The Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Cranes will take on the Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (WOLL) Lakers in a Catholic League crossover match up for Week 4 of the prep football season. This game is the Catholic League opener for both schools.
WOLL is 2-1 on the season, registering a 27-22 victory over Melvindale ABT (2-1) and a narrow 23-22 win over Detroit University Prep (0-2). The only Lakers loss was a 13-0 defeat by Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (3-0) in their season opener.
The Lakers had great season 2015, winning the CHSL Intersectional I division and the Catholic League Prep Bowl. WOLL would go on to make to the MHSAA Division 8 Finals, losing 7-0 to the Division 8 champion, Muskegon Catholic Central.
The Lakers lost 16 players on their 24 person squad from last year. For WOLL, it means a lot of opportunity for growth on a young team.
“While they lost a lot of players, they know how to win,” said Cranes head coach Joe D’Angelo. “They have a great tradition of success that the young team wants to carry on.”
The Lakers moved down to the CHSL Intersectional II division this year, and faces strong competition from Royal Oak Shrine (2-1), Madison Heights Bishop Foley (2-1), and Clarkston Everest Collegiate (3-0).
Cranbrook is also 2-1 on the season, with a victory 23-19 over Hamtramck (1-2) and a 44-0 win over Detroit University Prep (0-2). The only Crane loss was a 26-14 defeat by Harper Woods Chandler Park (1-2).
The Cranes also had a great season in 2015, finishing second in the CHSL Intersectional I division behind Lakes. The Cranes would post a 9-2 record, with a MHSAA district final exit in a loss to Birmingham Detroit Country Day.
The rising Cranes have a more mature team, with some areas of growth for younger players.
“Our team has grown a lot, but there is still room for improvement,” said Coach D’Angelo. “We still must compete in all facets of the game in order to achieve our goals.”
Cranbrook remains in the CHSL Intersectional Division I, and faces Macomb Lutheran North (1-2), Riverview Gabriel Richard (2-1), and Allen Park Cabrini (1-2) for the title.
The game will be played at the Pontiac Wisner Stadium, 411 Cesar E Chavez Ave. Pontiac, MI 48342. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.