It’s said in football that the greatest improvement occurs between the first and second games.
In the case of the Lake Orion varsity football team, that may have happened between the first and second day of the same game.
For the first half of football, played in Troy against the Troy Colts on Aug. 27, Lake Orion displayed some first game jitters, committing some untimely penalties and turning the ball over at inopportune times.
However, when play was halted just two minutes into the third quarter, due to lightning, the Dragons held on to a 7-0 lead, thanks to a five-yard first quarter touchdown reception by senior tight end Brian Hewitt.
After an hour’s delay, the game was rescheduled to pick up where it left off the next afternoon.
The Dragons wasted little time displaying their talent on Saturday, as they galloped past the Colts for two more scores and a 21-0 OAA I victory.
Junior quarterback Brad Hood finished the game 11 for 19 passing, for 146 yards and two touchdowns; including the first quarter score to Hewitt, and a 19-yard strike to senior Ryan Allison.
Allison led all receivers with five catches for 106 yards, while Hewitt grabbed three passes for 25 yards. David Wurst and Ryan Kelly had one catch each for 11 and seven yards, respectively.
Hood’s passing game opened up, thanks in large part to the running of senior Jayson Bodo and junior Andy Miller, who combined for 108 yards on 26 carries.
Miller opened the Dragons? scoring on Saturday’s second half with a 27-yard scamper. Place kicker David VanFossen, a sophomore, was perfect, connecting on all three extra point attempts.
The Dragons? defensive line, led by seniors Michael Burch, Mike Smietana and Jay Sucaet, kept the Colts? running game in check, while defensive backs Hewitt and Bobby Clouse each had an interception to end any scoring hopes for Troy.
The Dragons host Rochester on Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. for another OAA I match up; their final tune up before clashing with defending state champions Rochester Adams on Sept. 10 at Lake Orion.
The Dragon freshmen and JV football teams opened their respective seasons with wins on Aug. 26; with the freshmen team running past Troy, 44-28; and the JV squad doubling up on the Colts, 28-14.
The freshmen and JV teams play at Rochester on Wednesday, Sept. 1.