In a game that saw five lead changes and two of the state’s top receivers; in the Lake Orion’s Ryan Allison and the Southfield Lathrup’s Andre Rison Jr.; both teams displayed plenty of power from the ground on Sept. 17, as the Chargers eventually took the lead for good with just over two minutes remaining, to capture the OAA crossover varsity football game, 22-19, over Lake Orion.
After playing to a scoreless first quarter, the Lathrup Chargers opened the scoring two minutes into the second quarter, when running back Jarrett Beavers scored on the first of his two touchdowns on a nine-yard run, putting the Chargers up, 6-0.
Five minutes later, the Dragons? Andy Miller scored on the first of his three touchdowns, on an 18-yard run, capping a 70-yard Dragon drive.
Sophomore Dylan VanFossen’s extra point gave Lake Orion a 7-6 lead.
After holding the Chargers? next drive, Orion got the ball deep in their own territory. Unable to move the ball, the Dragons were forced to punt. The snap, however, sailed over the punter’s head, into the end zone for a Lathrup safety and an 8-7 Charger lead.
Midway through the third quarter, Miller struck again for the Dragons, this time from one yard out, to give Orion a 13-8 lead.
The Dragons? lead didn’t last long, as Beavers found the end zone again from 15 yards out, taking the Chargers up, 14-13.
On the Dragons? next possession, Miller put Orion on top again, 19-14, with a 14-yard scoring scamper.
Lake Orion’s lead held, until with just 2:30 remaining in the game, and the Chargers facing fourth and eight from the Lake Orion 18-yard line, Lathrup quarterback Stephon Thompson found Ali Anderson for the scoring strike, to give the Chargers a 22-19 victory.
Miller finished the night with 211 yards on 31 carries, including three touchdowns. Junior quarterback Brad Hood completed 10 of 16 pass attempts for 67 yards, with six of those going to Ryan Allison, good for 60 yards.
Defensively, the Dragons were led by junior defensive back Troy Anderlie, who picked up nine tackles, a blocked extra point and a fumble recovery.
The Dragons host West Bloomfield on Thursday night. Varsity game time is 7 p.m.
Both the Lake Orion freshmen and junior varsity squads won their contests with Lathrup on Sept. 16.