Week Two Picks

Written Wednesday September 4th at 3:30 PM

Here are the pickers and the picks for week two.

 

SANDY DUNES: Sammy Taormina, host of OAA Now, blogger and host of Between Taorminas, and Last Three Brain Cells on Orion Neighborhood Television.

 

TIM: Tim English, writer, and blogger-Lake Orion 1996 Alumni.

 

COTTER: Sean Cotter, Walled Lake Western video coordinator, and North Farmington boys basketball scouter.

 

KEITH: Keith Dunlap, writer works as a free lance writer for the MHSAA.

 

SCOTT: Scott Burnstein, writer for MIPrepZone and State Champs.

 

SANDY DUNES: 11-8

TIM: 12-7

COTTER: 14-5

KEITH: 12-7

SCOTT: 12-7

 

 PROJECTED WEATHER FORECAST:

Showers likely possibly a thunderstorm- lows between 60-63 degrees

 

1. Harper Woods at 9. Oxford: This is the third meeting all time between the Wildcats and the Pioneers with Oxford holding a 1-0-1 series edge. Harper Woods is coming off a 43-21 win over Redford Union last week behind a potent offense but the game was delayed after weather caused the game to be moved to Saturday which it was a 21-21 game and the Pioneers outscored Redford Union 22-0 on that Saturday. Oxford had no answers for Utica Eisenhower's Bryce Hurley in a stunning 33-16 loss at Swinehart Field last week. This should be a really interesting matchup and a big one for the Wildcats. The Pioneers are a team that is rolling with a ton of confidence.

SANDY DUNES: HARPER WOODS 35, OXFORD 21.

TIM: HARPER WOODS 42, OXFORD 14.

COTTER: OXFORD 28, HARPER WOODS 21.

KEITH: HARPER WOODS 24, OXFORD 21.

SCOTT: HARPER WOODS 34, OXFORD 23.

 

 

2. West Bloomfield at 6. Groves: This will be the 30th meeting between two rivals that know each other quite well. The Lakers won 41-19 in Beverly Hills last season and will look for a repeat performance of that game last season. Both teams are coming off impressive wins last week. West Bloomfield won 42-0 over Chippewa Valley in the Swamp while Groves is coming off an impressive 35-14 win over Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit last week. Both teams have star power at the skill positions, this should be a fun one even if it's in the rain.

SANDY DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 45, GROVES 42.

TIM: WEST BLOOMFIELD 2 MILLION, GROVES 14.

COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 35, GROVES 21.

KEITH: WEST BLOOMFIELD 28, GROVES 27.

SCOTT: WEST BLOOMFIELD 24, GROVES 21.

 

 

3. Adams at Rochester: This is the Falcon Frenzy Game held at Rochester this week. Both teams are coming off wins and the Falcons haven't beaten the Highlanders since 1996. Adams earned a hard fought 22-21 overtime win at Dan Barnabo Field last week. Rochester was really impressive in a 28-7 win over Fraser last week. Both teams have proven running backs in Matteo Humbert and Jack Lower. It could come down to the quarterback battle which is really interesting to say the least, this could come down to a field goal.

SANDY DUNES: ADAMS 23, ROCHESTER 21.

TIM: ADAMS 56, ROCHESTER 14.

COTTER: ADAMS 28, ROCHESTER 14.

KEITH: ADAMS 21, ROCHESTER 17.

SCOTT: ADAMS 35, ROCHESTER 25.

 

 

4. Lake Orion at 7. Stoney Creek: This is a really interesting matchup of teacher vs the student in Coach Chris Bell going against Coach Rick Powell. Powell was the defensive coordinator for the Dragons from 2019-2024. These are two teams that are no strangers to one another with Lake Orion holding a 7-2 season series edge which included a 49-28 win over Stoney Creek last season. Both teams are coming off impressive wins last week. The Cougars won 42-21 over Warren Cousino scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half. The Dragons had to survive 21-13 over Northville behind a strong defensive performance. This should be a fun matchup of two teams that have proven linemen and like to run the football.

SANDY DUNES: LAKE ORION 31, STONEY CREEK 14.

TIM: LAKE ORION 28, STONEY CREEK 21.

COTTER: LAKE ORION 42, STONEY CREEK 14.

KEITH: LAKE ORION 20, STONEY CREEK 17.

SCOTT: LAKE ORION 30, STONEY CREEK 20.

 

 

5. Clarkston at Southfield Arts and Tech: This is a rematch of a 20-17 Southfield Arts and Tech win over Clarkston in Southfield last season. The Wolves is 6-3 all time against the Warriors. These are two totally different teams but don't let the records deceive you. Southfield Arts and Tech is coming off an impressive 46-0 win over Flint Beecher last week. Clarkston is coming off a tough 35-28 loss to Belleville after trailing the Tigers by two touchdowns (28-13) but the Wolves resiliency showed big time and it took Bryce Underwood to have his best game to beat Clarkston which says a lot. This matchup looks to be a complete mismatch on paper.

SANDY DUNES: CLARKSTON 48, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 0.

TIM: CLARKSTON 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 14.

COTTER: CLARKSTON 35, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 12.

KEITH: CLARKSTON 31, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 17.

SCOTT: CLARKSTON 28, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 26.

 

 

Holly at 8. Farmington: This is the second meeting between the two schools with Farmington winning 26-0 over Holly in 1950. The Falcons are coming off an impressive 17-6 win over Oak Park last week. The Bronchos are coming off a disappointing 20-0 loss to Bay City Western last week. Holly is well coached under former Berkley and Troy Athens Coach Billy Keenest and former Lake Orion defensive coordinator Dave Tooley. This should be a really interesting matchup.

SANDY DUNES: FARMINGTON 24, HOLLY 7.

TIM: FARMINGTON 35, HOLLY 14.

COTTER: FARMINGTON 17, HOLLY 14.

KEITH: HOLLY 17, FARMINGTON 14.

SCOTT: FARMINGTON 37, HOLLY 27.

 

Avondale at 10. Seaholm: This is a rematch of a 20-0 Maples win last season at the Maple Forest. Seaholm holds a 8-2 series edge against Avondale. This is a must win game for the Yellow Jackets after a stunning 20-14 loss to Cedar Springs last week. Seaholm many thought was suppose to be in for a down year but they were very impressive in a 40-0 blowout of Troy Athens last week. As mentioned this is a must win game for Avondale for confidence sake.

SANDY DUNES: AVONDALE 17, SEAHOLM 7.

TIM: SEAHOLM 49, AVONDALE 42.

COTTER: SEAHOLM 28, AVONDALE 6.

KEITH: SEAHOLM 28, AVONDALE 25.

SCOTT: AVONDALE 38, SEAHOLM 28.

 

Ferndale at North Farmington: This is the first meeting between the two teams since 2019 when North Farmington beat Ferndale 22-0. The Raiders hold a 5-4 edge in the season series. Both teams are coming off tough losses. North Farmington had two goal line stands against them in a stunning 27-22 loss to Livonia Stevenson last week. The Eagles are coming off a disappointing 27-18 loss to Madison Heights Lamphere after falling 27-0 after three quarters last week. This game could be decided in the trenches and neither team wants to start at 0-2.

SANDY DUNES: FERNDALE 21, NORTH FARMINGTON 17.

TIM: NORTH FARMINGTON 49, FERNDALE 28.

COTTER: NORTH FARMINGTON 32, FERNDALE 20.

KEITH: NORTH FARMINGTON 14, FERNDALE 13.

SCOTT: FERNDALE 29, NORTH FARMINGTON 25.

 

Pontiac at Troy: This is the eighth meeting between the two teams. The Colts own a 5-2 season series edge including winning 51-0 combined in the last two years. Both teams are coming off blowout wins last week. The Phoenix won 40-0 over Detroit Fredrick Douglass last week. The Colts won 35-7 at Bloomfield Hills last week. This should be a really interesting matchup between two really talented quarterbacks in Kayne Donaldson and Noah Oury.

SANDY DUNES: TROY 42, PONTIAC 24.

TIM: TROY 35, PONTIAC 14.

COTTER: TROY 49, PONTIAC 12.

KEITH: TROY 42, PONTIAC 14.

SCOTT: TROY 34, PONTIAC 20.

 

Royal Oak at Oak Park: This is the first meeting since 2017 when Oak Park beat Royal Oak 34-13 in the first round of the postseason. This will be the seventh meeting with the Knights owning a 5-1 series edge. Both teams are coming off very tough losses. Oak Park fell to Farmington 17-6 last week. The Ravens fell 38-13 to Detroit Lincoln King Academy last week. Neither team wants to start 0-2.

SANDY DUNES: OAK PARK 42, ROYAL OAK 0.

TIM: OAK PARK 28, ROYAL OAK 0.

COTTER: OAK PARK 38, ROYAL OAK 6.

KEITH: OAK PARK 23, ROYAL OAK 10.

SCOTT: OAK PARK 27, ROYAL OAK 24.

 

Berkley at Troy Athens: The Bears have lost 13 straight games dating back to 2022. It included a 35-0 loss to Troy Athens last season. The Red Hawks hold a 10-3 edge in the season series over Berkley. Both teams are coming off losses. The Bears had a tough 7-0 overtime loss to Walled Lake Central. Troy Athens had a really disappointing 40-0 loss to Seaholm last week. This is a big game for both teams, neither team wants to start 0-2.

SANDY DUNES: BERKLEY 14, TROY ATHENS 7.

TIM: BERKLEY 28, TROY ATHENS 21.

COTTER: TROY ATHENS 14, BERKLEY 0.

KEITH: TROY ATHENS 30, BERKLEY 16.

SCOTT: TROY ATHENS 23, BERKLEY 18.

 

Dearborn Divine Child at Bloomfield Hills: These are two teams that are meeting for the first time and are coming off two very disappointing losses. The Blackhawks fell 35-7 to Troy last week. The Falcons fell 36-14 to Jackson County Western last week. Both teams are looking for bounce backs and can't afford to go 0-2 on the season.

SANDY DUNES: DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 14.

TIM: DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD 63, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0.

COTTER: DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD 35, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7.

KEITH: DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD 23, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 20.

SCOTT: DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD 22, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 20.