Blogs > Burney's Bytes

Burney's Bytes will focus primarily on the local preps sports scene, but will also touch on some college and pro athletics, mostly in regards to athletes who hail and have played high school sports in Oakland County. My goal for the blog is to be conversational and anecdotal, a more relaxed and free formal take on high school athletics than you see in regular game day coverage.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Web of Greatness

Former Birmingham Detroit Country Day boys basketball star David Webber was inducted into the Central Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame this week.
Webber was a star in the backcourt for both Country Day and CMU, living up to his family's reputation as a killer on the hardwood.  
Hooping at CMU in the late-1990s and early-2000s, DWebb finished his career as one of the program's all-time greats, tickling the twine at a breakneck pace while in a Chipps uniform. In 2001, he was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. He finished his career as CMU's third leading-scorer in program history. Once, he scored 51 points in a single game.
While at DCD from 1994-1998, he helped lead the Yellowjackets to three straight state championships.
His old brothers are retired NBA all-star Chris Webber and former MSU Spartan and CMU Chippewa Jason Webber, both of whom also took Country Day to state titles in their time as prepsters.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Upcoming Upstart Update

A list of OC darkhorse upstart specials to look out for on the boys high school basketball court this upcoming season……Can you say READY 2 TO GO BUCK WILD?
Chance Huth & Dylan Hancook (Clarkston) – A pair of rock-solid senior forwards that will step into central roles in the C-Town frontcourt alongside fast-rising junior Mike Nicholson and do all that quintessential dirty work for TEAM FIFE to pull out the program's customary 20-plus wins this winter
John Rexroth & Todd Moore (FH Harrison) – An undervalued inside-outside GRUESOME TWOSOME, with Rexroth a talented sophomore in the post and Moore a junior playmaker in the backcourt
Damonte Kruse (Lake Orion) – Has the chance to emerge as one of the top pace-setting floor generals in the OAA
Nick Troxell (Lakeland) – This electrifying human pogo stick might be the best player in the KLAA North this year
Gary Perry & Deandre Jackson (MH Bishop Foley) – Will probably form the top inside-outside tandem in the CHSL C-D Division, with Perry, a long and athletic sophomore who is quickly developing into a D1 recruit holding things down in the paint and Jackson, a slick and steady point guard on the perimeter
Jerald Booker (WL Western) – A star in the making ready to assume point guard duties for the Warriors on the heels of Jalin Gardner's transfer
Dietrich Cole (Southfield-Lathrup) – A 'sleeper special' in the frontcourt…..athletically-gifted, with a soft-touch and a nice feel for the game….might be the next Bryan Coleman (Wayne State)
Jeron (Buddha) Rogers (North Farmington) – Could be the hottest recruit in the state's Class of 2015 by season's end…..outstanding footwork in the post, great touch from outside, fast-improving first-step to the bucket…..will be a serious playmaker by Christmas
Jeff Koch & Timmy Shayoka (Troy Athens) – Koch is a super hard-working and fundamentally sound big fella ready to breakout as a senior this season and Shayoka is the Red Hawks point guard of the present and the future, moving into a starting spot this year as a sophomore after making varsity last year as a freshman reserve
Charles Mason (Oak Park) – Super smooth wing who will be one of the best players in the OAA White
Arben Carmaj & Manny Mendoza (Rochester) – Duo that will benefit greatly from the arrival of All-American James Young…..Carmaj is one of the top players in the area with his back to the hoop and Mendoza is a smart and athletic 'glue guy' on the wing, who is also the squad's defensive specialist
Luke Short (South Lyon) – Is fast emerging as one of the area's premiere point guards
Noah Lee (Novi Detroit CC) – Playmaking backcourt gem that will be the Shamrocks' engine this year and help ease the pain of some pretty sizeable graduation losses
D.J. Stevens (AH Oakland Christian) – This junior swingman is the master of the mid-range game and will establish himself as a small-school superstar this season with a Lancers' offense set to go through him
Jaylen Golson (MH Madison) – Could be one of the top sophomores in the area at the off-guard spot by the end of the season, as well as one of the OC's most lethal two-sport studs, just finishing a stellar campaign on the gridiron as a standout wide receiver on the Eagles football team
Deshawn Lewis (Birmingham Detroit Country Day) – Long, lean,, lanky and mean...this Sizzling Sophomore Special is about to erupt on the wing for THE KEENER KAGE KREW     
Darnell Butler (Southfield) – Will most likely average a double-double this year, spearheading the Bluejays inside attack

Monday, October 29, 2012

Steele-ing The Spotlight

Burney thinks that it is so cool that Madison Heights Madison High School has named its football field in honor of former pro wrestler George 'The Animal' Steele aka Jim Myers.
Back in the day, Myers attended Madison as a student and then eventually went on to head the wrestling and football programs at the school throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. On the wrestling mat, he took the Eagles to a state title. On the football field, he coached future NFL player and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Ken Dallafior.
Then he became a WWF superstar, battling the likes of Hulk Hogan and Randy 'The Macho Man' Savage while crafting an intriguing persona in the world of pro grappling as a lunatic that ate ring-posts. Brilliantly, he parlayed his stature in the WWF to an acting career in Hollywood, appearing in the 1994 hit movie Ed Wood starring Johnny Depp.
Myers took his wrestling moniker from a mentor of his, the real George Steele, who coached prep basketball and football in Warren for over 40 years.
After earning all-state honors on the gridiron in high school at Madison, Myers accepted a college scholarship to play in the Big 10 at Michigan State. Although his football career was cut short as a result of an injury, he fell in love with the idea of being a coach and a teacher and went on to get his degree from Central Michigan.
So, the next time you're at a football game at Madison HS aka George the Animal field aka Jim Myers field, give this local pop culture his due props and even if just for a second or two, stick your tongue out – a George the Animal trademark in the ring - as you are walking through the gate.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Five For Fighting - Masterpiece Theatre

Five For Fighting – Burney's All-Time Favorite ESPN 30for30s Dealing w/ Prep Sports
1 Unguarded – The story of charismatic former Massachusetts schoolboy hoop legend Chris Herren and his battles with drug abuse for over a dozen years in the decades following his rise to stardom and local cult status at the high school level in the early 1990s. After making it to the NBA and landing on his hometown Boston Celtics, Herren succumbed to a deep spiral into the throws of opiate addiction before finally having a reawakening a few years back and overcoming it all to become a coach, mentor and anti-narcotics spokesman. TRULY INSPIRING in so many ways!!!!
2 No Crossover – The tragic tale of the conclusion of future NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson's high school days in Virginia, when he was imprisoned and eventually pardoned following his alleged involvement in a race riot between teenagers at a bowling alley as a junior in 1993. Iverson, the state's top football and basketball player, in the Class of 1994 was deprived of his senior year in both sports due to the wrongful conviction. As a junior, he had led Bethel High School to state titles on the gridiron – electrifying opposing defenses and fans alike with his play at quarterback – and hardwood.
3 Fab Five – A profile of the best NCAA basketball recruiting class ever – until possibly this season's Kentucky group – that descended onto the campus of the University of Michigan in the fall of 1991 and set the college hoops landscape on fire for the next three years. Sadly, the Fab Five's impact on pop culture wound up far more significant than their impact on the floor, which never saw them raise a banner of any kind despite long tourney runs.
4 The Best That Never Was – Fascinating analysis of the ultra-heated college recruitment of Mississippi prep football legend Marcus Dupree back in 1981. Dupree was a flash in the pan on the college level at Oklahoma, however, put together one of the best single-season performances in NCAA history for true freshman, redefining the running back position in SOONERLAND. Voluntarily leaving the program early in the following year, Dupree eventually ended up in the USFL, where he would blow out his knee and after a cup of coffee in the NFL a couple of years later, retire with little fanfare.
5 (tie) Pony Excess – The outright ridiculous recruiting practices of the upstart SMU college football program in the late 1970s and first portion of the 1980s are the focus of this fascinating documentary on the results of greed gone wild and a scandal that reached all the way to up to the Governor of Texas.
5 (tie) The Marinovitch Project – Incredibly introspective look at former prep football phenom Todd Marinovitch, who was molded to be a pro quarterback from practically the day he left the womb by his fanatical father, but following knockout starts burned out quickly at the college and pro level and rebelled by turning to drugs.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Must-See Mandate

ATTN: All OC Prepsters
If you haven't seen the new ESPN 30for30 documentary 'Benji' you need to immediately.
The film, which focuses on the violent and untimely death of former Chicago schoolboy hoop legend Benji Wilson, is a cautionary tale that every young athlete should see and can learn from.
Hailing from Chicago, Wilson was the nation's No. 1 ranked high school boys basketball player entering the 1984-1985 season – a sweet-stroking 6-foot-8 forward with a velvety touch around the rim and natural feel for the game. Coming off a junior year where he had led his Simeon squad to a state championship, he was being recruited by practically every college in the country.
Sadly, Wilson was senselessly shot dead on the afternoon of Simeon's season-opener in late November 1984, following an altercation with another teen outside his school on his lunch hour.
The doc is 90 minutes long and does an excellent job of laying out all the particulars and addressing all the necessary angles in dissecting the story of Wilson and his tragic demise some 30 years ago next month.
Do yourself a favor, check it out!!!

Friday, October 26, 2012

The Great Burnzini - Playoff Season

Picks from the top first-round prep football playoff games being held around the OC this week;
Oxford v. Birmingham Seaholm – O-Town turns into victorytown on Friday night
TEAM ROWLEY 28, Seaholm 24
Novi Detroit CC v. Hartland – CC QB Garrett Moores is about to GET BUSY Aaron Rodgers style for SHAMROCKNATION!!! Yeah I said it!!
CC 33, Hartland 17
Farmington v. WL Western – SPIDERMAN to the rescue……Western SUPERHERO….er…SUPERSTAR safety Josh Jones leads the Warriors to a climatic triumph with the game-winning punt return for a TD and then a game-sealing pick in the closing seconds to put a bow on this TEAM Z 'W'
Western 27, Farmington 26
Detroit MLK v. Southfield – Two words; TRE WALTON…Southfield has him, King doesn't….'NUFF SAID!!
Southfield 29, King 22
Birmingham Brother Rice v. Port Huron – TEAM FRACASSA junior tailback Brian "The Wizard" Walker casts a spell on the Big Red defense, dropping a 150 and 2 TD-spot as the Warriors bring home the win to B'ham
Rice 25 Port Huron 23
Howell v. Walled Lake Northern – Have I mentioned lately that the Knights are a team of destiny this fall?
TEAM MOORE 45, Howell 36
SH Stevenson v. Lake Orion – Dragons running back Jacob Miller is on the verge of reaching SWAGGER LEVEL FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND TRILLION…….on Friday against Stevenson HE DOES….175 yards and 3 TDS
LO 35 Stevenson 15
FH Harrison v. Fenton – No slowing down for BIG SLO and the Harrison gridiron gang as they return to that ever-familiar tournament mode heading into the playoffs
TEAM HERRINGTON 26, Fenton 14
BH Lahser v. AH Avondale – Lahser's sizzling sophomore Nate Emery goes all NATE EMERY and the Knights win in thrilling fashion…aka on an amazing Emery 55-yard scoring scamper in the fourth….MARK THAT DOWN!!!
Lahser 34, Avondale 31
Detroit Cody v. Oak Park – TEAM CARTER gets back on track…..is the first district title in school history on the horizon?
OP 31 Cody 24

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Speaking With The Legend

A few words with The GRIDIRON GODFATHER aka legendary Birmingham Brother Rice head football coach Al Fracassa on his team and the state-tourney opener on Friday against Port Huron.
On the 2012 Rice Warriors as a team;
"This is a typical Rice squad, lots of great kids and outstanding players proud of the opportunity to carry on this program's tradition of excellence. They want to craft a legacy of their own, like the team did last year when we won a state title."
On his defense;
"Those guys are getting a little better each week. We've got a bunch of aggressive tacklers with very good technique."
On Warriors' star junior running back Brian Walker;
"That young man is tough to bring down. He's got power and speed and sheds tackles extremely well. His legs never stop moving and that allows him to get extra-yardage after taking the initial contact."
On Port Huron senior quarterback Mark Chapman, the all-state signal caller committed to play his college pigskin in the MAC at Central Michigan that awaits the Orange and Black in the first round of the playoffs;
"Chapman is one heck of a super athlete and effective quarterback. We've watched a lot of tape on him and we're going to have to contain him if we want to win and move on. I've been seeing him in my sleep, that's how good he is."

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

From Orange To Red

A lot of people don't know this, but Orchard Lake St. Mary's starting senior quarterback Matt Linehan, who just spearheaded the Eaglets to their first Catholic League title since 2005 over the weekend in the Prep Bowl, started his high school athletic career at Birmingham Brother Rice.
Linehan just landed at St. Mary's a couple of years ago.
The all-league signal-caller is a prototype drop-back passer and even though this is his first year starting under center on the Eaglets varsity, the college recruiters are already beginning to sniff in his direction.
He's also a standout small forward on the basketball court in the winter, having helped lead St. Mary's to a Class A regional championship last year.
What if he would have stayed at Rice?
Funny how fate is sometimes, isn't it?

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Decking The Hall

Former Oakland County varsity boys basketball head coaches Howard Golding and Barry Bershad were both inducted into the Michigan Jewish Hall of Fame this week.
Golding was the longtime head coach at Oak Park prior to finishing out his career with the clipboard at Bloomfield Hills Andover, while Bershad was a longtime area assistant that also held stints as a head coach on the bench at West Bloomfield and Birmingham Roeper.
What makes the pair's induction in the same class even more special is that Bershad spent many years as Golding's top assistant, both on the varsity level and in several Maccabi Games. (the national Jewish youth Olympics)
Golding coached a number of future D1 players in his years leading the Oak Park Knights in the 1980s and 1990s, including Herb Taylor (Dayton), Ryan Perryman (Dayton) and Jamie Arnold (Wichita State), among others. Some other notable inductees into the Hall's Class of 2012 with OC ties include; Danny Cohen - a former all-state football and track star at North Farmington, who went on to start at linebacker in college at Eastern Michigan in the early 1980s and Storm Kirschenbaum - one of Birmingham Groves' all-time best baseball players, who went on to play in the SEC at Florida and then at Long Island University in the late 1990s
Bonus Burney Knowledge Drop;
The most famous former player of Golding's didn't have a career in hoops after playing for him. Instead, it was the hip hop industry that was calling his name.
You know him as Royce Da' 5-9, but back in the 90s at Oak Park he was a spunky little guard named Ryan Montgomery.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Quieter Than Usual

Entering the prep football playoffs later this week, a couple of local high-profile players haven't had the type of seasons some might have expected them to have due to injury.
One is OL St. Mary's junior wide receiver Jalen Watts-Jackson and the other is MH Madison sophomore running back Juan Johnson. Both have been dealing with sprained ankles, Johnson since Week 1 and Watts-Jackson since Week 3. While the NOTORIOUS JWJ has made it back to the field, Johnson hasn't yet. That said, I wouldn't be shocked of either or each of these two OC GRID GEMS made some noise in the playoffs, if given the opportunity. Last season, Johnson and JWJ helped lead their respective teams into the postseason, with JWJ going all VICTOR CRUZ in the Eaglets run to a state championship. Considering all the destruction these two leave in their path when doing their business on the football field, it's not surprising that both are encountering serious looks from the college ranks. This upcoming weekend, Watts-Jackson will be taking a trip up to MSU and East Lansing to visit SPARTANLAND. With Dion Simms already on the SPARTY's roster, we all know how much TEAM DANTONIO appreciates OC pass-catch specialists.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Dreamland Diary

Burney's OC super-duper SLEEPER selections for the upcoming state high school football tournament, which kicks off on Friday night
WL Northern – I just have a feeling about the Knights this season……Break out the Beyonce music because these boys are DESTINY's CHILD
RH Lutheran NW – Anytime GARGANTUAN gunslinger Nate Drews is behind center, the LNW Crusaders have a chance at creating chaos on the gridiron
FH Harrison – Sounds weird picking TEAM HERRINGTON as a sleeper, but I wouldn't be shocked if these 6-3 Hawks surprise a lot of people and return to the SHOW aka Ford Field and the state finals come late November
Oxford – Catching fire late, TEAM ROWLEY is playoff primed because they've been in do-or-die postseason mode since Week 7, when they were forced to WIN OUT and they did
Southfield – The 'Jays are rounding into shape at the right time, another 6-3 squad Burney wouldn't be surprised to see make a long tourney run

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Leaving Little Doubt

Clarkston's Ian Eriksen is proving himself a genuine Division I college football prospect with the colossal season he's having rushing the rock.
In his first year starting in the Wolfpack backfield, Eriksen has shown all the necessary tools.
I had a few doubts about his breakaway speed prior to seeing him in-person, but boy was I wrong.
After watching him play live the past two weeks I can firmly say the eye-test doesn't lie….This kid is a BURNER BALLER with few equals in the area…….he has WHEELS!!!....to say the least.
EXHIBIT A;
On Friday night in Clarkston's 41-20 walloping of Oak Park, Eriksen extended his OC-leading rushing numbers, running for 292 yards and four touchdowns on a workmanlike 36 carries. The best example of his breakaway speed came on his final scoring run of the evening, a 55-yard jaunt straight up the middle and into the end zone in the fourth quarter. Nose-to-nose with Oak Park stud sophomore blazer Johnny Kelley at the 30-yard line, Eriksen kicked it into overdrive and reached another gear, sprinting past a would-be-tackling Kelley by several lengths the final dozen yards.
Eriksen has racked up 1,760 yards and scored 30 touchdowns so far this fall.
Just start calling this C-TOWN powerhouse PICASSO, because his season has been a work of art!!!
I.E. on the high school football field is like A.I. on the NBA hardwood in his prime!!!

Friday, October 19, 2012

The Great Burnzini - Week 9

Week 9 picks from the best prep football games in the OC
Clarkston v. Oak Park – In case anyone was still wondering, C-Town is THAT GOOD!!....FORD FIELD OR BUST!!
Wolfpack 33, OP 28
Lake Orion v. Farmington – The LO will KO the Falcons to RESOUNDINGLY rebound from a Week 8 loss to rival Clarkston
TEAM BELL 31, Farmington 24
Birmingham Seaholm v. Birmingham Groves – BEWARE OF Seaholm's AARON WARE, fear the HUMAN PINBALL aka Timmy List, RESPECT fast-emerging field general Stephen Guenther and hide the women and children from the TENACIOUS LINEBACKER tandem of Danny Simon and Chris Hill aka the Maples 'D'gets back on track and the squad rounds into PRIMETIME PLAYOFF FORM as the postseason awaits the program for the second year in a row on the horizon
Seaholm 34, Groves 16
Rochester v. RH Adams – TEAM VERNON = TEAM VICTORY in this Week 9 crosstown gridiron grudge match
Rochester 23, Adams 20
Stoney Creek v. Southfield – You can't stop THA CREEK's junior juggernaut Sean Scullen, you can only hope to contain him…….Cougars pull the upset on the road and ride into the playoffs CARDIAC KID STYLE AKA BRAD ZUBE STYLE!!!!…..Zube is the master of the late-season push!!!!
DA CREEK 27, Southfield 26
Northville v. WL Western –  You know whose underrated on the Western defense and needs some love…..my main man Johnny Simmons……this kid GETS IT DONE with the game on the line….TAKE THAT 2 THE BANK!!!
WLW 32, Northville 17
Troy v. Oxford – Sophomore quarterback Glacier Wallington goes all GLACIER WALLINGTON and the O-TOWN Wildcat KINGDOM roars its way into the playoffs
TEAM ROWLEY 19, Troy 18
Birmingham DCD v. Brighton – TEAM MAC will play and hit like a MACK TRUCK against the Bulldogs to close out the regular season…..Jacob Hill is one of the best No. 2 receivers in the area
DCD 31, Brighton 22
Pinckney v. South Lyon East – Two words; Cam Thomas….SLE has him, Pinckney doesn't….'NUFF SAID
SLE 28, Pinckney 21
South Lyon v. WL Northern – The entire Knights GLAMMED-OUT GRIDIRON GANG has reached SWAGGER LEVEL FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND TRILLLION!!!! Please, make a note….
WLN 55, SL 27
BH Lahser v. Hazel Park – Junior receiver Khalil Gracey will gracefully push the Knights into the playoffs with a 125 yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Spencer McCourt
Lahser 34, HP 29           
Pontiac NDP v. AA Gabriel Richard (Prep Bowl) – TEAM ZIMM is as cool as the other side of my pillow in just so many ways ITS SICK!!!!
NDP 30, Gabriel Richard 24
OL St. Mary's v. Novi Detroit CC (Prep Bowl) – OLSM and its NO NAME NASTY defense will be raising a CHSL championship trophy by the end of Saturday night….TAKE IT 2 THE BANK!!!          
St. Mary's 32, CC 31 (OT)

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Springing Into Action

The Spring Arbor men's basketball program already has one budding backcourt star with the last name Hogans in the fold, now they're going to have another.
North Farmington's Caleb Hogans, one of the most reliable and crafty point guards in the area, verbally committed to Spring Arbor on Wednesday, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Robert Hogans, currently a junior for the Cougars starting in the backcourt.
Robert Hogans graduated from North Farmington in 2010, where he was an all-league pick as a senior and helped lead the Raiders to a Class A district title.
Caleb Hogans has been equally as productive for North Farmington on the hardwood. Entering his third year as the Raiders' starting floor general this winter, little Hoags was an all-OAA pick last season as a junior, averaging 15 points, 6 assists and two steals per game.
Joining forces with fellow GRADE-A hoop hounds Jeron 'Buddha' Rogers (a top college recruit in the Class of 2015) and Sterling Sharp (also a three-year starter headed to play baseball in college at the D1 level with Eastern Michigan) for the upcoming campaign, the Raiders will once again be one of the best teams in the always rough and rugged OAA Red.
Last season, Spring Arbor finished 18-14.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Clobbering The Competition

Former Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes football star L.J. Stolarski was in CHARLES WOODSON MODE last weekend while on the gridiron in college at Benedictine University out in Chicago.
From his starting spot in the secondary, Stolarski, was a difference-maker all over the field in Benedictine's 28-0 roughhousing of Rockford College back on Saturday, forcing four turnovers to lead a stout Eagles' defense.
In addition to recovering a fumble, forcing a fumble and making two interceptions – one of them going to THE HOUSE for a touchdown –, he also recorded six tackles, two quarterback hurries and one pass deflection.
Stolarski's second pick, which he returned 18 yards for a score, proved the dagger to any thoughts of a Rockford comeback, running the scoreboard tally to 28-0 in Benedictine's favor midway through the third quarter.
His sparkling performance didn't go unnoticed, as Stolarski, a senior, was named Northern Lakes Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Oh, did I mention when Stolarski isn't delivering bone-jarring hits and collecting INTS in the Eagles' defensive backfield, he's the team's starting placekicker.
What doesn't this kid do?
Last year, he was named the Eagles MVP on Special Teams in the post-season awards banquet.
When he was in high school, Stolarski was a two-time all-state selection at WOLL.
Featuring a roster with over a dozen players from Metro Detroit, Benedictine is currently 3-3.
 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

It's All About The Gear

FIVE FOR FIGHTING – Burney's Favorite Football Uniforms this fall
1 Clawson – CLAWVILLE is the Oregon of the OC…..TEAM SPARKS is switching up their FRESH2DEATH TROJANS GEAR every week
2 Walled Lake Northern – Digging the threads this year in a major way…….feeling those paisley accents!!!
3 (tie) Birmingham Brother Rice (Black) – Love those all-black unis with the orange lettering, these guys intimidate with their gear the second they walk out of the tunnel!!!
3 (tie) OL St. Mary's (Red) – Looking CLASSY fellas!!
4 Farmington – Simple and SWEET!!!
5 Novi Detroit CC – Just CLASSIC!!
HM: Best helmets – Oak Park: TEAM CARTER is rocking those SUPER FRESH lids with the explosion pattern up top

Monday, October 15, 2012

Weekly Football Rankings - Stretch Run

OC Top 10
1 Birmingham Brother Rice – Best team in the OC, but not playing for a Catholic League title?
2 (tie) OL St. Mary's – Senior quarterback Matt Linehan will have his Eaglets ready to go in the Prep Bowl after a lackluster effort in Week 8
2 (tie) Novi Detroit CC – Jonny Malone and Kevin Walsh are an underrated lockdown tandem of cornerbacks…..TAKE IT 2 THA BANK!!           
3 Clarkston – Chris Calvano is a MAN playing amongst BOYS out there repping it hard core for the TEAM K-RICH at linebacker this year!!!
4 Lake Orion – I have a sense that the Dragons will unleash some pent up aggression from last week's narrow loss to Clarkston on the Farmington Falcons in Week 9
5 WL Northern – One word; ELECTRIFYING!!!!
6 Oak Park – Very interested to see how TEAM CARTER responds in the Week 9 OAA crossover versus the No. 1 in the state Clarkston Wolfpack
7 (tie) FH Harrison – What did I tell you?
7 (tie) WL Western – Might be the best team in the area (not named Brother Rice) that didn't win a league championship this season
8 (tie) Birmingham DCD – 'Jackets are blazing hot heading down the stretch!
8 (tie) Farmington – Needs to respond from downtrodden outing in Week 8
9 (tie) Southfield – Sophomore wide receiver Ray Buford (2 tds in Week 8  trouncing of Lathrup) is a burgeoning star!!! YEAH, I SAID IT!
9 (tie) Birmingham Seaholm – All hail the OAA Blue CHAMPIONS!!!
10 (tie) AH Avondale – Finishing STRONG!!!
10 (tie) Pontiac NDP – Should probably be ranked higher