Sacrificial Lamb

This year, the Oakland Activities Association changed the football divisions from a tiered numerical system — with Division I being the best teams, D-II the next, and so on — to a colored system, with the D-III teams now making up the Blue Division and the D-I and II teams being split evenly into the Red and White.

The idea behind the change was to create balance by separating the top four programs — Rochester Adams and Farmington Hills Harrison were put in the White, and Lake Orion High and Clarkston High in the Red. The others were separated with the intention of making the two divisions equal in strength.

Granted, the OAA is going to realign again next season and look to improve on this system, but unfortunately for this year, Bloomfield Hills Lahser has basically been sacrificed.

Coach Dan Loria has done a great job creating a successful program — when it plays against schools its own size. The Knights won D-III two seasons ago, finishing 12-1 and advancing all the way to a D-3 state semifinal game. Last season, Lahser was bumped to D-II and finished 7-4, just behind Royal Oak High, eventually falling in the second round of the D-3 state playoffs.

At this moment, Lahser is 1-4 overall, and its chance of making the state playoffs is pretty much gone. Lahser has 1,076 students in its school and has lost to Royal Oak (1,977 students), West Bloomfield High (2,162), Lake Orion (2,376) and Southfield-Lathrup (1,961).

And the rest of the schedule doesn't offer much relief.

I'm betting that if the Knights were able to play in this year's playoffs, they would do well. But that's not going to happen because of the OAA's decision. I do believe this problem will be remedied for next season, but for this year's seniors, like captains Zakk Cummings, Cameron Pinnock, Tyler Gust and David Burnle, that can't be much comfort.