BY NORM MCKEE
Special to The Review
Despite a slow start offensively for the Lake Orion varsity football team, the Dragon defense kept West Bloomfield pinned deep in their own territory, until a 26-point Orion offensive explosion in the second half gave the team a 33-0 victory over the Lakers.
The Dragon defense, led by James Monko (11 tackles, three sacks) and Josh Allison (nine tackles, two sacks), held West Bloomfield at bay throughout the evening, while a stingy Orion secondary made passing nearly impossible.
Dragon quarterback Brad Hood got the offensive machine on track near the end of the first quarter, when the senior signal caller found Joe Nowicki for a 22-yard score.
Dylan Van Fossen’s extra point gave Orion a 7-0 lead, which the Dragons took into halftime.
Orion opened it up in the third quarter, when junior quarterback Chris Lum threw three touchdown strikes, including a 68-yard toss to Mike Tuzik, a 39-yarder to Nowicki and a 25-yard throw to David Wurst.
Cody Vettraino put an exclamation point on the game for the Dragons with a fourth quarter 50-yard scamper for a score.
Aaron Allen led the Orion defense with 96 yards on 13 carries, with Vettraino adding 63 yards on three carries, as the Dragons racked up 245 yards on the ground, and 207 in the air.
Hood completed four of eight passes for 37 yards and one score, while Lum finished the evening completing five of seven for 170 yards and three touchdowns.
Nowicki led all receivers with four catches for 76 yards and two TDs, while Wurst pulled in three catches for 58 yards and a TD. Tuzik had one catch for 68 yards and one score.
The Dragons host Birmingham Groves on Friday for the Homecoming game, starting at 7 p.m.