Top 10 Teams in Oakland County - after Week 3

 

1. Novi Detroit Catholic Central (3-0) - Thunderous performances in their first three outings have shown how dominant the Shamrocks can be when playing at their best. CC's stout defense has not allowed a single point so far. Mike Kinville and Justin D'Agostino are one of the best LB tandems in the state. Sam Landry is showing better than expected under center. The backfield of Palazetti, Capatina, and Savakis, has been just as lethal as advertised.

 

2. Birmingham Brother Rice (3-0) - Despite being 3-0, the Warriors will be slight underdogs going up against CC this weekend and that should give coach Fracassa's team some additional motivation. Not that they should need any. Rice is super fast across the board on offense and defense. Frankie Popp and Kevonte Martin-Manley are a lethal combination. Junior S/RB Jimmy Pickens does it all for the Warriors. Senior Michael Brown is the best lockdown corner in the area.

 

3. Clarkston (3-0) - There is no gamble with Wolves WR/CB Dustin Gamble. He's a sure thing. Gamble has emerged as wonderboy QB Tyler Scarlett's favorite target in the passing game and his skills in the d-backfield are up to par as well. Proving his merit as a prime time player, he intercepted standout Troy QB Bobby Wunderlich in the end zone in the closing seconds of C-Town's 25-21 win over Troy last Friday to secure victory for his team. Super-threat RB Dakota Bender has still yet to hit his stride, although his 2 TD performance against Troy was a good start.

 

4. Lake Orion (2-1) - Sophomore QB Sean Charrette gets better every game. Superstar tailbacks KIM Bruce and Marques Stevenson never stop churning against rival defenses and are two of the hardest working skills position player around. Phil Serzo, Vinnie Booker and the 'D' seem to be rounding into shape following their week 1 meltdown against Hudsonville.

 

5. Farmington Hills Harrison (3-0) - The Hawks complete dismantling of a cement-jawed Southfield squad proves the program is back and ready to be taken seriously again. Not that there was really any doubt that coach Herrington would get things back in order asap after the team missed the playoffs in '08. Senior field general Vince Salatino - nine Td's through the air, 10 overall - is playing at levels few in the state are at his position. Picking apart opposing secondaries like a seasoned pro - this is his first year starting on varsity- if he keeps it up he could both earn himself a place to play at the college level and take Harrison on another epic run through the state playoffs in November.

 

6. Birmingham Detroit Country Day (3-0) - On track to get back to the D4 state title game, a place the Y-Jackets have been the past two straight years. Junior QB Josh Harris leads a potent DCD offense, with high-quality weapons like WR Kenny Knight, TE Jason Ray, and RB's Lee Bailey and John Hill, at his disposal.

 

7. Troy (2-1) - No doubt in my mind the Colts will bounce back from a tough loss to Clarkston on the road last week. Gary Griffith's troops played like soldiers in the defeat and have nothing to be ashamed of.  I thought Bobby "The Wonderful One" Wunderlich was going to lead Troy to a last second win. But Dustn Gamble made a great play. The game could have gone either way. Senior WR/SS Bobby Pardun is playing out of his mind. Props to ya, Bobby. Chris Wheeler is a mega-stud!

 

8. Rochester Hills Adams (2-1) - Big, Burly, and Ill-Mannered. Thats how to describe the Highlanders massive line. and boy do they do a great job in the trenches. These guys play smashmouth football to the highest tilt. Once first year starting QB Andrew Hammett gets more comfortable calling signals, you'll see head coach Tony Partrito open things up a bit more. Darrien Bell is an underrated gem in the Adams backfield and Alec Prechtel is a bonafide playmaker on both sides of the ball. Jordan Sanders, Nick Di Miro, Matt Rea, and Austin McClelland are as tough as they come.

 

9. Walled Lake Central (3-0) - Miracle season in the works over at WL Central. The Vikings have a dynamite offense, led by a real diamond in the rough, Joe Diamond - a dual threat at QB. K.J. Schultz is elusive and Sam Pearlstein is a gamer on the end, quickly becoming Joe D's top target.

 

10. (a) West Bloomfield (2-1) - Cameron Fields, Cameron Fields, Cameron Fields. If you blink, you might miss him on his way into the end zone.

 

10. (b) Auburn Hills Avondale (3-0) - Mitch Robinson coming into his own under center. Ray Tillman and Tony Harris starting to wreck havoc on opposing DB's and Wr's, and D.J. Lynch is everywhere, all the time for head coach Steve Deutch's heavy-stinging Yellow Jacket squad.