Oakland County Top Ten - Week 5

1. Novi Detroit Catholic Central (5-0) – I don't care what the AP poll says, CC is the number one team in the state, period!  Print it! Oh wait, I just did.

2. Lake Orion (4-1) – The Sean Charette-led offense is one of the best in Michigan and the defense is ultra-aggressive, made up of a bunch of hard-hitters with fearless attitudes. The Dragons opening day loss to Hudsonville is a distant memory and there is a good chance that head coach Chris Bell and his squad won't lose again this regular season.

3. Clarkston (5-0) – Senior field general Tyler Scarlett is a straight winner through and through.  He can and will single-handedly win games for the Wolves and sideline skipper Kurt Richardson isn't afraid to take the reins away and let him loose. The C-Town defense has been a rock of consistency all year long. The Wolves D-Back unit is one of the best around.

4. Birmingham Brother Rice (4-1) – Rice was the pictu re of resiliency last week in their last-second win over Warren De La Salle. No self-pity hangover from the CC loss was in the cards for these charged-up Warriors. Coach Fracassa's boys were chomping at the bit to get back on the field in Week 5 and when they did they played their butts off. And they did it in style – Dancing off the field in celebration following Adam Gorski's game-winning 35-yarder split the up rights. Don't count the Warriors out just because they dropped the CC game. Frankie Popp and the boys aren't going to let you down.

5. Farmington Hills Harrison (5-0) – Wow, is it fun to watch the Harrison Hawks play this season or what?  These guys can't hit you from so many different angles on offense and the "D" is so-sturdy, I'm foreseeing another lengthy playoff run in the storied program's very near future.  Vince "The Prince" Salatino and "The Posse" – the Hawks prolific offensive arsenal consisting of Steve Slobin, Aaron Burbridge, Sidney Coleman, David Evans, and Jalen Kelly – stretch the field as good as any team in the area. Dom Mencotti and the defense are relentless.

6. Rochester Hills Adams (4-1) –  The Highlanders 'D' reminds me of the Black Eyed Peas song, "Boom Boom Pow", cause that's the sound they make every time they're on the field of battle.  Junior QB Andrew Hammett is a star in the making.

7. Walled Lake Central (5-0) – I think the Vikings are a team of destiny this year. At the very least, this group is going to have a great shot at a district championship and possibly a regional. Senior QB Joe Diamond is having an outstanding year. The Vikings line play on both sides of the ball has been excellent.

8. Birmingham Detroit Country Day (4-1) – Two tough road wins – At Muskegon Catholic Central in Week 3 and at Flint Carmen-Ainsworth last week – has hardened this team's resolve.  Playing in those type of contests will bear fruit in the playoffs, where the Yellowjackets can say to themselves, "we've been here before" and use the experience to overcome any post-season adversity they face. 

9. Madison Heights Madison (5-0) – After a slightly-down year when they changed head20coaches and a great deal of personnel, the Eagles are back to form and playing superior football. Valdez Showers – 175 yds and 3 Td's last week – is possibly the most underrated tailback in the county.   

10. (a) Madison Heights Lamphere (4-1) – Junior QB Ryan Horvath – 4 TDs last week – is having another stellar campaign calling signals and the multi-faceted Mitch Kozloswksi hurts opponents all over the field - This kid makes plays wherever he lines up, whether at receiver, running back, or kick returner.

10. (b) Pontiac (4-1) – Is there a hotter team in Metro Detroit?