OAA Sideline Report: Football Recap, Week 7: Crossover Week Set

With only two weeks to play, they’re a lot of anxious Oakland Activities Association football fans out there.

Eight teams from across the conference are sitting at 5-2, one win away from automatically qualifying for the playoffs, while four others are 4-3 overall and need to win their last two games of the season to make it.

This week things will get interesting with all the OAA White teams visiting their OAA Red counterparts.

Discussion Points

Quote of the Week: coach Josh Heppner didn’t beat around the bush on Friday night about how his offense performed in the second half against Lake Orion:

“The second half blew my mind,” Heppner said. “What you say from Sam Haskell at the end, is what we’ve been doing all year long. We’ve been averaging close to 31 points a game and 335 yards offense. We obviously didn’t do that today, and that was thoroughly disappointing.”

Stat of the Week: With the rushing yards put up last week, fans might’ve thought it was week one and not week seven. Defenses in the OAA were run over again and again and again last week. Adams, Groves, Troy Athens and all gave up more than 300 yards rushing. Both schools from Troy actually gave up more than 400 total rushing yards. And how did the teams fare last week? All four lost.

Player of the Week: Jacob Miller (RB; Lake Orion) is still picking up rushing yards against Troy Athens. The junior ran for a career high 284 yards on 35 carries and three touchdowns. He scored his the Dragons first 21 points and helped his team run out the clock in the second half.

Honorable Mentions – Brandon Thornton (RB; Ferndale), Lorenzo Collins (RB; Harrison).

Out of Bounds: A couple of Lions were spotted on the field this week at the Harrison and Adams game on Thursday, but don’t worry no one was hurt.

It was actually Matthew Stafford and Drew Stanton to watch Stanton’s alma mater (the Hawks) win 48-21 over the Highlanders. Fans spotted the quarterbacks and started a “Matthew Stafford” chant. Stanton signed autographs for fans after the game.

Playoff Picture (NEW!)

OAA Blue

No team has earned automatic qualifying status yet. Groves, and are one win away at 5-2. Avondale and Lahser are both at 4-3 and need two wins to qualify, but since the schools play each other this week only one team will have a chance in their respective season finales to qualify. Berkley lost last week so they are out at 3-4. 

OAA Red

Lake Orion is now in. The Dragons are 6-1 overall and will have a shot to defend its state championship. They beat Troy Athens, which will have two more tries to qualify at 5-2. Troy’s second consecutive loss put them at 3-4 and out of the playoff picture.

OAA White

Harrison qualified two weeks ago, so the teams still fighting for a spot in the region are Farmington and Adams. The Falcons are 5-2 and have to one win of their final two games while Adams will need to win its last two games.

Game Highlights

1^ST DOWN: LAKE ORION over Troy Athens 28-14 – .

What we learned: Lake Orion acted like a football team with sometime to prove last week. Troy Athens kept things close in the first half and that made the Dragons angry. It came out and showed it can pound the ball up the middle. Its offensive line was really impressive in the win.  

Question Marks: Athens has allowed a lot of yards on the ground the last two weeks and that had head coach Josh Heppner very concerned.

Lake Orion, a team with a very good passing offense, didn’t even bother to throw the ball in the second half. It ran 24 consecutive run plays and still reeled off first down after first down. How the defensive line responds next week will dictate where the Red Hawks go from here.

Next Week: Lake Orion hosts Harrison in the game of the week on Friday at 7 p.m. while Troy Athens hosts Southfield on Friday at 7 p.m. Both games are OAA Crossover games. The Dragons game is the one seed matchup and the Athens game is the three seed.

Full Recap: For a recap with quotes from both coaches And for a link to a live blog of the game

2^nd DOWN: NORTH FARMINGTON over Avondale 28-13 

What we learned: North Farmington’s offensive line is the real deal. Avondale’s size up front on defense didn’t give them any kind of advantage against the Raiders and running back Kevin Miller nearly topped 100 yards again in the win.

Question Marks: Where’d the offense go? In the not-so-distant past, Avondale was a team that would put up 50 points no problem. Now? It’s struggling to get over 20. Four-year starter Mitch Robinson hasn’t meshed well with his relatively inexperienced receivers and the running game hasn’t been consistent enough to keep the Yellow Jackets score points. 

Next Week:  Avondale hosts Lahser in a must-win game on Friday at 7 p.m., and North Farmington will have a chance to qualify for playoffs at Andover on Friday at 7 p.m.

3^rd DOWN: Harrison over ADAMS 48-21

What we learned: Harrison’s offense continues to impress. The Hawks scored over 40 points for the fourth time this season against a solid Adams defense. Lorenzo Collins has been a revelation at running back and could be a key piece in Harrison’s run to a second consecutive title.

Question Marks: Does Adams have anything left in the tank? The Highlanders knew coming into the year it would be a challenge to make the playoffs with low numbers on the varsity squad and depth has been issue throughout the year. They need to win their last two games of the season to get in the playoffs.

Next Week: Adams visits Troy on Friday at 7 p.m. and Harrison visits Lake Orion on Friday at 7 p.m.   

Recap: For a quick recap

4^th DOWN: UPSET ALERT Ferndale over GROVES 27-13

What we learned: Groves defense has now allowed 27 points five times this season and that has put its offense in a bad spot at times this season. Keon Collier and Joe Mayone have helped the Falcons average 30 points a game, but everybody has an off day. Groves needs its defense to make some more plays to help keep opponents out of the end zone.

Question Marks: Will Ferndale continue to play spoiler? It knocked a first place Avondale team down earlier in the season and it did the same thing to Groves. The Eagles seem to play up, and down, to its competition. Seaholm is a very good offense, the question is – what Ferndale team will show up? The one that beat Avondale 23-22 or lost to Berkley 7-0.

Next Week: Ferndale hosts Seaholm on Friday at 7 p.m. and Groves hosts Owosso in its only non-conference game of the season on Friday at 7 p.m.

Other Results

OAA Blue 

Flint Northwestern over ANDOVER 35-28

Hazel Park over LAHSER 24-22

SEAHOLM over Berkley 38-17

OAA Red

Clarkston over ROYAL OAK 45-7 –

Pontiac over TROY 50-24 –

Rochester over WEST BLOOMFIELD 31-17

OAA White

FARMINGTON over Stoney Creek 27-0

Next Week (all games have 7 p.m. start times)

Game to Watch: Harrison at Lake Orion (Friday; Oct. 14) 

Friday (Oct. 14)

Berkley at Hazel Park

Lahser at Avondale

North Farmington at Andover

Owosso at Groves

Seaholm at Ferndale

Adams at Troy

FaFarmington at Pontiac

Lathrup at Royal Oak

Oak Park at West Bloomfield

Oxford at Clarkston

Southfield at Troy Athens

Stoney Creek at Rochester

Previous weeks 

Have you missed any of our previous weekly recaps? Here’s a chance to catch up…

Sideline Report –

Sideline Report –

Sideline Report –

Sideline Report –

Sideline Report –

Sideline Report –

Preseason Preview – 39-Page Look Ahead