ROCHESTER HILLS — Maybe it’s not quite the NBA on Christmas Day, but Stoney Creek’s schedule this season really has the storylines baked in. Sure, there’s the normal dates to circle against Rochester and Adams, but the opening pair of games this fall stand to be more intriguing than they may have been before the hiring of first-year head coach Rick Powell. Replacing Nick Merlo, now the offensive coordinator at Orchard Lake St.
Mary’s, is a figure with deep ties to the Cougars’ first two opponents, Warren Cousino and Lake Orion. Rick was a star quarterback in his playing days for the Patriots, then coached by his dad, Mike, who helmed that program for over two decades. A two-dimensional threat at the position, he combined for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns to help the Patriots to MAC league titles and playoff appearances in every year he was under center.
That includes 2006, when Cousino reached the state semifinals, and his senior season the following year when the Patriots enjoyed an undefeated regular season. Fast forward to more recent times, and Rick, after a handful of years on his dad’s staff at Anchor Bay, took the defensive coordinator gig with the Dragons in 2018. So it’s quite the coincidence that Rick will be leading Stoney Creek up against colors he’s previously dawned more than a time or two.
“That’s the crazy part that I didn’t even schedule any of this,” Rick said. “I think that Friday night will be something special, especially .