout 58-50 in the highest-scoring game in Oakland County this season, as the two combined for 108 points in a barnburner that went down to the final couple of minutes.
The Vikings (8-1), who will entertain the Yellowjackets (6-3) at 7 p.m. Friday, in what could very well be one of the most entertaining games in Metro Detroit in terms of pre-district matchups.
"I know the guys are excited, and they are excited to play Hazel Park again," said Avondale coach Steven Deutsch. "The first time we played them, it was an incredible
game, with them beating us 58-50. We expect it to be another great game."
Both teams average over 40 points a game. When they met back in August, the game took nearly three and a half hours to complete.
"We were hoping to go north and get someone like Lapeer East, but we'll play who they say we'll play," said Avondale coach Steve Deutsch. "I wish they could have broken teams up from the same leagues. We're both in the same division of the OAA and we play every year."
This is Avondale's 12th postseason appearance — fourth in Deutsch's tenure. Last season the Yellowjackets dropped a double-overtime decision to Berkley on the final week of the regular season and missed the playoffs with a 5-4 record.
In 2008, Avondale dropped a road game to White Lake Lakeland (42-7) in its last playoff game, and that came one year after the Yellowjackets were 0-9.
Avondale and Hazel Park have played several times over the years.
"Perhaps both teams will play some defense this time. That could also be the difference," added Deutsch. "If find a way to stop the run and if they can stop our
passing game, it will be interesting because other guys will have to step up."
"The thing about Hazel Park is that you have to stop the running game," said
Deutsch. "You can't be in a situation where they have second-and-four, third-and two all night, because they'll keep moving the football on you. You have to stop them."
