Dragons top West Bloomfield, 24-15

What a difference a week makes.
Sean Charette threw two first half touchdown passes and Brandon Oakes gained over 100 yards on the ground, helping Lake Orion to their first win of the season, 24-15 over West Bloomfield last Friday.
‘We made some plays at key times,? Coach Chris Bell said of his offense. ‘We scored 24 points tonight and we left some plays out there. But we got better from last week to this week.?
By winning their home opener, the Dragons improved to 1-1 on the season and 1-0 in OAA Red action.
The scoring began when Charette hit Jeff Heath over the middle for a 41-yard pitch and catch.
The lead expanded to 14-3 when Charette hit Mikael Lott on a 23-yard corner route before halftime.
The Lakers made a game of it when they stopped the Dragons and scored a touchdown of their own early in the third. A missed point after left the score at 14-9.
A 25-yard Heath field goal gave LO some breathing room. Then, one play after the Lakers turned it over on downs with just over five minutes remaining, Oakes put the game away, going 64 yards virtually untouched. He finished with 168 yard from scrimmage (102 rushing).
A late Laker touchdown accounted for the final score, but another missed extra point negated any chance to come back in the final minute.
Charette and junior Derek Coe were a combined 9 of 12 for 186 yards. On the defensive side, Heath and Kevin Loney led the way with seven tackles apiece, while Robby Lentz had an interception and a couple of deflected passes.
‘Before the game they said they wanted me on Chris Hurst,? Lentz said of his match-up with West Bloomfield’s top receiver. ‘I just took the challenge and did my best.?
In all, the defense held Lakers QB Ryan Christenson to just 82 yards passing, over 200 less than what he threw for a week earlier against Groves.
‘Those guys are doing great,? Bell said of his defensive backfield. ‘They’re all experienced back there and are great athletes. They shut down a very talented West Bloomfield team. (Christenson) threw for a ton of yards last week.?
The challenge next week will come on the ground, when Lake Orion heads to Oak Park to see one of the county’s best running backs in MSU-bound Edwin Baker.
Baker rushed for over 100 yards against the Dragons last year, but LO got the last laugh with a comeback victory.
‘I think we’re ready for him,? Lentz said of Baker. ‘We’ll be a little more prepared than we were last year.?
The game kicks off at 7 p.m. Oak Park High School is located at Coolidge and Oak Park Boulevard, a half-mile south of I-696.