STICK’S PICKS: Surprises and disappointments are all over the gird

Now that we have reached Week 5, the pivotal part of the prep football season, let’s take a look back at some of the sights and sounds, the surprises and disappointments in the area’s high school football arena so far this season. This could change over the final five weeks, but some things are becoming pretty clear as we reach the half-point of the season this weekend.

Best Improvement: Troy Athens and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. The Red Hawks just might make the playoffs. They have looked better in all phases. The Irish have won eight in a row dating back to last season.

Biggest disappointment: Rochester. The Falcons turned it around last season. Although some injuries to some key personal the past couple of weeks, Rochester has looked dazed and confused this season — and the Falcons returned over half of their starters. There is too much athletic talent on this team to understand a 1-3 start.

MVP: Tony Annese of Rochester Adams seemingly does it all. If he continues to put up numbers on both sides of the football, he’ll be an All-State Dream Team-caliber player. He’s improved his overall game immensely.

Runner-Up: Prescott Line. Some say he’s a Mr. Football candidate. If he keeps putting up these numbers, then he’ll live up to the hype.

Best Team: Clarkston may have two forfeit losses, but on the field the Wolves have been the most dominant team. Still thinking this team is capable of a long postseason run with the right draw.

Best Coaching Job: Kyle Zimmerman of Notre Dame Prep saw his team start last season with five straight losses and the Irish have not lost since. This is a playoff team in the making.

Player To Keep An Eye On: Keep watching the arm of Lutheran Northwest junior quarterback Nathan Drews. He had 392 passing yards last week and just keeps getting better with age.

Down But Not Out: Oxford. The Wildcats looked impressive in walloping defending Division 1 state champion Lake Orion in Week 1, but have been hampered with injuries ever since. This team can still earn six wins and make the postseason.

On The Rise: Most observers had to believe that Lake Orion wouldn’t be down for long, even with graduation of most of its starters left several question marks. The Week 1 loss to Oxford is way into the past. Could the Dragons play Farmington Harrison in the Week 8 OAA Crossover game?

Biggest Game On The Docket: The Week 9 matchups of Clarkston and Lake Orion and Troy vs. Troy Athens will be huge. Bet on it.

That’s all of the mini awards for now.

Here are the Week 5 picks. All games are 7 p.m. Friday unless otherwise noted:

(Last week: 13-1; Season 43-10):

STERLING HEIGHTS PARKWAY CHRISTIAN AT ROCHESTER HILS LUTHERAN NORTHWEST: This game had huge implications last season, as the Crusaders pulled the upset to gain a piece of the MIAC pie. This year the Northwest passing game will put up huge numbers.

PICK: Lutheran Northwest by 7.

ROCHESTER STONEY CREEK AT OXFORD: The Wildcats may be banged up with injuries, but they are still a team capable of making the playoffs. This season Oxford will avenge last year’s loss to the Cougars.

HOLLY AT CLIO: Back-to-back wins in the Flint Metro League have the Bronchos playing with confidence. Make that three straight wins.

PICK: Holly by 14.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY-LIGGETT  VS. AUBURN HILLS OAKLAND CHRISTIAN (At Auburn Hills Community Center Shark Tank): Oakland picked up a forfeit win last week when Plymouth Christian dropped its program. It’s too bad the Lancers won’t be gaining a win on the field this week.

PICK: University-Liggett by 14.

PONTIAC AT CLARKSTON: The Wolves may be 2-2 on record because of the two forfeits, but on the field they have been perfect. That will remain the case Friday.

PICK: Clarkston by 10.

ROYAL OAK AT LAKE ORION: The Dragons couldn’t have had a better schedule, with most of their top opponents being in the final four weeks of the season. This is still only Week 5.

PICK: Lake Orion by 28.

POKING THROUHG: After being pounded by Oxford in Week 1, Andrew Shafkalis (left) and Lake Orion have responded with three straight convincing wins and are heavy favorites Friday. File Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

TROY ATHENS AT ROCHESTER: Athens is very much improved this season and is marching towards a playoff spot. Rochester has too many injuries to count.

PICK: Troy Athens by 14.

TROY AT WEST BLOOMFIELD: Troy is 2-2 but not out of the playoff picture. This could be a swing game for the Colts.

PICK: Troy by 10.

BIRMINGHAM SEAHOLM AT AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE: Avondale lost a one-point heartbreaker after winning on a last-minute field goal in Week 3. The Yellowjackets will get back on track here,.

PICK: Auburn Hills Avondale by 7.

ORTONVILLE BRANDON AT FENTON: Last week Holly knocked off the Flint Metro League favorites. Can the Blackhawks do the same this week? Why not?

PICK: Ortonville Brandon by 7.

MADISON HEIGHTS BISHOP FOLEY AT PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP: There aren’t too many teams around that have had this type of turnaround. The Irish will try to make it nine straight wins since opening last season 0-5.

PICK: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep by 10.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

TROY CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY VS. FLINT GENESEE COUNTY WARRIORS HOME SCHOOL (At Goodrich, 12:30 p.m. Saturday): The Defenders continue their grand turnaround after last season’s 2-7 campaign.

PICK: Troy by 7.

ALLEN PARK CABRINI AT WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES (Saturday at 1 p.m.): Now the Lakers get to play someone a little closer in school size and it’s a winless team to boot.

PICK: WOLL by 14.

ROCHESTER ADAMS AT SOUTHFIELD (Saturday 1 p.m.): the winner here is definitely going to the postseason. The loser still has a great chance. Thinking that Southfield has a few more standout athletes than Adams.

PICK: Southfield by 6.

(Stick’s Picks is prep seer for the AdaVan Media Group’s www.northoaklandsports.com and also CEO of the Stickradt Media Group sportswriting public relations firm. He can be reached at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and on over a dozen social media networks.)

REPORTING SCORES

Varsity coaches are urged to report varsity results in a timely fashion by e-mail to senior editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or results@northoaklandsports.com, or by calling the sports nightline recording at (248) 812-1053. Deadlines are normally midnight each day.

High schools and colleges in the NorthOaklandSports coverage region include Auburn Hills Avondale, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Auburn Hills Christian Academy, Clarkston, Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Clarkston Springfield Christian, Holly, Lake Orion, Lake Orion Baptist, Lake Orion Shalom Baptist, Ortonville Brandon, Oxford, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, Troy, Troy Athens, Troy Bethany Christian, Troy Christian Leadership Academy, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, plus Rochester College, Oakland University and Oakland Community College.

The NOS sports desk will also publish information on club, youth and recreation teams with local or regional interest.

PHOTOS: Have courtesy action photos that who wish to contribute? Please feel free to e-mail photos in a color j-peg format to senior editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com .Please include all pertinent information, incluing photographer, link back to web site, date, location and competing schools or teams in the photos and the identification of each athlete in each photo.

VIDEO: Have courtesy action videos or interview videos that who wish to contribute? Please feel free to e-mail the imbed codes for video or web-link to senior editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Please include all pertinent information, including videographer, link back to web site, date, location, competing schools or teams in the video and the identification of each athlete in the video.

INTERNSHIPS / STUDENT WRITERS: High School and college internships are available. Contact marketing director Dennis VanWingerden at dennis@northoaklandsports.com or Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.

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