League title matches, OAA crossover tilts highlight Week 8

The postseason is only two short weeks away, and there’s nothing like a slate of games where league championships, crossover, rivalries and state-qualifying sixth win on the line. That’s exactly what we’ll see in Week 8 and Week 9.

There are so many scenarios to be played out, just at the local level, in the next two weeks, that it’s nearly impossible to project how many area football teams will get into the postseason field of 256.

This week several of the area games this week are part of the second annual OAA Red-White Division Crossover Showcase, where teams are will face each other based on current standing in their respective division and playoff points.

Farmington Harrison and Lake Orion will battle in the first-place game, a contest that features last year’s Division 2 and Division 1 state champion programs. Clarkston and Oxford face off in the second-place game, and both are only one win away from a postseason berth.

Even the third-place game has two teams, Southfield and Troy Athens, which are both one win away from a postseason berth. The clashes are near perfectly-scripted.

Elsewhere outside of the OAA, there are several other teams vying for league titles and playoff spots. The picture will become much more clearer in some cases by Saturday night while for some others, the vision quest a little more cloudy.

Below are all of this week’s games involving schools from the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage area. All games are 7 p.m. Friday unless noted.

(Last Week, 11-3, .786 pct.; Season: 77-17, .812 pct.)

Friday’s Games

LANSING WAVERLY AT HOLLY: Holly has never qualified for the postseason two years in a row … until now. Awin here will clinch that. The Bronchos will also set the table for the FML championship game Week 9 with neighbor Ortonville Brandon.

PICK: Holly by 6.

LINDEN AT ORTONVILLE BRANDON: So much is riding on this game. Hopes for staying in contention in the FML are at the forefront, while the winner also qualifies for the postseason. Sounds like this game will be worth the price of admission.

PICK: Ortonville Brandon by 10.

PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP AT PINCONNING: This is a long road trip for the Fighting Irish. It’s a good thing they will return home perfect. Make this 12 straight wins.

Photo By Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

PICK: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep by 28

OXFORD AT CLARKSTON: This is actually one of the most intriguing matches in the OAA White-Red Crossover Showcase. Oxford has Mr. Football prospect Prescott Line while Clarkston has two of the best defensive players around in Zach Collins and Matt Dellinger. The winner here qualifies for the postseason while the loser will have to win Week 9 to clinch a spot.

PICK: Clarkston by 3.

FARMINGTON HARISON AT LAKE ORION: The same two teams will face off in the OAA-Red-White crossover game as the first-place teams in their respective divisions, with Harrison clinching the OAA-White outright and Lake Orion already having at least a share of the OAA-Red. Last year Harrison prevailed and the Hawks will do the same this season.

PICK: Farmington Harrison by 12.

SOUTHFIELD AT TROY ATHENS: The third-place teams in the White and Red divisions will battle with a postseason berth on the line. Both of these are teams that one will not want to face in the postseason, which should make for an interesting game.

PICK: Southfield by 6.

BLOOMFIELD HILS LAHSER AT AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE: What has happened to Avondale? The Yellowjackets were on fire early in the season like a volcanic eruption only to be cooled over time. Both teams are 4-3 and must win out to reach postseason territory.

PICK: Auburn Hills Avondale by 6.

ROCHESTER ADAMS AT TROY: For years a lot was riding on this game. For Adams, there is still hope for the postseason this season. For Troy, there is building for next year.

PICK: Rochester Adams by 10.

ROCHESTER STONEY CREEK AT ROCHESTER: For the first time since the 1969-1970 school year, Rochester will not play Rochester Adams this season. At least the Falcons will get a chance to prey on the Cougars.

PICK: Rochester by 10.

AUBURN HILLS OAKLAND CHRISTAIN AT DEARBORN HEIGHTS STAR INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY: Two struggling teams desperately searching for hope. Toss a coin on this one.

PICK: Oakland Christian by 1.

Saturday’s Games

WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES VS. DETROIT LOYOLA (At Detroit U-D Jesuit, 1 p.m. Saturday): A loss here would be a fourth defeat for the Lakers. For a team that is a perennial small-school power, the situation is bleak.

PICK: Detroit Loyola by 7.

ROCHESTER HILLS LUTHERAN NORTHWEST AT GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY-LIGGETT (1 p.m. Saturday): A win here and Northwest will get a three-way tie of the MIAC prize and still have a shot at the postseason. An upset is not in the cards this season for the Crusaders.

PICK: University-Liggett by 8.

TROY CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AT LANSING CHAP HOMESCHOOL CHARIOTS (Saturday at TBA): Two nationally-ranked teams in the home school association square off for what should be the Christian Football League of Michigan regular season championship. The Chariots have won two leagues in a row and will make it three.

PICK: Lansing CHAP by 7.

(Stick’s Picks is prep seer for the AdaVan Media Group’s www.northoaklandsports.com. 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

Tags: Editor's Column, football, high school football, OAA Crossover Showcase, Prep Footbal Staff Picks Column, prep football, Publisher's Viewpoint, Stick's Picks Week 8

Category: Auburn Hills Avondale, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Clarkston, Clarkston Everest Catholic, Editor's Column, High School, High School (M-Z), Holly, Lake Orion, Ortonville Brandon, Oxford, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Prep Wraps, Publishers Viewpoint, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Hills Lutheran NW, Troy, Troy Athens, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes