Lake Orion Wins D-1 Football Championship

Marques Stevenson scored twice in the first half of Lake Orion's 21-13 Division 1 state championship victory over Plymouth at Ford Field in Detroit.

His biggest run Saturday came in the game's second half and didn't end in a touchdown.

With Lake Orion clinging to an eight-point lead and facing a third-and-15 with 3:10 to play, Dragons coach Chris Bell wanted to keep the clock moving and called a safe running play.

Stevenson turned it into more, breaking several tackles for a 34-yard gain.

``I don't know if Coach was even thinking about getting a first down on the play,'' Stevenson said. ``I just got a couple big blocks and was able to cut back across the field and get some big yards out of it.''

Stevenson rushed for another first down on the next play, and the Dragons (13-1) were able to run out the clock for the team's first title in school history. Lake Orion's only loss this season was to Division 2 champion Farmington Hills Harrison.

Bell said he expected a ``dogfight'' from the Plymouth team.

``We did some great offensive things in the first half, and then our defense dug in and won the game for us,'' he said.

Lake Orion led 7-0 after one quarter, thanks to Cole Schaenzer's 23-yard run.

Plymouth (11-3) got on the board on Kyle Brindza's 43-yard field goal - the second longest in finals history.

Stevenson then scored on runs of three and 36 yards to give the Dragons a 21-3 halftime lead.

``I think our players were a little awe-struck by the surroundings in the first half,'' Plymouth coach Mike Sawchuk said. ``That's how we ended up in a 21-3 hole. We were better in the second half, but we just didn't get enough plays.''

Plymouth narrowed Lake Orion's lead to 21-13 on Victor Hicks' 46-yard punt return and a 28-yard field goal by Brindza.

Brindza, who has committed to play at Notre Dame, also had a 70-yard punt, the third longest in finals history.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)