Davison football on brink of elimination after loss at Orchard Lake St. Mary

Dan Feldman | The Flint Journal

ORCHARD LAKE — Davison football coach Jake Emmendorfer's young son ran to hug his dad at midfield after Saturday's game. Shortly after, the inquiry began.

"Jake is back," the child said. "Is he better?"

Questions about junior quarterback Jake Thompson, The Journal's reigning Player of the Year, and his banged-up left knee will surround Davison this week after the Cardinals fell to 4-4 with a 31-7 loss at Orchard Lake St. Mary (4-3) .

With a win at Holt (7-1) next Friday, Davison still has a slim chance of making the playoffs for the eighth straight season.

"It don't feel good, not knowing if you're in or not," said Emmendorfer, in his first year at Davison. "We still have to play a whale of a game against Holt because they are a very good football team."

With many schools turning to eight-man football this year, Emmendorfer thinks more 5-4 teams than usual will qualify. But Thompson's health will be key for Davison to beat Holt and even have a shot at the playoffs.

Mike Dolloff started at quarterback for the third straight game, and as Emmendorfer planned, Thompson replaced him after one series Saturday. Thompson, who wore a brace on his left knee, looked a touch slow.

But, after practicing just Thursday and Friday this week, Thompson said his knee didn't hamper him much.

"Just my rustiness, not being in for a while," said Thompson, who was 5-of-11 passing for 47 yards with two interceptions and had -16 rushing yards on seven attempts, including a 10-yard sack. "I need to get back up to game speed."

St. Mary's imposing defense — which had just one major miscue, when Davison running back Tyler Martin scored on a 53-yard option pitch — wasn't conducive to a smooth re-entry into the lineup.

"Man for man, they're a little more athletic than us across the board," Emmendorfer said. "We knew that we would have to eliminate the big play and try to control the ball offensively."

St. Mary quarterback and Penn State commit Robert Bolden had a few long passes and runs. And St. Mary's built a 14-0 lead before Davison had a first down.

The challenge doesn't get much easier next week against Holt, which lost to Davison last year, 28-7.

Holt finished that season 5-4, but the Rams are 7-1 this year. Davison, on the other hand, has gone from a Division 2 semifinalist last year to fighting for one the final playoff spots.

Davison and Holt have one common opponent: Rockford. Davison lost, 38-13, top open the season. And Rockford beat Holt, 34-10, the next week.

But Thompson realizes all the theorizing won't change Davison's fortunes.

"All we can do is go out and play," Thompson said.

Prep Football

No logos, photographs, or graphics on the site may be reproduced without written permission.