By Joe St. Henry
Review Special Writer
Lake Orion’s football season came to an end last Friday in a back-and-forth OAA crossover game versus Rochester Adams that featured six lead changes in the second half.
The Highlanders took the lead 30-26 with less than two minutes left in the contest and recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to end the Dragons? chances of a last-minute comeback.
Lake Orion finished the 2014 season 4-5 (4-3 OAA Red), missing the postseason for the first time in 15 years.
? Against Adams, it was really was a tale of two halves,? said Coach Chris Bell. ‘Defensively we played well in the first half, while our offense started out slow. In the second half, we scored on each of our possessions, but could not come up with the big stop defensively when we needed it.?
Behind 10-0 in the second quarter with only 1:50 left before halftime, Lake Orion’s offense finally got on track and mounted a 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive. It was capped by senior quarterback Cameron Kostiz’s 17-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Jaylen Wiggins with only ten seconds left before the break, pulling the Dragons to within three points, 10-7.
The third quarter started with Lake Orion on the march again. This time, the Dragons? senior running backs Matt Krause and Zach Serzo carried the offensive load on another 65-yard drive, with Serzo scoring from five yards out to give Lake Orion its first lead of the game, 14-10.
Throughout the season the Dragons? defense struggled to stop the big play and Rochester Adams converted a fake punt and a long fourth-down pass play on its next possession. The time-consuming, 17-play drive culminated in the Highlanders regaining the lead, 6-14, on a short touchdown run (point after blocked).
Lake Orion’s big-play capabilities were showcased on the ensuing kickoff, when Serzo returned the ball 57 yards to give the Dragons great field position at the Rochester Adams? 33-yard line. Three plays later, he slashed into the endzone for his second touchdown of the night to put Lake Orion back on top, 20-16 (two-point conversion failed).
‘Zach was a threat to score for us every time he touches the ball,? Bell said.
In the fourth quarter, Rochester Adams snatched the lead back on another long drive that put the home team in front, 23-20. The scoring was far from over, however, as Lake Orion’s offense continued to move efficiently and capped a nine-play drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone by senior Logan Shadaia (extra point no good), to give the Dragons the lead, 26-23.
At that point, one got the feeling that whichever team got the ball last would win the game. Rochester Adams took possession with six minutes left and mounted a 75-yard, 14-play scoring drive that put the Highlanders in front, 30-26.
Given the fact both offenses were seemingly moving at will, the Dragons? offense appeared to have a last shot to win the game with 1:30 on the clock. Unfortunately, the fumbled kick return effectively ended Lake Orion’s chances of pulling out an exciting victory at Rochester Adams, their sixth road game of the year.
‘Neither team could slow the other down in the second half,? Bell said. ‘It was a very competitive game, but they made a couple more plays than us at the end.?
Krause led the team with 160 yards rushing on 20 carries. He finished the season with 1,718 yards and 16 touchdowns. For the year, Serzo rushed for 556 yards and five touchdowns, plus 156 receiving yards and two more scores.
‘Those two are special football players,? Bell said. ‘A player like Matt and his explosiveness do not come around too often and Zach is a true competitor who played so hard every time he stepped on the field.?