Teams generally prefer having an ‘easy? game on the schedule when Homecoming rolls around.
So a 12-time state champion doesn’t fit the bill.
But when you’re 6-0 for the third time in the past five years, have out-scored your opponents by nearly 32 points a game and, by the way, are ranked #1 in the state, you welcome any challenge with open arms.
Like they have with all of their other challenges to date, however, the Dragons dismissed of Farmington Hills Harrison 42-21 in front of a packed Dragon Stadium on Oct. 6.
To be fair, the score was the closest Lake Orion has seen all season.
‘It may not have been that close on the scoreboard, but it felt close on the field,? Coach Chris Bell said.
As they have done all year, the Dragons got out to a big early lead, dominating every facet of the game to take a 21-0 first-quarter edge.
A Harrison fumble set up Lake Orion’s first score, a 35-yard run to pay dirt by Aaron Allen.
The visiting Hawks then attempted a fake punt deep in their own territory, which backfired and gave the Dragons great field position again – this time at the Harrison 25.
David Wurst caught a 25-yard touchdown pass a few plays later that put LO up 14-0.
Wurst also put the finishing touches on the Dragons? next drive, scoring on a 3-yard pass after the Lake Orion defense caused yet another turnover on a Jake Gaudard interception.
Harrison took some momentum into the halftime break, recovering a late Allen fumble and using the ensuing short field to turn it into seven points as the first half clock expired.
But a five-minute drive to open the second half, that resulted in a Wurst touchdown, put the Dragons back up by 28.
The defense took it from there, allowing just one more Harrison score and letting the fans filter out a few minutes early to celebrate.
However, before they left, the partisan crowd made its presence known.
‘It was a great atmosphere,? Bell said. ‘And our kids made great plays when they had to.?
Chase Goff had seven tackles to lead the defense, while Andrew Pugh and Josh Allison had six each. Pugh recorded two sacks, while Allison added another and had four quarterback pressures.
The secondary stepped up as well, getting the interception from Gaudard and welcoming back Joe Barnes, who drew the assignment of containing Michigan State recruit Mark Dell of Harrison.
‘I knew I was going to have to come out and have a big game,? said Barnes, who had missed the previous few games due to a tailbone injury.
Barnes delivered as Dell was held without a touchdown catch and played a relatively small role in the Hawks? aerial attack.
Leading the gaudy offensive statistics was Wurst, who had 85 yards from scrimmage and scored three times, including two in the air courtesy of quarterback Chris Lum.
Lum finished with 100 yards passing and three touchdowns, the other going to senior Cole Moore, who had five catches for 61 yards on the night.
Allen (15 rushed for 89 yards) and junior Cortez McKinley (15 for 63) teamed for over 150 yards on the ground and a pair of rushing touchdowns.
It was the first game all season that Lake Orion found itself using starting players deep into the fourth quarter.
‘We condition to be ready for that, but you can never simulate it,? Bell said.
The starters will be on the field a lot in the next two weeks if the Dragons hope to win the OAA I crown and cap off a perfect regular season.
LO travels to Troy Athens this weekend and then faces fellow undefeated Clarkston on the road Oct. 20.
By winning those two games, the Dragons would also ensure a home date in the first round of the MHSAA playoffs, which begin the following week.
Kickoff for both games are set for 6:55 p.m.