After suffering two consecutive defeats, the Lake Orion High School Varsity Football Team returned to form on Oct. 24, just in time for playoff action to begin, as they defeated the Clarkston Wolves, 21-7.
The win earned the Dragons a share of second place in OAA Division I with the Wolves and the Highlanders of Rochester Adams.
In a match-up of two of Michigan’s previously rated top-10 teams, Lake Orion held Clarkston’s offense in check and rolled up 340 yards of total offense, behind the running of Chase Moore (93 yards, one touchdown), Roger Allison (87 yards, one touchdown), and Adam Martin (79 yards, one touchdown).
While the Dragons’ offense pounded the ball on the ground, it was the Orion defense that stepped up their game to stall two Wolves’ drives inside the Orion 20-yard line. Senior linebacker Roger Allison picked up 10 tackles and a sack, while fellow senior Trent Varva controlled the line of scrimmage, recording seven tackles and a sack.
Other exceptional defensive performers included Palmer Schoening, who managed seven tackles; and Mike Smietana, who picked up six tackles and a sack; and also Mike Ripari, recording six tackles and a key interception to stop a Clarkston drive.
Sophomore quarterback Brad Hood, in just his second varsity start after moving up from junior varsity to replace injured senior quarterback Nate Recknagel, was an efficient six of 10 passing for 69 yards, with junior receiver Ryan Allison hauling two of Hood’s passes for 48 yards. Roger Allison served as the Dragons’ work horse, carrying the ball 18 times.
The Dragons marched down the field on their first possession of the game, capped with a 41-yard run by Chase Moore with 7:22 remaining in the first quarter for a 7-0 Dragon lead. Lake Orion nursed the seven-point lead until late in the second quarter, when on the first play from scrimmage, after forcing a Clarkston punt, Martin scampered 79 yards for what would be the winning score. The extra point was blocked, giving Orion a 13-0 halftime lead.
The two teams played a scoreless third quarter, until 13 seconds into the fourth, when Clarkston quarterback Sam Palace scored from four yards out, closing Orion’s advantage to 13-7. Three minutes later, Roger Allison added the insurance touchdown for the Dragons with a two-yard scoring run. Hood hit Brian Hewitt for the two-point conversion to seal the win for the team.
Lake Orion will open their district play in District 1, Region 2, on Friday, Oct. 31, traveling to Flint Carman-Ainsworth. Both teams are 7-2 and game time is 7 p.m.