I did not have the best start to the season, but I’ve had worse weeks. Last week, I was 10-7 with my picks, and a 58-percent pick rate is not exactly a passing grade.
Yet, that was Week 1. You can’t expect to be perfect in opening week. Looking at Week 2 games, I’m feeling more confident with my picks (which does not mean a whole lot).
Here are some interesting matchups to watch and my picks on who will win in Week 2. Home teams are listed first.
Macomb Dakota (1-0) vs Sterling Heights Stevenson (1-0), 7:00 PM
Both of these teams got encouraging wins in Week 1. Dakota topped rival Chippewa Valley, 29-20, while Stevenson was able to stifle Eisenhower for a 7-3 win. Both schools have standout players, including Dakota athlete D.J. Stepney (Central Michigan) and Stevenson two-way lineman Giovanni El-Hadi (Michigan). This won’t be a high-scoring affair, but it will still be fun, nonetheless.
PURCELL’S PICK: Sterling Heights Stevenson 14, Macomb Dakota 13
West Bloomfield (1-0) vs Southfield Arts & Technology (0-1), 7:00 PM
This matchup has developed into quite a rivalry as these teams seem to trade off victories each year. West Bloomfield is riding high after walking all over Oak Park in Week 1, 39-0. Southfield A&T started off with a tough matchup against Clarkston and fell 24-17. Southfield A&T will be desperate to get an upset road win, but West Bloomfield just has too many weapons to try and stop.
PURCELL’S PICK: West Bloomfield 28, Southfield A&T 20.
Clarkston (1-0) vs Oxford (1-0), 7:00 PM
Looking to eliminate the disappointment of last season, Clarkston is off to a good start after beating Southfield A&T, 24-17. After going 1-8 last year, Oxford picked up an encouraging 34-0 victory over Macomb L’Anse Creuse North last week after Lake Orion canceled the original Week 1 matchup because of COVID. Oxford’s OAA Red opener is too much of a task to overcome.
PURCELL’S PICK: Clarkston 28, Oxford 14
North Farmington (1-0) vs Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (1-0), 7:00 PM
North Farmington picked up a thrilling 2 OT win over Rochester Adams last week, 34-33, to start its first season in the OAA White off on the right foot. Stoney Creek made a statement by overwhelming Seaholm, 37-13. Could these two teams be the new top dogs in the OAA White this fall? Both will be looking to prove they are on Friday night.
PURCELL’S PICK: North Farmington 24, Stoney Creek 17
Lake Orion (0-0) vs Oak Park (0-1), 7:00 PM
Lake Orion did not get to play last week because of coronavirus cases within the program. Oak Park got hammered last week while missing over a dozen players. Both teams need a victory in the worst way so this should be a spirited matchup. Lake Orion is going the extra distance by broadcasting the game at a local drive-in movie theater. Something tells me the Dragons will give the viewers something nice to watch.
PURCELL’S PICK: Lake Orion 21, Oak Park 13
East Lansing (1-0) vs River Rouge (1-0), 7:00 PM
This is quite an interesting matchup. River Rouge is travelling with its talented roster to take on an East Lansing team that has one of the state’s top wide receivers in Andrel Anthony (East Lansing). River Rouge is loaded with talent too and has a talented dual-threat quarterback in Mareyohn Hrabowski. Going with the homer pick on his one for a big win.
PURCELL’S PICK: River Rouge 35, East Lansing 7
Brownstown Woodhaven (0-1) vs Allen Park (1-0), 7:00 PM
Woodhaven was beaten by rival Wyandotte Roosevelt in the season opener, 17-7. Now, the Warriors face yet another Downriver title contender in Allen Park. This is a must-win for Woodhaven in order to stay in the Downriver race, but I like the Jaguars to pick up a nice road win.
PURCELL’S PICK: Allen Park 27, Woodhaven 21
Detroit Country Day (0-0) vs Detroit U-D Jesuit (1-0), 2:00 PM Saturday
A Saturday matinee, Country Day is itching to play after missing Week 1 because of COVID reasons. Last year’s Division 4 runner-up, Country Day faces a tough test in defending Catholic League AA-Division champion Detroit U-D Jesuit. The Cubs got off to an encouraging start with a 35-0 blowout of Divine Child in Week 1. I think Jesuit continues to ride the momentum to victory.
PURCELL’S PICK: Jesuit 28, Detroit Country Day 17
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (1-0) vs Detroit Catholic Central (1-0), 7:30 PM Saturday
This is a matchup between two foes who have locked in an epic battle for forever. Catholic Central leads the all-time series by a slim margin, 33-30-1. It’s fitting the game is being played at Pontiac’s Wisner Stadium, a venue that has seen some classic Catholic League games over the decades. I’m going with a coin flip on this one, and Catholic Central won it.
PURCELL’S PICK: Catholic Central 21, Brother Rice 17
MORE GAMES
Berkley 28, Pontiac 7
Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 28, Romeo 14
Grosse Pointe South 17, Utica Eisenhower 10
White Lake Lakeland 21, South Lyon East 13
New Boston Huron 28, Grosse Ile 21
Birmingham Groves 35, Rochester Adams 28
Farmington 21, Birmingham Seaholm 17