The Lake Orion varsity football team waited just one half too long before finding its game against Macomb Dakota on Oct. 29.
That one half would prove to be all Dakota would need to thwart a late-game Dragon comeback attempt, and win the opening game of the playoffs, 24-14, over Lake Orion.
Although the Dragons outscored the Cougars in the second half, 14-7, Dakota spotted themselves a 17-0 halftime advantage.
Dakota opened the game repeatedly running the ball around the end, and quickly put together a 65-yard scoring march on their first possession, to take a 7-0 advantage midway through the first quarter.
Unable to respond on their next possession, the Dragons managed to keep Dakota out of the end zone, forcing the Cougars to settle for a 26-yard field goal, and a 10-0 advantage, as the first quarter expired.
Dakota managed their second touchdown of the night midway through the second quarter, to take a 17-0 halftime lead.
The Dragons came out in the third quarter, obviously putting their first half performance behind them, and mounted an 80-yard third quarter scoring drive, capped by a nine-yard Andy Miller touchdown run, which chewed up nearly eight minutes.
The key play of the drive, with the Dragons facing fourth and 13, at the Dakota 22, came when junior quarterback Brad Hood found sophomore David Wurst for a spectacular sideline first down catch.
The Cougars responded on their next possession with a 16-yard scoring strike and a 24-7 advantage. Twice in the second half, the Dragons found themselves deep in Dakota territory, threatening to score, only to be intercepted.
With less than two minutes remaining in the game, the Dragons held Dakota deep in their own territory, forcing a punt. Junior Joe Nowicki fielded the punt and raced 54 yards for the score, closing Dakota’s lead to 24-14.
The Dragons attempted an on side kick, which appeared to have deflected off a Dakota player and was recovered by the Dragons. However, officials ruled the ball hadn’t traveled the required 10 yards, and awarded possession to Dakota.
The Dragons finished their season with a 6-4 record, and the play of the large number of underclassmen on the squad, including Hood, bodes well for Lake Orion’s football future.