When all the league champions are decided at the end of the season, it’s very likely several will look back at Week 5 as the week they won the championship. First-place teams in the OAA Blue (Ferndale-Auburn Hills Avondale), OAA White (Rochester Adams-Southfield) and KLAA North (Walled Lake Westen-Lakeland) will all collide this week. Add in teams battling to keep their playoff hopes alive and two huge Catholic League Central Division matchups and you have the recipe for another great week of high school football in and around Oakland County. Here are the picks for the top 12 matchups.

Picks
Rochester Adams (4-0) at Southfield (4-0) — Bluejays this is your chance to show what your made of and on your home field. Pick: Adams
Milford (3-1) at Hartland (4-0) — The Mavericks have been a pleasant surprise this season and can take a big step in the KLAA West with a win in the Hartland. Pick: Hartland
Walled Lake Western (3-1) at Lakeland (3-1) — It’s hard to pick a winner in this even matchup, so I’ll just go with the home team. Pick: Lakeland
Ferndale (4-0) at Auburn Hills Avondale (4-0) — A win this week for the Yellow Jackets and next week against Bloomfield Hills Lahser next week and the OAA Blue title is all but theirs. Pick: Avondale
Troy (3-1) at West Bloomfield (2-2) — The Lakers are a team to reckon with this season and should rebound from their loss to Clarkston. Pick West Bloomfield
Southfield-Lathrup (2-2) at Clarkston (3-1) — I think Dakota Bender may break the single season record for most photos in the paper, but he deserves every one. Pick: Clarkston
Ortonville Brandon (2-2) at Oxford (3-1) — My favorite Flint Metro matchup. The power of the A&W vs. the power of the Yellow Pants. Pick: Yellow Pants
South Lyon (1-3) at Novi (3-1) — It’s must-win time from here on out for the Lions, but I think that’s always the case when they face rival Novi. Pick: Novi
Birmingham Detroit Country Day (2-2) at Berkley (3-1) — The Yellowjackets can not afford to lose this one. Pick: Country Day
Rochester (0-4) at Stoney Creek (2-2) — The Cougars need to recover from the loss to Southfield and a win over a cross-town rival will do nicely. Pick; Stoney Creek

Saturday
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (2-2) vs. Birmingham Brother Rice (3-1) at Southfield-Lathrup — Both teams made remarkable comebacks last week and I’m sure both coaches are hoping they won’t need a comeback this week. Pick: Brother Rice

Sunday
Warren DeLaSalle (4-0) at Novi Detroit Catholic Central (2-1) — The Pilots barely escaped last week, while the Shamrocks lost a heartbreaker. This week the roles will reverse. Pick: Catholic Central