Lake Orion High School varsity football returns five starters on offense and seven starters on defense from last year’s playoffs-qualifying team.
The Dragons also return their kicker, and head coach Chris Bell said they’ve added a strong junior class and a good group of seniors to the program.
‘We have a chance to be very good, and we expect to be in the hunt for the league championship, and another playoff berth,? he said.
Bell; in his eighth-year as head coach at Lake Orion, with a LOHS coaching record of 53 wins and 21 losses; said the team returns skilled offensive players, with a solid group of wide receivers.
‘We return both our starting running backs and our starting quarterback (Brad Hood),? he said.
Under Bell’s direction, the Dragons have won two league championships and qualified for the playoffs six of the last seven years, including four straight trips.
The team is assistant coached by Dave Tooley, defensive coordinator; John Blackstock, Jason Larsen, Chris Fristzching, Brad Fisher, Mike Heath, Doug Corliss, Eric Jennings and Joe Bodo.
This year’s team returns a ‘very fast and athletic defense,? Bell said.
‘We are a team of non-superstars, but a very solid and athletic group of high school football players,’said Bell.
The team’s major area of concern this season will be inexperience on their offensive line.
‘We should be very good up there, but there will be five new starters up front,? said Bell.
Last year, the Dragons were 6-4 overall, and 6-2 in OAA I (taking second place).
Besides Hood; who as quarterback last season had 17 touchdowns last season for 1,947 yards with only six interceptions; the Dragons also bring back David Wurst at wide receiver and Andy Miller at running back.
Wurst had 22 receptions for 201 yards as a sophomore last year. Miller had 119 carries for 718 yards and 10 touchdowns.
On offense, Lake Orion also returns fullback Steve Garver, who had 27 carries for 198 years and two touchdowns last year.
Defensively, the Dragons return defensive tackle Scott Avery (54 tackles and four sacks in 2004 season), defensive tackle Josh Allison (44 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 1 quarterback sack), and linebacker Chase Goff (66 tackles).
Also back on defense: Linebacker Shaun Vernon (56 tackles) and free safety Troy Anderlie (56 tackles, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions).
Bell said one of the team’s top returning athletes is Joe Nowicki, who will be playing wide receiver this season.
Nowicki had 16 carries for 124 years in 2004, with four receptions for 67 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, Nowicki had 38 tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception. He averaged over 24 yards per kick return, and over 14 yards per punt return, with one touchdown.
‘Joe is a threat every time he touches the ball,? Bell said.
The Dragons will begin their season by playing in the Big Prep Showdown at Eastern Michigan University, in a game against Troy.
The team begins their regular season against Rochester on Sept. 1, and play their first home game at LOHS against Southfield Lathrup on Sept. 16.