Five For Fighting – Top outings from Thursday's prep football action in the OC

1 (tie) Kyle Bambard (WL Western) – My boy 'Bam Bam' slammed and jammed the SL East defense for a combined 277 yards of offense, tossing three touchdowns and rushing for 110 yards, while averaging over 10 yards per carry, in the Warriors 45-0 win.

1 (tie) The WL Western Defense – The Warriors 'D' was doing it SLAUGHTERHOUSE STYLE against Western Michigan-commit Cam Thomas and the SLE offense, keeping the Cougars stud quarterback and his arsenal off the board for the entire night. SHOUTOUT ROLL CALL; 'The Tribe' student section, Ben Ruby (9 tackles, 2 sacks), Zach Prokes (8 tackles), Johnny Simmons (8 tackles), Josh Jones (pick 6 to end first half), Nick Walton (2 INTS), Laron Cohen (INT to open the game and set the tone for the whole unit)

2 Josh Holloman (AH Avondale) – Holloman is the OC's breakout star at the running back position through the first two weeks of the season. The 'Jackets SUPER SOPH ran for 120 yards and 3 touchdowns in his team's crushing victory over Birmingham Groves, showing the future is bright as a Florida sun for TEAM DEUTSCH and the Avondale backfield

3 Anthony Waite-Dalton Christie (Lakeland) – For the second straight week, Waite and Christie made a strong case for itself as the most dangerous tailback duo in the area, combining for over 200 yards and five scores in the Eagles's authoritative takedown of Novi.

4 Steve Guenther-Tyler Scott (Birmingham Seaholm) – The Maples PRIMETIME aerial connection made beautiful music in their squad's blanking of Royal Oak, hooking up for a pair of knockout-blow touchdowns in the second quarter.

Somewhere John Glazier was smiling!!

5 Jonny Reschke-Kevin Henry (Birmingham Brother Rice) – This Orange&Black defensive tandem each came away with 10 tackles apiece in the Warriors downing of AA Pioneer on the road, helping TEAM FRACASSA rebound from an opening-night loss at the hands of Cass Tech

Picks from some of the best prep football games the OC has to offer in Week 2

South Lyon East v. Walled Lake Western – East is a program on the rise. Are they at Western's level yet?…….Not quite!! Warriors snare their first win of the year

WLW 38, SLE 25

Farmington v. Southfield – Watch for Curtis Brunson to star on both sides of the ball for the upset-minded Falcons

Farmington 27-24 (OT)

Farmington Hills Harrison v. Rochester Hills Adams – Sophomore quarterback Ryan Brand is a fast-improving field general for TEAM HERRINGTON. He will be the difference in this one, tossing the game-winning touchdown to Garius Coleman in the closing seconds

Harrison 34, Adams 28

Troy v. Rochester – Manny Mendoza is about to cause some serious MANNY MAYHEM on the football field and lead TEAM VERNON to the victory and a 2-0 start to the 2012 campaign

Rochester 26, Troy 22  

Stoney Creek v. Pontiac – TEAM ZUBE goes and gets a win on their coach's old home field…..the FUTURE IS NOW for these cagey Cougars!!

THACREEK 32, 'Yaktown 29

Bloomfield Hills Lahser v. Ferndale – Lahser defensive stud Andrew Gikas is a GREEK GRIDIRON GOD!!!! Mark that down!!! Knights clinch the game on a Gikas sack, head back home with a hard-fought 'W'

Lahser 23, Ferndale 17

Lake Orion v. Troy Athens (at Ford Field) – You can't stop Dragons senior linebacker Derric Williams, you can only hope to contain him!!!! Williams collects a pair of sacks in leading an abrasive Dragons 'D'

LO 20, Athens 10

 

West Bloomfield v. Clarkston – Ace Wolfpack cornerback Timmy Cason is about to make life miserable for the Lakers frosh field general

C-Town 30, WB 18

Southfield-Lathrup v. Oak Park – I love me some Harrison "The Hotel" Shelby on the line for TEAM CARTER!! He's like blocking two guys at once, that's what an imposing presence this kid is in the trenches

OP 21, SL 16

Orchard Lake St. Mary's v. Toledo St. John's – I have faith in Team Porritt that last week was an aberration!!!

OLSM 27, TSJ 22

Toledo Whitmer v. Novi Detroit Catholic Central – Dylan Roney is in a nip-and-tuck with Brother Rice's Sergio Perkovic as the Catholic League's official 'SACKMASTER GENERAL', and he picks up a couple of QB takedowns in the Shamrocks victory

CC 45, Whitmer 20

Birmingham Brother v. Ann Arbor Pioneer – The Lacanaria brothers hook up for a pair of touchdowns and the Black&Orange grab a nice win on the road

Rice 29, Pioneer 23  

Britton Deerfield v. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes – Don't ever think about crossing my boy Richie Cross, on the football, basketball court or elsewhere, 'cause he'll make you pay every time!!!

WOLL 40, BD 31

The transfer train continued rolling down the track at breakneck speed this week with All-American boys hoopster James Young leaving Troy for Rochester.

Here's some of Burney's most memorable transfers from the OC;

Angelo Taylor (Clarkston Basketball) – This 6-foot-7 long, lean and mean athletic freak made headlines back in the late 1990s when he left Pontiac Northern and transferred to arch nemesis Clarkston in order to team with All-American guard Dane Fife for his senior year. Visions of a trip to the final four however were unfulfilled as the Wolfpack lost to eventual Class A state champion Detroit Central and future NFL All-Pro Antonio Gates in the quarterfinals.

Brad Cochrane (Birmingham Brother Rice Football) – Landed in WARRIORLAND after starting his prep career at Royal Oak Kimball and went on to be a monster on offense and defense for TEAM FRACASSA in the early 1980s, before going on to play as a defensive back in college at Michigan and in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders.

David Bowens & Daryl Adams (Orchard Lake St. Mary's Football&Basketball) – Came over to St. Mary's from Pontiac Central and along with resident Eaglets superstar Diallo Johnson, keyed both the basketball and football programs to state finals appearances. With Johnson at quarterback and Bowens and Adams as his top two weapons in the passing game, not to mention DB's massive presence on defense, the Eaglets captured a state championship on the gridiron in 1994. In their post prep careers, Bowens was the most successful, just recently ending a 12-year career in the NFL as a hard-working defensive lineman, while Johnson (who switched to receiver at the next level) and Adams each going on to star in college at Michigan and Wayne State respectively.  

Drew Jackson (Bloomfield Hills Lahser football) – Took the reins at quarterback for the BLACK&YELLOW for one glorious senior season back in 2008, after moving into the district from East Lansing. With the strong-armed Jackson slanging the pigskin downfield on a consistent basis, he helped lead the Knights to an appearance in the final four

Ray McCallum, Jr (Birmingham DCD basketball) – The Midwest's most dynamic prep point guard landed in KEENER KAGE KOUNTRY from Bloomington, Indiana as a junior and dominated the local landscape for the next two years, culminating in the 'Jackets raising a state title banner in 2010. A McDonald's All-American pick at the conclusion of his senior year, McCallum spurned offers from a slew of national college powerhouses to go play for his dad at UofD-Mercy, where he took the Titans into the NCAA Tourney last March.

OC Top 10 Players

The local prep soccer pitch will be severely depleted this season – and for seasons to come for that matter – with the recent USSF ruling and dozens of the area's top high school players skipping prep play in favor of training with their academies.

So with that said, here's the best of the rest;

1 Miles Dale (Rochester) – This University of Cincinnati-commit is a terror in the open field and a closer extraordinaire around the net

2 Zac Doepke (Troy) – Playmaking midfielder, who is a master pace-setter and will be playing D1 soccer somewhere next year

3 (tie) Tommy Bowman (Birmingham Seaholm) – One of the state's most dangerous scoring threats

3 (tie) Nash Popovic (Rochester) – D1 recruit who will flank Dale up front for the Falcons, combining to give Rochester the top 1-2 offensive punch in the OC

4 Jimmy Hague (WL Western) – This Warriors goalie is the best player in the area that nobody knows about…..YET!!

5 (tie) Hunter Mejaly-Phillip Noessler (Birmingham Brother Rice) – With loads of their teammates gone for academy ball, this duo of Warrior vets have the necessary talent and leadership skills to keep TEAM Brodsky moving in the right direction

5 (tie) Brenton Desai-Zach Walker (Birmingham DCD) – Desai is a savvy midfielder headed to play college ball at the University of Chicago and Walker is a menace in between the pipes and one of the top goalkeepers in the state's Class of 2014

6 Don Nakashima (Novi) – Underrated finisher who has an affinity for the back of the net and will be a premiere recruit for the Class of 2014

7 Justin Anderson-Addison Wittry (Lake Orion) – Just really, really fundamentally sound and really, really GOOD!!

8 Matt Kiura (Novi) – Kiura is a KILLER on the pitch

9 Ben Richter (AH Avondale) – The OAA's best goalkeeper

10 Spencer Solys (Birmingham Roeper)– Best small-school player in the area, a threat to punch one in whenever he's near the box….coming off a year where he registered 30 goals and 18 assists.

Some of the OC's best academy players; 

Matt Habrowski (Brother Rice/Notre Dame), Russell Cicerone (Brother Rice/Western Michigan), Rob Cort (Brother Rice), Matt Smolinski (Troy), Oliver Harris (Birmingham DCD/Notre Dame), Matt Wilson (Novi/Oakland University)

THE OC's Top 10 Teams

1 Rochester

2 Walled Lake Northern

3 Birmingham Brother Rice

4 Birmingham DCD

5 Clarkston

6 Stoney Creek

7 Troy

8 AH Avondale

9 RH Adams

10 Birmingham Seaholm

10 Lake Orion

OC Top 10

1 Novi Detroit CC – SHAMROCKNATION's "Blue Bandit" defense was in mid-season form in CC's Week 1 35-0 blanking of Detroit Cody...ALL HAIL THE OC's NEW NO. 1 GRID SQUAD!!!

2 Birmingham Brother Rice – TEAM FRACASSA will respond with TENACITY from its WEEK 1 loss to Detroit Cass Tech

3 Clarkston – You can't stop C-Town junior running back Ian Eriksen, you can only hope to contain him!

4 Southfield – 'Jays star wideout Brandon Bean's is a STRAIGHT SUPERSTUD on the gridiron

5 (tie) FH Harrison – Look for junior Hawks receiver Rayquan Carter to breakout soon!!! Kid's got MAD WHEELS

5 (tie) Farmington – Don't overlook TEAM BECHTEL in the race for a state crown this fall!!

6 Lake Orion – Dragons senior Jacob Miller is the most lethal running back in the OAA Red….YEAH, I SAID IT!!!

7 OL St. Mary's – Defense looked good in Week I defeat on the road at Muskegon, offense, not so much…..Burney has faith that TEAM PORRITT will have things back up to par for Week 2

8 (tie) Oak Park – Burney's SUPERSONIC SURPRISE of Week 1 (part A) was the Knights upset win over Detroit East Village Prep

8 (tie) Troy – FEAR THE CHERRYBOMB!!!

9 Birmingham DCD – Moe Ways is a BALLER & a SHOTCALLER, whether on the football field or basketball court….that's all you really have to know about this 'JACKETS GEM

10 (tie) Lakeland – Burney's SUPERSONIC SURPRISE in Week 1 (part B) was the Eagles' handling of Northville where the MALTEESE MAULERS romped over the Mustangs by racking up over 400 yards on the ground

10 (tie) WL Central – The Vikings SIZZLING SOPHS, Zac Goor and Nick Krumm are well on their way to reaching SWAGGER LEVEL THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND TRILLION before the month is through!!

10 (tie) WL Western – JUGGERNAUT JUNIOR field general Kyle Bambard will rally the troops for Week 2 against South Lyon East

Saturday's top performances from opening night on the local prep football field

Dellonte Johnson (Oak Park) – Was that Dellonte Johnson out there taking snaps for the OP Knights or was it Lions super sub Shaun Hill? Subbing for senior starter, Nate Simms, Johnson led TEAM CARTER to a 20-14 downing of Detroit East Village Prep, connecting with Brian Williams for his second touchdown of the day and the game-winning score with less than 30 seconds left

Waterford Lakes Defense – Looked like the second coming of the '85 Chicago Bears or the 2000 Baltimore Ravens in their squad's 42-6 demolishing of visiting Cleveland Villa St. Joe's, not allowing a single first down the whole game

Brandon Bean (Southfield) – Showed that he's the ultimate definition of resolve and a playmaker, catching a pair of PRIMETIME scoring passes in the closing moments of the Bluejays 21-20 2OT besting of Detroit King

Tre Walton (Southfield) – The field general position in BLUEJAYLAND is in good hands with new starter Tre Walton, an all-league receiver in 2011. Walton posted a combined 240 yards and hooked up with Bean for a pair of late TDS that tied and then won the game for TEAM CONLEY

Darius Danzy (Southfield) – Is Danzy the best cover corner in the OAA WHITE? Very possibly after Danzy came away with a pair of MONUMENTAL picks in the closing minutes of his squad's victory

Lawrence Marshall (Southfield) – This fast emerging D-Lineman sparked the 'Jays defensive effort with 8 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. CAN U SAY MONSTER IN THE TRENCHES?

Nick Wallace (MH Madison) – WELCOME BACK NICKY GUNS; My man Nick "Nicky Guns" Wallace was firing on all cylinders in his return behind center for the Eagles – after stepping in late and leading Madison to a district title as a sophomore in 2010, he was on the shelf with injuries last year –, putting 5 touchdowns on the board (four threw the air) in the Eagles 54-0 throttling of Center Line

Josh Flye (Birmingham Brother Rice) – THIS KID CAN FLY!!! The Next Great WARRIOR WIDE OUT caught 5 passes for a team-high 106 yards and a 44-yard touchdown in Brother Rice's 25-18 loss to Detroit Cass Tech

Brian Walker (Birmingham Brother Rice) – THE WIZARD of WARRIORNATION as Burney likes to call him ran for 115 yards and a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown in defeat.

Bonus pick:

Matt Kozmakski (WL Northern) - ROADHOUSE ROARED on opening night for TEAM MOORE. He picked up up 255 yards on the ground in the Knights marathon 56-54 loss back on Friday night

Friday's best opening-night performances on the prep football field

Jacob Miller (Lake Orion) – Miller literally took the Dragons on his back in the second half of the team's 17-10 come-from-behind victory over Oxford, chugging along for 145 yards and 2 critical TDs

Jordan Degreffenreed (Farmington) – The Falcons' HUMAN SPARKPLUG went all ARIAN FOSTER on Westland John Glenn in Farmington's 32-14 win, breaking loose for 215 yards and 4 touchdowns

Alex Larson (Milford) – Lurking in the shadows, Larson is well on his way to making a name for himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the entire area…..EXHIBIT A…the Mavericks' GRID MAVEN picked up nearly 300 yards of combined offense (194 by air, 96 by ground) in MillTOWN's 42-21 flogging of Flushing

Ian Eriksen (Clarkston) – If you read the Great Burnzini's predictions the other day, you would have known that Eriksen, the Wolfpack's fast-rising junior running back, was going to GET CRAZT BUSY in Week 1 and he did in MAJOR LEAGUE FASHION, registering 242 yards and a robust 5 touchdowns on the ground in C-Town's 42-28 defeat of Rochester Adams. Oh, yeah, by the way, he also took the game's opening kickoff 99 yards to the HOUSE for the first score of the night. Is IE the new AI in 2012?

Cam Thomas (South Lyon East) – The WMU-commit showed why he's the best senior field general in the county, GOING SURGICAL on Friday, torching the Waterford Kettering 'D' for 275 yards and three touchdowns in the EASTSIDERS 25-22 triumph

Ty Sparks (Clawson) – The Trojans new starting field general made his pops, CLAWVILLE's head coach Jim Sparks SUPER PROUD in his first game under center on varsity, lighting up the Harper Wood secondary for a 160 yards and three touchdowns through the air on an efficient 20-of-30 pass attempts in leading his squad to a lopsided 37-0 win.

Anthony Waite (Lakeland) – Took the term 'yardage-churner' to a whole new level in the Eagles surprising 39-14 blasting of Northville, SLICING and DICING through the Mustangs defense for  227 yards and 3 touchdowns

Sean Scullen (Stoney Creek) – Scullen did his best Sly Stallone impression, playing the role of DEMOLITION MAN for the Cougars, putting up over 200 yards of total offense and a whopping 5 touchdowns in the SC's 55-7 clobbering of Royal Oak. WAR TEAM ZUBE!!!

Justin Allor (Stoney Creek) – In his first game as Cougartown's starting signal caller, Allor looked like an old pro, throwing for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns, including an 80-yard scoring strike to Scullen on the THA CREEK's first possession of the second half

Thursday's best opening-night performances on the prep football field

Terrence Cherry (Troy) – WELCOME TO THE OC 'TC'…….Cherry, a transfer from Indiana, made a SIZZLING Metro Detroit debut for the Colts, running for 133 yards and three TDS in a resounding 24-20 win over Romeo

Timmy List (Birmingham Seaholm) – This little fireplug of a backfield threat, rang up the Ferndale defense for a career-high 140 yards on the ground in the Maples 9-0 win

Taylor Timko (Pontiac NDP) – WHAT CAN'T THIS GIRL DO?.......The Fighting Irish girls soccer superstar (already committed to Michigan as only a junior) made her Fighting Irish football debut on Thursday in smashing fashion, booting a game-winning 35-yard field goal in the final moments of NDP 17-14 downing of Almont on the road

Alex Moore (Waterford Mott) – Busted out for 185 yards and 4 touchdowns in the Corsairs 34-14 spanking of Wayne Memorial, getting the TEAM FAHR regime started with a BANG. Could Moore be the breakout early-season star in the KLAA? Burney says……GOOD CHANCE

Tyler Wiegers (Birmingham DCD) – Showed why he's one of the best field generals in the entire state throwing for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns – Including an 88-yard bomb in the second half –  in the 'Jackets' 41-0 stomping of Detroit Mumford.

Richie Wilson (Birmingham DCD) – Displayed DECIMATING versatility for TEAM MAC, scoring three first-half touchdowns in three separate ways – he ran one in, he caught one from Wiegers and then made an interception and took it to the house.

Chauncey Bridges (North Farmington) – Chauncey Billups was 'Mr. Big Shot', so I'm going to nickname my main man CB, 'Mr. Big Play,' because that's all this kid produces on the gridiron…..in the Raiders' 24-13 victory over Bay City John Glenn, Bridges rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns, as well as taking a punt return back for a score, as well.

Zach Goor (Walled Lake Central) – The Vikings' sophomore sensations ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns on a workmanlike 28 carries in Central's 28-14 besting of Saginaw Heritage.

 

Burney's Week 1 picks from some of the best prep football games around the area

Oxford v. Lake Orion – The Dragons' newly-formed "Green Hornet" receiving unit is going to be too much to handle for TEAM ROWLEY, setting a tone for the rest of the season

LO 34 Oxford 20

Rochester Adams v. Clarkston – Look for a breakout game from Wolves' running back Ian Erickson

C-Town 31, Adams 28

Birmingham DCD v Detroit Mumford – My man Moe Ways is about to go all MEGATRON on the Mumford secondary

DCD 44, Mumford 23

Ferndale v. Birmingham Seaholm – Ferndale is one of Burney's top sleeper picks this season and they open the 2012 season by going on the road and springing the upset on the host Maples

Ferndale 27, Seaholm 24

BH Andover v. BH Lahser – The last-ever Battle of Bloomfield will go to the Knights, behind a 250-yard, 3-TD game from junior quarterback Spencer McCourt

Lahser 41, Andover 21

Birmingham Groves v. Berkley – I expect big game from Falcons field general Nick Kizy, in his first start under center for TEAM FLAHERTY

Groves 33, Berkley 26

Southfield-Lathrup v. Pontiac – Alright, let's all SAY it together now, Phoenix wide receiver Trajan SEAY is about to GET SUPER BUSY this year hauling in passes from 'Yaktown signal-caller Jody Harrison

Pontiac 27, Lathrup 23

FH Harrison v. Detroit Renaissance – You can't stop junior Hawks tailback Lorenzo Collins, you can only hope to contain him…….and the Rens will have trouble even doing that

Harrison 40, Renaissance 25

Oak Park v. Detroit East Village Prep – Senior split end Brandon Harding snares a game-winning touchdown from Nate Simms in the final seconds to send TEAM CARTER to the 'W'

OP 24, EVP 21 

Southfield v. Detroit King – TEAM CONLEY about to inflict some serious pain this season and it starts against a NORFLEET-lESS King squad on opening night

Southfield 28, King 14

Birmingham Brother Rice v. Detroit Cass Tech – Tech in a squeaker, sorry fellas (aka all my BRICE BALLER HOMEBOYS), but I'm going with my gut on this one…….was OVERLY impressed by the Technicians in the state finals last year

Cass 22, Rice 20

Some names you might not know about, but who are ready for breakout seasons on the high school football field this fall:

Ross Williams (Birmingham Groves) – Will be one of the best running backs in the area in about three weeks

Caine Watlington (Clarkston) – Cat-quick linebacker that is a star in the making for the C-Town defense

Treyvon Munson (AH Avondale) – Might wind up being the talk of the OAA Blue, as this 6-foot-6 human pogo stick on the end will be giving opposing cornerbacks fits this fall

Tremichael Brown (Ferndale) – Just start calling this kid 'Slash', because Brown will be displaying his magic all over the field in a half-dozen different positions for TEAM DUNLOP in 2012…..after sitting out last season due to transfer rules, this kid is almost a shoe-in for an all-league selection at the conclusion of the upcoming season

Kyle Niswonger (RH Adams) – A physical and intense player and the heart and soul of the Highlanders this year ready to hurt opponents carrying the ball on offense and sparking the Adams 'D' at middle linebacker

Anthony Gunn (Pontiac NDP) – About to take the Catholic League by storm after earning all-Flint Metro league honors last year at Ortonville Brandon as a FAB FROSH.

Terrence & Torrance Cherry (Troy) – This pair of twin transfers from Indiana will be holding it down HOOSIERSTYLE for TEAM GRIFF at wide receiver and cornerback this year

Nick Booker (Lake Orion) – Following in his big brother Vinnie's footsteps as a force to be reckoned with in the Dragons secondary….Instinct big-hitter who loves to mix it up

Burney's Top 10 Football Teams in the OC

1 Birmingham Brother Rice – All hail the defending state champs!!!......It's an ORANGE&BLACK world and we're all just living in it!!

2 Novi Detroit Catholic Central – Wyatt Shallman is about to make up for his lost time on the field toting the ball last year with a MONSTER start to the season….TAKE IT 2 THE BANK!!

3 Orchard Lake St. Mary's – The NOTORIOUS JWJ Lives!!!! Jalen Watts-Jackson is about to BLOW UP like the BOMB he is!!!

4 Southfield – Get busy my main Bluejays homeboy and new featured running back Gerald Gates!!!!

5 FH Harrison – Hawks SIR-GRIND-A-LOT Jake Slobin must be like a crazed dog on a leash right now waiting for the season to start……he's about to GRIDIRO CRAZY!!!

6 Lake Orion – Burney's loving him some Dragons receiving corps this fall, YEAH, I'M TALKING 2 YOU…Chaz Miller, Jeremy King, Corey Ester and Zak Arnold…I think I'll nickname them….WAIT FOR IT……. "The GREEN HORNETS"

7 Clarkston – Wolfpack senior linebacker Chris Calvano is a BAD MAN and one of the best defensive players in the whole OAA…..YEAH, I SAID IT!!!

8 Walled Lake Western – Quarterback Kyle Bambard and MR. DO-EVERTHING Josh Jones are both SO COLD I think all the Warriors opponents this fall would be smart to invest in some THERAFLU ASAP!!

9 Farmington – Curtis Brunson, the Falcons' junior WR/S is a name to remember….this kid is a fast-riser!!

10 (tie) Birmingham Detroit Country Day – The 'Jackets will win a state title this fall……MARK THAT DOWN!!

10 (tie) Rochester Hills Adams – Ben Hart is an underrated playmaker all over the field