Sterling Heights

Cardiac kids

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Staff Writer

Lake Orion High football takes regional; wins fifth straight game by seven points or less

STERLING HEIGHTS — If a football team could possibly be suited to stave off a 29-point comeback and win on a 49-yard field goal as time expired, it would be Lake Orion High.

After the Dragons (11-1) surged to a 35-7 lead against Utica Stevenson (10-2) Nov. 14 at Stevenson, the Titans came back to take a 36-35 lead before Lake Orion senior Jeff Heath booted the longest field goal of his career.

“The last four games, including this game, have been close ones, but we pulled them out,” Heath said after Lake Orion topped Stevenson 38-36 to win their Division 1 regional championship.

“I can’t breathe. I’m lightheaded, and I’m so happy for my team. We deserved that win. We did not deserve to be up 28 points and lose that game.”

Perhaps the only thing more improbable than a game-winning 49-yard field goal off the foot of a player who had never hit one longer than 40 yards was the play that set it up.

After Stevenson was forced to punt with 12 seconds on the clock, the Dragons started their final drive at their own 23-yard line with nine seconds to play.

Freshman quarterback Sean Charette connected with senior receiver Charles Fleck for a 45-yard gain to the Stevenson 32-yard line, where Fleck ran out of bounds to stop the clock with two seconds and set up the kick.

“That is Sean,” Lake Orion coach Chris Bell said of his signal-caller. “He’s going to make some freshman mistakes, but when you need him most, he plays like a veteran.

“That’s my freshman quarterback. He’s done it all year long … he puts it right there beautifully to get out of bounds and get a chance to kick the field goal.”

Along the Dragons’ run to their Division 1 state semifinal at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at Troy Athens against Dearborn Fordson, Charette has answered challenge after challenge.

Prior to the dramatics against Stevenson, Charette guided his team to a 7-0 win against Utica Eisenhower — the game’s lone score came with under two minutes to play — and then led the Dragons back from a 13-point first-half deficit to beat Romeo High 24-23.

“Games are going to look a lot like that with a freshman,” Bell joked about seeing his young quarterback playing under pressure. “We have all the faith in world in Sean, though. He gets better every week.”

Playing under pressure isn’t the only thing Charette does like an old pro; he also knows how to share accolades.

“It’s not just me; it’s the team,” Charette said. “I believe in my offensive line and my receivers, and they believe in me. When that happens, you don’t get just a team, you get a family, and families can get it done.”

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