AUBURN HILLS >> Oakland Christian’s senior leadership stood out against a younger, inexperienced Southfield Christian team
The Lancers’ offensive skill players came through in the season opener as they topped the Eagles, 39-13, at the city’s athletic field on Friday night.
“We’ve got a lot of tools on offense, it took us a while to get going,” Oakland Christian coach Rob Novy said. “We knew their back (Cameron Sanders) was pretty good and their quarterback (Blake Parpart) is very capable. But on their first offensive drive we get a sack, run it back for a touchdown. Very similar to last year I think that got us going.”
Christian Campbell recovered the fumble.
PHOTOS FROM OAKLAND CHRISTIAN WIN OVER SOUTHFIELD CHRISTIAN
Less than four minutes later Lancers’ quarterback Josh Siminski connected with Ryder Patterson for a touchdown to go up 13-0. By the end of the first quarter Siminski had also run in eight yards for a score to give the Lancers a 20-0 lead.
“Ryder Patterson, what can you say, the kid is a playmaker. What was really exciting for me as a coach, if you were watching the game, the kid had three or four great blocks. He caught the ball, he blocked, he played great defense,” Roby said. “Siminski did a great job at quarterback, (Hunter) Washington, (Seth) Williams.
“Luke McConnell is probably the most underrated guy in the league. I’ve got to find a way to get the ball to him more. He’s fast and elusive. What can you say about Reece McConnell making plays,” Roby said.
“Great way to start. Like any coach we like to look for lessons, we have a lot of lessons out there,” Roby added.
In the second quarter, the Lancers didn’t let up with a lateral to Hunter Washington to take a 27-0 lead.
Then Luke McConnell ran in nine yards for a score with 1:53 left in the first half to give the Lancers a 33-0 edge.
In the second half Roby inserted several backups and Southfield Christian was able to score a pair of late touchdowns – a 62-yard run by Cameron Sanders and a pass from sophomore quarterback Parpart to Daniel Wiggins for a 23-yard touchdown play.
Sanders had a good night finishing with 11 carries for 92 yards while his teammate Ian Hanafee ran the ball 13 times for 80 yards.
“(Sanders) is a phenomenal running back, he’s a senior, he’s played a couple years of football. He’s going to have a great season,” Southfield Christian coach Larry Weiss said. “If we can get a little blocking for him, he’s going to be fantastic.”
Obviously it wasn’t the start that Weiss wanted, but he has a young team.
“(Parpart) started about half the season as a freshman last year. There’s growth there. Quarterbacks take time to develop and he’s getting better and he’s going to be very good,” Weiss said. “We kind of have to go through the growing pains. Not just from him, but him getting to know his team and his team getting to know him a well.”
The two schools were the only teams in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference in action.
“Pretty excited to start 1-0, we’re in first place in the MIAC. Of course no one else is playing a league game in the first week,” Roby said.
