A state quarterfinalist last year, the Lake Orion football squad will find out pretty early if they have what it takes in 2008.
The Dragons open with two-time state champion Rockford (2004-05) on Friday at Eastern Michigan University’s Rynearson Stadium. Rockford was a district finalist in 2007, but is slightly ahead of Lake Orion on most preseason polls.
The Dragons, however, are highly regarded, in spite of losing players at many key positions.
Among the graduated are quarterback Chris Lum, all-purpose back Ryan Broth and three starting offensive linemen, including Michigan State’s Ethan Ruhland.
‘The goals are still the same,? Coach Chris Bell said. ‘The goals are for us to get better each week and be great by the end of the year.?
The defense, however, returns a slew of starters and should be strong, particularly in the secondary.
Robby Lentz and Charles Fleck will be the corners, with Jeff Heath and Vinnie Booker handling most of the duties at the safety positions.
The only real loss from the defensive backfield a year ago is Blaine Stormer.
‘Vinnie started quite a few games last year when Blaine was hurt, so he’s got a lot of experience back there, too,? Bell said.
John Chanthakhot will take over for Booker as the primary nickel back.
The linebacking corps should also be strong, with A.J. Gill inside, flanked by Kevin Loney and last year’s key mid-season call up, Kane Hayes.
The defensive line will be led by three-year varsity starter Evan Gros. That unit, however, took a big hit when Jon Hill broke his leg (he’s hoping to return late in the season).
Bobby Harr, Jake Ludwig and Phil Serzo will round out the starters up front.
While the defense should be the strength of the team in the early going, it might not get all the attention, due to some changes on the other side of the ball.
‘Our offense is different,? Bell noted, not wanting to get into specifics before the first game with Rockford. ‘It fits our talent and simplifies things for our quarterback.?
Derek Coe and freshman Sean Charett will both see time at quarterback, with Coe set to start the first game. Charett’s place was secured when Zach Zott sustained a thumb injury during the Green & White Night scrimmage.
‘Right now, Derek’s our starter, but they’re both going to play,? Bell said. ‘We’ll have a two-quarterback system.?
Branden Oakes returns to lead the stable of running backs, with Kim Bruce and Marques Stevenson sure to see some time, too.
The slot positions will be filled by Mikael Lott and Eric Knoblock, along with Booker. Wideouts will include Mike Nelson, Heath, Lentz and Fleck.
From the center position, Tyler Benson will anchor the offensive line, a unit that was manned by three of the team’s six captains (all seniors) a year ago.
Chris Ferguson and Zac Zotos are slated to take the reins at the guard spots, while Ben Walker and Pat Fehlberg will be the starting tackles.
‘They’re both juniors and they’re doing great,? Bell said of the two tackles.
Heath, who made some clutch kicks late in last season, returns as kicker, and he or Lentz will handle the punting duties as well.
The team scrimmaged Oxford, Holt and Howell last Thursday and, according to Bell, beat all three.
‘There are a lot of things to work on,? the coach said. ‘But I was encouraged by what I saw.?
With, perhaps, the state’s most daunting schedule, the Dragons will have to be ready to play each and every week.
‘Every year they toughen our schedule and toughen our league,? Bell said. ‘We play six teams that made the playoffs last year, one in West Bloomfield that missed out because we beat them in the last week, and two in Royal Oak and Troy Athens that gave us some pretty good games.?
The 2008 schedule culminates in games at Adams and at home against Clarkston, but the opening game with Rockford, the marquee game of the Big Day Prep Showdown could get the most attention across the state.
‘The key for us is that our kids can’t get caught up in it,? Bell said. ‘It’s as close as these kids will get to a bowl game, other than in the playoffs.?
The Dragons beat Troy at EMU a few years back and opened a season against Sterling Heights Stevenson back in their heyday, but Bell said neither of those fit the magnitude of this game.
‘They return a ton on offense, they’ll be very good offensively,? Bell said of Rockford. ‘So we’ve got to do our job offensively, score some points and keep them off the field.?
Kickoff on Friday is set for 5 p.m., and the team’s home opener follows against West Bloomfield on Sept. 5.
‘It’s a great group of kids, but we’re only as good as how hard we play,? Bell said, citing the team’s motto.
Former JV Coach Jason Larsen has moved to the varsity squad, where he will instruct the offensive line, among other things.
Joel Malkasian, a former standout receiver, returns to coach the wideouts.
Look for more on the team’s changes next week, and see our complete game wrap-ups at lakeorionreview.com every Friday night, all season long.