It was a milestone night for senior quarterback Sean Charette, as the Dragons dismantled the outmanned Royal Oak Ravens last Friday, 49-14.
The signal caller set the record for career touchdown passes at Lake Orion, throwing four during the game to bring his total to 60 as a four-year starter. Charlette finished the night 11-19, for 237 yards through the air.
Junior Chaz Miller has emerged as Charette’s go-to receiver this season. Against Royal Oak, the 6?7?? Miller caught five passes for more than 100 yards, including two touchdowns. Charette also threw a scoring pass to Jeremy King.
Charette broke the record previously held by 1998 Lake Orion graduate Darin Tooley (58 touchdown passes). Ironically, Tooley now serves as the team’s quarterback coach. Head Coach Chris Bell said the relationship between Charette and Tooley has been ‘great? and growing since Charette joined the varsity team as a freshman.
Bell was equally impressed with the Dragons? running game against the Ravens. Lake Orion’s ground assault was led by junior Jacob Miller. He scored two touchdowns, including a 50-yard gallop in Lake Orion’s first series, and finished with 96 yards on the ground. Bell also noted the ‘outstanding? games of running backs senior Michael Upshaw and sophomore Zack Arnold (one touchdown each) and sophomore Austin Arnold.
Altogether, Lake Orion amassed nearly 500 yards of total offense, while the defense played another solid game, allowing the Ravens under 200 total yards. Royal Oak did not get on the scoreboard until late in the contest on two long runs while many of the defensive starters were out.
Bell said the game was what it should have been, with Lake Orion dominating offensively, defensively and with special teams. He mentioned a number of players who performed well in recent games, including senior Trent Paveglio who started the season as a linebacker but has enjoyed success on the defensive line.
The Dragons? season is about to enter a new phase, according to Bell, as the team plays Friday against Troy High School, which is 3-2 overall this season. Last week, the Colts handled West Bloomfield, 42-13. They return five starters on offense and two on defense.
Bell said from this point on, every game on the schedule will have meaning. Each team they will face currently has a winning record and is fighting for a playoff spot.
‘We have to continue to improve and play great defensively,? he said. ‘If we can take care of the football and keep adjusting and improving, we will be in good shape.?