Search Results for 'Football'
HOLLY PREVIEW: Bronchos aiming for first league crown since 1952
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com HOLLY — For decades Holly bolstered a football program that every team in the Flint Metro League looked forward to on its schedule. The Bronchos were a doormat program, a team that was considered an easy win, a pushover, a laughing stock. Over the past 60 years Holly has […]
LAKE ORION PREVIEW: Can Dragons reload for another lengthy postseason run?
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com LAKE ORION — Chris Bell does not like all of the extra attention he received last fall. The veteran football coach is a father and an assistant principal at Lake Orion High School to go along with his head coaching duties. That draws in plenty of demands already. So […]
ORTONVILLE BRANDON PREVIEW: Lessons learned could help Blackhawks reach postseason field
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com ORTONVILLE — Having something whisked away when it’s within reach can leave a bitter taste in the mouth of any football player or coach. That collectively best describes Ortonville Brandon’s football season last year. The Blackhawks, who had only two winning seasons in the previous decade and have not […]
OXFORD PREVIEW: Wildcats look to rebound, return to upper echelon
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com OXFORD — Bud Rowley is not one to blame others, at least not last year, when he watched Oxford’s football program venture through a rare rebuilding season. In fact, after 28 straight winnings seasons, the longest in Oakland County, the Wildcats limped to a 3-6 overall record, including 2-6 […]
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP PREVIEW: Senior-laden Irish to ride coat tails of last year’s season-end win streak
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com PONTIAC — The start of the 2010 football season for Pontiac Notre Dame Prep was downright ugly. The Fighting Irish opened 0-5 and scored only three touchdowns and 21 total points in that stretch. Instead of throwing in the towel, Notre Dame Prep rebounded to close the campaign with […]
ROCHESTER PREVIEW: Falcons working to build on last year’s momentum
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com ROCHESTER HILLS — For 10 miserable years, Rochester’s football team crawled through the doldrums of a dark cave with little daylight. Finally in 2010, the Falcons maneuvered from the depths and resurfaced. Not only did the Falcons record their first winning season since 1999, they reached the Division 1 […]
ROCHESTER ADAMS PREVIEW: Highlanders must reload to keep streak alive
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com ROCHESTER HILLS — Few football programs have been able to match Rochester Adams in recent times. The Highlanders have been nothing short of a model of consistency. For 14 straight years, Adams has reached the postseason. There have been four teams that have advanced to at least the Final […]
ROCHESTER STONEY CREEK PREVIEW: Cougars hope to gain valuable experience in rebuilding year
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com ROCHESTER HILLS — When Rochester Stoney Creek first opened its doors a decade ago, expectations for sports weren’t all that high. It was more of the “wait until a couple of years from now” approach. After all, no powerhouse program is built overnight. That is why football head coach […]
ROCHESTER HILLS LUTHERAN NORTHWEST PREVIEW: Crusaders enter 25th season with hopes for another league title
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com ROCHESTER HILLS — In all reality, Don Justice didn’t know what to think last season when Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest took the football field. The veteran coach had watched his team win back-to-back league championships and reach the postseason both times with senior-heavy teams. So when the Crusaders shared […]
TROY ATHENS PREVIEW: Red Hawks plan to take the next step forward
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Since last making the playoffs in 2004, Troy Athens has dropped out of the spotlight. The Red Hawks have had just one winning season in the past six years and only nine victories the past four campaigns combined. Part of that is coaching, as the Red Hawks have had […]
TROY CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PREVIEW: Defenders hope for better success in fourth season
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com TROY — As Chris Vitale watches his troops go through drills during football practice, the first-year head coach notices many things. There is a large disparity between several of his players. Some are very well-advanced and some are just on the learning curve. The most important thread, collectively, is […]
WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES PREVIEW: Lakers have plenty of shoes to fill in order to keep winning tradition alive
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com WATERFORD — Few high school football coaches have built as much of a legacy as Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes’ Mike Boyd. The veteran, who began his career in 1965 at Lakes, has had only six losing seasons in his career. He ranks in the top five all-time […]
Lake Orion’s Schaenzer headed for Valparaiso
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com LAKE ORION — Cole Schaenzer might be more remembered around the community of Lake Orion for his heroics on the gird iron. But it is his baseball talents that will allow him to keep playing sports at the next level. Schaenzer, a recent 2011 graduate of Lake Orion High […]
College Committments-Signings
ONTO THE NEXT LEVEL … Know of a student-athlete that has signed a letter of intent, made an oral commitment, agreed to terms for a walk-on position or is currently playing collegiate sports from the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage region? Please feel free to submit information about any local athletes. Include photos and contact information and we […]
Dream Job: Lake Orion’s Zott headed to Michigan
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com LAKE ORION — Zach Zott has always been a University of Michigan fan and wondered what it would like to play sports in the Big Ten Conference. But that destination would never be in Zott’s future if he didn’t have a change of heart. “I originally signed with Butler […]
Much work in store for journeyman Schaefer at Oakland Christian
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com AUBURN HILLS — In over 30 years of coaching prep football, Bill Schaefer has always been the bridesmaid, not the bride. Although just a figure of speech, Schaefer has always been an assistant coach until now. Schaefer was hired as the new football coach at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian […]
Debut of blue: Oxford finally joins the fray with new blue turf
OXFORD — Bud Rowley admits that he has had several sleepless nights in the past year. Far too many to count. “You have no idea, boss,” snarled the veteran varsity football coach at Oxford (Mich.) High School just moments after Monday’s practice kicked off. “It’s been a heckuva long year.” Rowley, who has coached some […]
AOTW: Oxford star to toe the ‘Line’ at SMU
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com OXFORD — Being a three-sport athlete, choices are plentiful in terms of colleges for Prescott Line. The senior-to-be at Oxford High school knows only one school he would like to attend in the future. Line will be taking his talents to the heart of Texas. The 6-foot, 220-pound running […]
