BY NORM MCKEE
Special to The Review
As if a rematch of one of Oakland County’s best rivalries wasn’t enough, there was also a district title on the line as the Lake Orion varsity football team clashed with the Clarkston Wolves once again on Nov. 4.
As the Dragons fought their way to a 30-20 victory, and a meeting with Macomb Dakota on Friday in the regional competition, Lake Orion’s rowdy student section at Dragon Stadium cheered at fever pitch.
The fans, estimated to number at least 6,000 on both the Orion and Clarkston sides, kept cheering, from the moment the Lake Orion Dragon arrived via helicopter to deliver the game ball, through the presentation of the district trophy, and through the players traditional rendition of ‘Push-on,? the LOHS fight song.
Even with Dragon running backs Aaron Allen, Andy Miller and Joe Nowicki combining for more than 230 yards on the ground, and Brad Hood connecting on five passes for 117 yards and a touchdown, the hero was the entire Orion defensive unit.
The Dragon defense turned in another Herculean effort, stalling the Wolves on key drives and winning the turnover battle.
The first half of Friday’s district contest saw exceptional defensive play from both sides, with the Wolves stopping the Dragons inside the Clarkston 10-yard line twice.
Finally, with 1:33 remaining in the first half, fullback Steve Garver powered through the line for a one-yard score.
Dylan VanFossen’s extra point put the Dragons up 7-0.
Just one minute later, Clarkston scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Eric Ogg. An offside penalty on the extra point gave Clarkston the ball on the one and a half yard line.
However, Lake Orion stopped the Wolves? two-point conversion attempt to end the half, 7-6.
Clarkston opened the second half by moving the ball on Orion, but their drive stalled in Dragon territory.
Lake Orion took over, marching to the Wolves? 34-yard line, as Hood found David Wurst for a 34-yard scoring strike with 8:39 to play in the third quarter.
VanFossen’s extra point made it 14-6, in favor of Orion.
On the first play of Clarkston’s ensuing possession, Josh Allison’s tackle of Ogg forced the Wolves? quarterback to fumble.
An alert Nick Dunstan picked up the ball and returned it to the Clarkston four-yard line.
On the next play, Allen scored the first of his two rushing TDs. VanFossen’s kick put Orion up, 21-6.
Just six minutes later, Allen scored again, on a five-yard run. VanFossen’s kick put the Dragons on top, 28-6.
Clarkston mounted two scores in the fourth quarter, including a three-yard run by Nick DeVault and a 73-yard pass from Ogg to Kevin Bagely, to close the gap, 28-20.
With 2:09 remaining in the contest, the Wolves took over on their own 14-yard line, for what they hoped would be a game-tying drive.
However, Orion’s James Monko had BY NORM MCKEE
Special to The Review
As if a rematch of one of Oakland County’s best rivalries wasn’t enough, there was also a district title on the line as the Lake Orion varsity football team clashed with the Clarkston Wolves once again on Nov. 4.
As the Dragons fought their way to a 30-20 victory, and a meeting with Macomb Dakota on Friday in the regional competition, Lake Orion’s rowdy student section at Dragon Stadium cheered at fever pitch.
The fans, estimated to number at least 6,000 on both the Orion and Clarkston sides, kept cheering, from the moment the Lake Orion Dragon arrived via helicopter to deliver the game ball, through the presentation of the district trophy, and through the players traditional rendition of ‘Push-on,? the LOHS fight song.
Even with Dragon running backs Aaron Allen, Andy Miller and Joe Nowicki combining for more than 230 yards on the ground, and Brad Hood connecting on five passes for 117 yards and a touchdown, the hero was the entire Orion defensive unit.
The Dragon defense turned in another Herculean effort, stalling the Wolves on key drives and winning the turnover battle.
The first half of Friday’s district contest saw exceptional defensive play from both sides, with the Wolves stopping the Dragons inside the Clarkston 10-yard line twice.
Finally, with 1:33 remaining in the first half, fullback Steve Garver powered through the line for a one-yard score.
Dylan VanFossen’s extra point put the Dragons up 7-0.
Just one minute later, Clarkston scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Eric Ogg. An offside penalty on the extra point gave Clarkston the ball on the one and a half yard line.
However, Lake Orion stopped the Wolves? two-point conversion attempt to end the half, 7-6.
Clarkston opened the second half by moving the ball on Orion, but their drive stalled in Dragon territory.
Lake Orion took over, marching to the Wolves? 34-yard line, as Hood found David Wurst for a 34-yard scoring strike with 8:39 to play in the third quarter.
VanFossen’s extra point made it 14-6, in favor of Orion.
On the first play of Clarkston’s ensuing possession, Josh Allison’s tackle of Ogg forced the Wolves? quarterback to fumble.
An alert Nick Dunstan picked up the ball and returned it to the Clarkston four-yard line.
On the next play, Allen scored the first of his two rushing TDs. VanFossen’s kick put Orion up, 21-6.
Just six minutes later, Allen scored again, on a five-yard run. VanFossen’s kick put the Dragons on top, 28-6.
Clarkston mounted two scores in the fourth quarter, including a three-yard run by Nick DeVault and a 73-yard pass from Ogg to Kevin Bagely, to close the gap, 28-20.
With 2:09 remaining in the contest, the Wolves took over on their own 14-yard line, for what they hoped would be a game-tying drive.
However, Orion’s James Monko had other ideas, chasing Ogg down in the end zone for a two-point safety, as the Dragons went on to win, 30-20.
Allison again led the Dragon defense, as the junior collected 10 tackles, two sacks, caused two fumbles and recovered another.
Troy Anderlie collected eight tackles and an interception, while Dunstan had five tackles, and Jake Gaudard collected six.
Hood finished the night five of 12 for 117 yards and a TD. Allen picked up 88 yards and two TDs, on 14 carries.
Miller finished with 80 yards on 20 carries, and Nowicki carried 10 times for 65 yards, to go along with two catches for 54 yards.Wurst had one catch for a TD.
The Dragons, now 9-2, face what may be their biggest test since a 1998 state semi-final loss to Rockford, as they take on Macomb Dakota on Nov. 11 for the regional crown.
Macomb Dakota knocked off top-ranked Sterling Heights Stevenson to host the Dragons again, after defeating Lake Orion last year in the first round.