Friday’s Michigan High School Athletic Association First Round Playoff loss to Flint Carman-Ainsworth seemed to put an exclamation point on Lake Orion’s woes since they raced out to a dominating 6-0 record to start their 2003 campaign.
With injuries plaguing the Dragons’ defense, quarterback and kicking positions, coach Chris Bell knew that a few things had to fall Lake Orion’s way, if they were to make a legitimate state title run. The score, 28-0, was like a trick-or-treaters costume, disguising a game that was a defensive battle for both schools.
With the Cavaliers scoring on their first offensive possession and taking an early 7-0 lead, both teams knocked heads for more than three quarters, before Carman-Ainsworth pulled away late in the game, scoring 14 points in the game’s final minute.
Carman-Ainsworth capped a 70-yard drive on their first possession of the game with a seven-yard score by quarterback Chad Dixon. Both teams played even through the next three and a half quarters, with the only real scoring chance, a 30-yard field goal attempt by Carman-Ainsworth, blocked by the Dragons to end the first half.
With nine minutes remaining in the fourth the Dragons threatened to score with a third and one at the Cavaliers’ two-yard line. The Dragons were called for illegal motion and received a five-yard penalty. The flag moved the ball back to the seven-yard line, where the Cavaliers managed to hold, turning the ball over to Carman-Ainsworth on downs.
Just when it seemed Orion was going to hold the Cavaliers at their own two-yard line, facing third and 13, Dixon got off a desperation throw to a diving Otis Wiley at the Dragons’ 42-yard line, leading to a Carman-Ainsworth touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
With 5:31 remaining in the game, Lake Orion turned the ball over on downs at their own 26-yard line. The Cavaliers ran the clock down to 1:05 before scoring on a one-yard run and a 21-0 lead. Lake Orion took the ensuing kickoff and began to move the ball until, with just seven seconds remaining, Dragon quarterback Brad Hood was intercepted and the catch was returned 40 yards for the game’s final score.
The loss brought an end to a season full of promise, hope, success and disappointment for the Dragons. Just three weeks ago, Lake Orion was ranked second in the state and seemed to have an inside track to the Silver Dome.
But with key injuries and a few bad breaks, they will instead be watching the rest of the season from the stands. While they might have fallen short of their goals on the field, the coaches and players displayed the class and spirit that has come to be a Lake Orion trademark.
With an 8-1 junior varsity and an 8-0-1 freshman teams, as well as some talented returning varsity players, it looks like Coach Bell will continue putting a quality program on the field for years to come.