FOOTBALL: Stoney Creek gains postseason at-large berth; Adams to battle Eisenhower in pre-district
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — For only the fourth time in its 18-year history, Rochester Stoney Creek has reached the football postseason.
The Cougars sneaked into the Division 1 field of 32 schools as an at-large team with a 5-4 record and drew neighboring Lake Orion in a pre-district contest.
Lake Orion (8-1) was the OAA Red Division runner-up and ranked fifth in Division 1 in the last Associated Press polls.
Second-year Stoney Creek coach Nick Merlo said he and his staff wanted to coach the current seniors at least one more game. They got their wish
“We wanted to catch these guys at least one more game. They have worked so hard to help us turn around this program and they are rewarded,” said Merlo, who only has 13 seniors onthe Cougars’ roster. “These guys have stuck around for four years, set a great example with all of their hard work, and helped us qualify for the postseason.
“Even at 5-4, we hoped we could get in based on some of the teams we played. There are so many good teams in the OAA that it’s nice to be rewarded even at 5-4,” continued Merlo. “We drew Lake Orion. They have had a great season. They are well-coached and have some very athletic players. We are looking forward to playing them.”
Stoney Creek is 0-3 in postseason games, losing in the pre-district contests in 2006, 2007 and 2013. The previous postseason appearance saw the Cougars drop a 17-6 decision to Rochester Adams in the first round. Stoney Creek also lost in the pre-district rounds in 2006 to Grosse Pointe North (14-6) and in 2007 to Birmingham Brother Rice (42-8).
The Cougars are coming off four straight losing campaigns, as they posted an 11-25 record from 2015-18. They finished above five-hundred for just the eighth time since its inaugural campaign in 2002. As a program, Stoney Creek is 72-93 over 18 seasons.
This will be just the sixth time that Stoney Creek and Lake Orion have faced on the grid-iron with the Dragons holding a slim 3-2 edge in the series. The last time the two met was in Week 2 of the 2016 season, which resulted in Lake Orion posting a 30-10 victory.
ADAMS IN POSTSEASON FOR 20TH TIME
Rochester Adams finished the regular season at 7-2 and drew Utica Eisenhower in its pre-district game. The contest is a rematch of the 2017 pre-district in which Eisenhower rallied late for a 10-6 victory.
Adams is 1-11 all-time against Eisenhower, including 0-3 in postseason games. The Highlanders lost to the Eagles in the district finals in both 2000 and 2001.
“We were picked to finish fifth in our league again, which is fine. We don’t mind being the underdog,” offered Adams coach Tony Patritto, who is in his 17th season with the Highlanders. “I think we proved that we are a little better than what (the preseason voters think), but that’s how it goes. We have had a really good season so far and we’re glad to be back in the (postseason).
For Adams, this is the 20th time in 23 seasons the Highlanders have reached the postseason — that streak began back in 1997 after Adams has never reached the playoffs from 1975-1996.
The Highlanders are 24-18 all-time in the postseason and that included the 2003 Division 2 state title during Patritto’s first campaign. Adams also reached the D-2 state semifinals in 2004, 2005 and 2007 and the regional finals (Elite Eight) in 1997, 1998 and 2013.
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