In a span of 10 seconds in football time, but nearly 20 minutes in actual time, Lake Orion took full control of the OAA Red last Friday night.
Leading Troy, 6-3, and looking for more with just over two minutes left in the first half, Sean Charette hit Jeff Heath on an in-route at the goal-line for an 11-yard touchdown.
Two plays later, sophomore Marques Stevenson scored on a 17-yard run, putting the Dragons up 20-3.
‘Our guys up front did a great job,? Coach Chris Bell said. ‘It was just a trap play and our guys did a great job of picking up the blitz. That might have been the turning point.?
It was one of the plays in between, however, which really turned the tide. Troy senior quarterback Kevin Muma took an apparent hit in the chest, fumbling the ball and laying on his back, motionless, for several minutes.
The play was reminiscent of one last season between the two teams, when Lake Orion’s Chris Lum went down at the same part of the field, in the same quarter. Lum missed most of the regular season as a result.
?(Troy Coach) Gary (Griffith) and I were standing at that same spot and we both looked at each other and said, ‘this is not a good spot on the field,?? Bell said. ‘Fortunately, they think their quarterback is going to be okay.?
The Dragons went on for a 36-3 victory, improving to 5-0 in league play (5-1 overall). Troy fell to 4-2 in OAA Red action.
‘We’ve been blowing through some people and this was a good one for us to see where we were,? Bell said of the win, which came on the heels of two straight shutout victories.
Stevenson’s touchdown run was his second of the half (the first was a four-yard effort midway through the first quarter), and he and junior Kim Bruce combined for over 200 yards on the ground. Bruce added a touchdown late in the third.
Lake Orion’s other points came on a safety when Troy snapped a punt out of the end zone late in the first half, and on a 57-yard fumble return by Eric Knoblock. That play, early in the third quarter, also started with a bad snap, and was aided by Phil Serzo knocking Troy QB Nicholas Berlage out of the way.
The Dragons, who had over 100 yards in penalties, were aided by six Troy turnovers.
‘It all starts with defense,? Bell said. ‘They allowed us to break it wide open. You don’t watch the scoreboard, you just line up and play hard. If you play hard, good things are going to happen.?
Bruce had 16 carries and Stevenson logged 15, with Bruce running for 116 yards and Stevenson adding 87.
‘We felt like we could run the ball, especially after we got up,? Bell said. ‘We have some young guys up front and they are the strength of our offense. They are physical and it forces teams to game plan to stop us.?
If the Dragons can beat winless Royal Oak at home on Friday, they will earn at least a share of the league title. Their final two games are at Rochester Adams (non-league) and at home against 4-2 Clarkston.
Game Notes
*Lake Orion was penalized 12 times in the game, a number to which Bell quipped: ‘I think the (ref) on their sideline needs to ice his arm tonight.?
*Troy’s lone scoring play was a 34-yard Muma field goal early in the second quarter.
*Lake Orion’s six turnovers came on four fumble recoveries (A.J. Gill (2), Kane Hayes and Knoblock) and two interceptions (Charles Fleck and Vinnie Booker). Fleck’s pick appeared to hit the ground first, but he sold it well, ending a potential scoring drive for Troy.
*The kickoff vs. Royal Oak is set for 7 p.m.