Eagles grounded

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Staff Writer

Utica Eisenhower football falls to Lake Orion High in first round

LAKE ORION — A Utica Eisenhower football team that started the season 0-3 probably didn’t think it would still be playing come playoff time.

In fact, with a 5-4 regular-season record, the Eagles had to wait until selection night just to find out that they had earned a spot in the 256-team field.

But there they were, squaring off against Lake Orion High Oct. 31 in a pre-district game.

“To think they lost the first three games of the season, and here they are playing the top team in Oakland County,” Ike coach Bob Lantzy said.

“We had every chance to beat them, and we should have beat them. I can’t say enough about the kids.”

Despite falling 7-0, the Eagles gave the 9-1 Dragons, champions of the Oakland Activities Association Red Division, as good a game as they’re likely to see regardless of how far they advance in the postseason.

“It was a good, all-around team effort,” Lantzy said. “Overall, we just couldn’t get the offensive consistency. We’ve had trouble all year getting it on track.”

Even with just one score, the game featured plenty of excitement, including five turnovers, a blocked field goal attempt and plenty of physical play.

“We knew it would be a battle,” Lake Orion High coach Chris Bell said. “They’re a good team from a great league, and they’ve been banged up. We knew it would be a huge battle.”

Eisenhower was on the receiving end of the game’s first turnover, as junior Tony Zerafa recovered a fumble on Ike’s 11-yard line with 6:18 remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles then drove to the Dragons’ 25-yard line, where Lake Orion senior Eric Knoblock recovered an Eisenhower fumble with 1:35 remaining.

The Dragons then drove the ball to the Eisenhower 32, but a big defensive stop by junior Jack Sauber on fourth down at the 8:35 mark of the second quarter ended the drive. The Dragons came right back, though, when Lake Orion senior Charles Fleck intercepted a pass at 8:29.

After both team’s traded stops to end the first half, Eisenhower stopped the Dragons’ opening drive of the second half when senior Kale Wilson recovered a fumble he forced while sacking Lake Orion freshman quarterback Sean Charette at 7:59.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Dragons drove from their own 31-yard line to the Eagles’ 19, where senior running back Branden Oakes rushed for a 19-yard score and a 7-0 Lake Orion lead.

Dragons senior linebacker Evan Gros sealed the win with an interception at the Eagles’ 5 with 50 seconds to play.

The loss ended Eisenhower’s season at 5-5 and marked the end of prep careers of 27 seniors.

“They played great,” Lantzy said of his team’s season-long efforts. “Injuries just seemed to keep happening.”   

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1029.