By Jim Newell
Managing Editor
ORION TWP. — The Lake Orion varsity football team gave a commanding performance on Friday, treating fans to a 42-7 Homecoming victory over Farmington High School.
The Dragons are now 8-0 and look to cap off an undefeated regular season when they travel to Saline High School in a non-conference game on Friday.
Saline is also 8-0 and is coming off a 70-0 victory over Ann Arbor Skyline High School on Friday. As of Monday, Lake Orion was ranked fifth in the state and Saline fourth in Division 1 in the Associated Press High School Football Rankings. The Dragons were ranked fourth in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association poll after their win over Clarkston on Oct. 6.
Lake Orion got on the scoreboard first against Farmington (2-6, 1-4 OAA White) scoring 20 unanswered points in the first quarter, essentially putting the game out of reach for the Falcons.
Farmington managed to get on the scoreboard with a touchdown and extra point in the second quarter, but the Dragons added another 15 points to their total, taking a 35-7 lead into halftime.
It was all Lake Orion in the second half, with the Dragons’ scoring the lone touchdown of the half in the third quarter. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, but Lake Orion head coach Chris Bell had pulled most of his starters by that time.
Lake Orion had 302 yards of total offense, while Farmington managed 136 total offensive yards.
The Dragons had 221 yards on the ground on 31 carries for an average of 7.13 yards per carry. By comparison, Farmington had just 8 yards rushing on 23 attempts, a 0.35 yards per carry average.
Lake Orion went 7-for-12 passing, gaining 81 yards through the air, while Farmington was 9-for-23 with 128 passing yards.
The Dragons also made 17 first downs to Farmington’s 10, and forced the Falcons to turn the ball over three times.
Running back Billy Roberson led the Dragons on the ground with 146 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns. Quarterback Tristan Hill rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns.
Hill also went 7-for-10 passing for 81 yards and another touchdown.
Roberson led the Dragon receiving core with two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown. Dominic Novak had 16 yards receiving for the Dragons, and Jackson Vasquez added another 20.
On defense, Carson Negri had five tackles and an interception for the Dragons, while Andrew Parker added another five tackles.
Lake Orion will take on the Saline Hornets at 7 p.m. Friday at Saline High School.