Mikael Lott scored touchdowns three different ways and the visiting Dragons overcame a slew of turnovers and penalties to beat Oak Park 34-14 Friday.
Lake Orion’s defense held Michigan State-bound Edwin Baker in check, while Kim Bruce filled in for an injured Branden Oakes and led the offense with 91 yards rushing on 17 carries.
‘I’ve been practicing all week and I knew it was my game to step up,? Bruce said.
He was needed even more when Lake Orion fell behind 6-0 early. Freshman Sean Charette’s first passing attempt was picked off and returned 33 yards for a score.
But the Dragons scored the game’s next 34 points, starting with Charette redeeming himself on a 57-yard hook-up with Mike Nelson. A two-point conversion gave the Dragons an 8-6 lead.
Lott scored early in the second quarter on a five-yard end around (conversion attempt failed) and then Bruce capped the first half scoring on a seven-yard scamper in the final minute.
The Dragons scored on the first drive of the second half when junior Derek Coe hit Lott on a 17-yard, fourth-down pass. The team’s final touchdown came early in the fourth quarter, when Lott recovered Rio Dekinderen’s goal-line fumble in the end zone.
Baker scored Oak Park’s second touchdown on a 10-yard run midway through the final stanza. The Dragons (2-1, 2-0), however, held him to just 52 yards rushing on 14 carries for the night.
‘He’s obviously one of the best we’re going to see,? Coach Chris Bell said. ‘We played great team defense and that was our goal, not to let one guy beat us.?
Bell said they knew Oak Park (1-2, 1-1) would get the ball to Baker on first and second down plays, and they could limit his effectiveness by putting them in longer third-down sets.
‘Once we got them into long yardage, it was turn ’em loose,? he said. ‘We knew they would drop back and try to throw it, so (Defensive Coordinator) Dave (Tooley) did a great job of mixing up the blitzes.?
The coach said his team’s sluggish start offensively was due to some of the new faces starting on offense, particularly in the backfield.
‘Even though they’ve been getting some time, Branden’s been carrying the load,? Bell said. ‘Kim stepped right up.?
Marques Stevenson also had several impressive carries on the opening drive of the second half.
Bell said he’s optimistic that Oakes (knee) could return as early as this week, when the team travels to Southfield Lathrup.
Game Notes
*The two teams combined for 12 first half penalties. Lake Orion also had two turnovers in each half.
*Both Charette and Coe threw touchdown passes in the same game for the first time, and Bell said he has no plans on mixing up his rotation.
‘There are some things that Derek does very well and there are some things that Sean does very well,? Bell said. ‘It’s nice, if one guy is struggling, I can go to the other guy. We rotate them both in practice and they support each other.?
The team could welcome sophomore QB Zach Zott back soon as well, according to Bell.
*The Dragons were successful in their first two-point conversion attempt, using a ‘swinging gate? formation and tossing the ball over to Eric Knoblock, behind a slew of blockers, when Oak Park didn’t line up with the Lake Orion line.
‘It’s making them defend the formation,? Bell explained. ‘If they don’t defend it, it’s an easy two points.?
Lake Orion thought they had two more on their second touchdown, but Jeff Heath underthrew Knoblock and the pass was broken up.
Heath made the PAT kicks on his next two attempts.
*The game against Southfield Lathrup (2-1, 2-1) will begin at 5:30 p.m., as opposed to the usual 7 p.m. kickoff. The school is located on 12 Mile Road, between Southfield and Evergreen Roads.