Sports
Troy to Face Defending Champions at Home
Colts will face pressure from "all over the place" against Lake Orion tonight, coach said.
Two weeks after a disappointing loss to Clarkston, the football team will get another chance to prove it belongs with the top teams in the Oakland Activities Association Red Division when the Colts host defending state champion Lake Orion tonight.
Last week, Troy (3-2, 3-1 OAA Red) defeated West Bloomfield, 42-13, in part due to another solid effort from the team’s rushing attack. The Colts rushed for 396 yards as a team in the victory, with senior running back Oliver Jiang accounting for 221 of those yards.
Troy coach Gary Griffith said he liked what he saw from his team against the Lakers.
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“We cut down on the mistakes, we played physical, and we did a real good job on the line of scrimmage, both ways,” Griffith said.
The Colts will need another strong effort in those areas against a Lake Orion team that has won four straight games in convincing fashion after losing its opener at Oxford. Troy lost 45-0 last year at Lake Orion after the Dragons got off to a quick start, scoring touchdowns on three of their first five offensive plays.
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Griffith said the Colts will need to avoid getting off to a similar start in this year’s game in order to beat the Dragons (4-1, 4-0 OAA Red).
“We need to be able to move the ball and control the clock when we’re on offense, and defensively we have to make sure there are no big plays,” Griffith said. “If they drive the ball, they drive the ball. We do the best we can, but we have to try and eliminate big plays.”
Griffith said he expects Lake Orion to try and bring pressure from “all over the place” in tomorrow’s game, and that the Colts will need to make quick reads against Lake Orion’s defense.
“Last week we saw pressure, but it was always coming from the same spots, so our kids were able to adapt,” Griffith said. “I think (Friday) the kids have to recognize the fronts, the defense and how they’re lined up, and then anticipate what stunts are coming. If we can do that, I think we have a good shot.”
Kickoff for Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
