General | August 29, 2025 | 8:03

All the drama in Northville's 14-13 victory over Lake Orion started with less than a minute remained Thursday night at Tom Adams on the campus of Wayne State University the
Running back James Bombard IV scored with 47 seconds left and the extra point would've tied the game at 14-14.

However Lake Orion kicker Sam Powers missed the extra point, keeping the Dragons down a point.

Lake Orion's Max Neering recovered the onside kick, give the Dragons life at the Northville 37.

A key holding penalty and a couple of tough plays had Lake Orion with a fourth down and 20 on the 26.

Anderson Adams pass was intercepted by Austin McGarrow and the Mustangs returned the favor from last year's 21-13 loss.

My guys needed me and I had to make a play,'' said McGarrow. "He's a great player (Ryan Rocheleau). I just read the ball. I was confident even if they did get the onside kick.''
Lake Orion Coach Chris Bell had sent Powers out to attempt a 44-yarder with seven seconds left, then changed his mind.

"The missed extra point may have played into it,'' he said. "I'll take the blame for that one. We should have went for two. He's going to win some games for us this year. I told him that.''

Tied at 7-7 for most of the second half quarterback Cooper Derkach and Max DeFore pounded the ball play-after-play and hit pay-dirt 15 plays into the drive on a one-yard inside run by Derkach with seven minutes, to play to give the winners a 14-7 lead.

DeFore, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound bruiser, led the rushing attack and proved tough to tackle with 119 yards on 13 carries.
"That's our goal, pound the football,'' he said.

Northville then stopped Lake Orion on third-down and three, forcing the Dragons to punt with under six minutes to play.

Northville took the opening kickoff and marched it down the Dragons throat.

With DeFore and Derkach doing the heavy lifting, the Mustangs went 76 yards with DeFore going in untouched from a yard out to give Northville a 7-0 lead with  5:27 left in the first quarter.

Lake Orion went for first down on fourth and one inside it's 35.

Jayden Borrero was stuffed, turning the ball over in great position for Northville.

However, the Dragons defense held, giving the offense the ball at the Lake Orion 29.

Lake Orion eventually tied the score at 7-7 on a seven-yard scamper by quarterback Anderson Adams with 3:29 left in the first half.

Northville appeared to get on the board as time ran out on a pass from Derkach to Kamden Brown, but replays showed the ball hit the turf while was coming down.
"I was super surprised when they didn't go for the field goal,'' said Northville coach Brent Luplow. "The extra point may have had something to do with it.''
 
 
 
MOP Northville: Max DeFore
MOP Lake Orion: James Bambard IV
Ironman Northville: Cooper Derkach
Ironman Lake Orion: Ryan Rocheleau