The players in Thursday’s Lake Orion/Troy football game were in elementary school the last time Troy’s offense scored against the Dragons.
Dating back to 2001, the Dragons had a commanding 146-6 scoring advantage in the annual meeting.
But things changed quickly at Troy yesterday, and the Colts scored four offensive TDs, leading from start to finish in a 31-13 triumph.
‘We’re not playing very well right now, bottom line,? Lake Orion Coach Chris Bell said. ‘We started the game three-and-out, had some turnovers offensively, we were not stopping people, we were not playing very physical. It’s back to basics, back to fundamentals.?
Making matters worse for the Dragons was an injury to All-State quarterback Chris Lum, who was carted off the field late in the second quarter and taken, via ambulance, to Crittenton Hospital with an injury to his left elbow.
Lake Orion trailed 17-7 when Lum left, with 1:34 remaining in the half. They didn’t get any closer.
‘We’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves,? Bell said. ‘They lined up and did whatever they wanted to do against us. We’ve just got to get better.?
Troy was led by senior quarterback Branko Hamilton, who rushed for over 100 yards and scored two touchdowns with his feet, adding another through the air, where he went 10/17 for 83 yards.
Nick Gallina added 115 yards on the ground and David Pardun chipped in with 80 yards and a score.
‘Our quarterback (Hamilton) is an excellent high school football player, Nick Gallina is a big-time threat every time he gets near the football and David Pardun is the heart of the team,? Troy Coach Gary Griffith said.
Troy’s offense put points on the board in every quarter.
‘We knew what they were going to do,? Bell said. ‘They were just good at it. They were very efficient.?
‘I think they won the physical battle,? he added. ‘We didn’t expect to be pushed around the field.?
For Lake Orion, Lum threw for 88 yards, including two interceptions and a 24-yard pass to Ryan Broth early in the second quarter, before his injury.
‘They have a great program, and I’m sure the fact that their quarterback went down was a real damaging blow to them,? Griffith said.
Cortez McKinley had 52 yards on 19 carries and Branden Oakes added 49 yards on three carries, with his late touchdown rounding out the scoring.
Troy improved to 2-0 with the win, and 1-0 in OAA Red play.
‘We haven’t made the playoffs since 1999, and that’s our goal,? Griffith said. ‘We told them all week that we’d have to climb a mountain, that Lake Orion is one of the elite programs in the state and that for us to compete with them, let alone beat them, we had to believe. They bought in and we had a great week of practice.?
Sophomore Derek Coe saw his first varsity action in place of Lum, completing one pass for six yards in seven attempts. Bell said he’ll be comfortable with Coe as his starter.
‘Derek’s worked hard over the summer,? Bell said. ‘Obviously, he’s a young guy. With Chris, you could do anything. With Derek, we’ll have to focus the game plan a little bit more.
‘We’ve been preparing him all summer for something like this,? the coach added. ‘He’s just got to get his feet wet and get comfortable and he’ll be fine.?
The Dragons, now 1-1, take on Adams at Dragon Stadium on Friday. Kickoff is set for 6:55 p.m.
‘We’re going to see what kind of character we have,? Bell said. ‘We have to come back with an attitude.?