Farmington Hills, Farmington

Local football teams come up just short in opening round of the playoffs

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Donna Agusti Farmington Hills Harrison’s Eddie Huckleby gets around the corner in a game earlier this season. The Hawks lost in a Division 2 playoff opener. Photo by Donna Agusti Farmington Hills Harrison’s Eddie Huckleby gets around the corner in a game earlier this season. The Hawks lost in a Division 2 playoff opener.

The season came to an end for the Farmington Hills Harrison and Farmington High football teams Oct. 26 on the road.

Harrison lost to Fenton High 22-19 in a Division 2 district opener.

“I thought we played well early, then we had an injury and had to change the game plan a little bit,” Harrison coach John Herrington said. “We played good defense, but we had five penalties on the last possession.”

The Hawks twice were able to get as close as Fenton’s four-yard line on their final drive, but each time were moved back on penalties.

“We played very hard,” Herrington said. “We missed some opportunities, and the officials drove us back.”

Harrison finishes 6-4 overall. In the Oakland Activities Association White Division, the Hawks were 4-3, which tied them for fourth.

Offensively, they averaged 32.7 points per game while only letting up 16.7 per contest, but as it was with Fenton, Harrison struggled to close out close games.

The team’s losses were by an average of 4.5 points, with its biggest loss coming by seven points.

“This team had some good talent, but in the close games we just came up short,” Herrington said. “The seniors played very hard, and we had some of them on the state championship team (in 2010). We’ll definitely miss those guys.”

On the other side of the district bracket, Farmington fell to Walled Lake Western 31-28.

The Falcons finish 6-4 overall and tied for second in the OAA White at 5-2.

On the year, Farmington scored 25.3 per game, while letting up 22.8. In its four losses, two of them came by five points or less.

The Falcons also extended their school record streak of making the playoffs to five.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.