MADISON HEIGHTS >> Madison Heights Lamphere’s rise to become the No. 2-ranked high school football program in Division 4, in terms of playoff points, at least, is not by accident.

A blue-collar, middle class community known for its industrial businesses and marine life artist Wyland, Lamphere is creating an identity of its own as the Rams head into the playoffs for its fourth straight season.

Lamphere, once affiliated with the Macomb-Oakland Athletic Conference, joined the Macomb Area Conference (MAC) in 2005 as one of four Oakland County programs (Clawson, Hazel Park and Madison are the others) to play in the mega 36-team league.

The school is conspicuously located east of Interstate-75 on 13 Mile Road; there is no on-off exit ramp, as Lamphere stands along Automation Alley surrounded by affluent cities like Warren, Troy and Royal Oak.

Despite its ambiguity, something special is emerging since coach Ray Ostrowski, Jr., took over the program four years ago.

“It starts with consistency; starts with expectations” Ostrowski said on the heels of the Rams’ 45-0 victory over Berkley on Friday, improving to 8-1 heading into next week’s first round of the playoffs.

The MHSAA Playoff Selection Show airs Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.

Lamphere finished in a three-way tie for the MAC Gold Division title this season with Warren Fitzgerald and Grosse Pointe North after they moved up from the MAC Silver Division.

“The plan is to play bigger schools to get more playoff points and hopefully host a playoff game or two,” said Ostrowski, who is the school’s physical education teacher. “We want to play the best.”

Huge wins over Division 2 and 3 programs like Port Huron, Port Huron Northern and Grosse Pointe North have elevated the Rams to its loftiest position ever in the weekly MHSAA computer poll.

“Working hard in the off-season; working hard in the classroom. It’s paying off,” said Ostrowski, whose formula is helping pack the bleachers on Friday nights with spirit at an all-time high among the school’s 729 enrolled students.

“Lamphere’s the best-kept secret in Oakland County,” athletic director Adam Wooley said. “Students take pride in their school. We have alumni who serve in Congress, pro athletes, a community that prides itself in hard work.”

Ostrowski, 37, doesn’t sugar-coat it: His athletes often come from lower income, some single-family homes. He admits students don’t come to Lamphere to play football, but those who compete follow a team mantra.

“We want to win at everything,” he said. “Win in the weight room. Win in the classroom. Win at home. Win on the field.”

Ostrowski leans on a 13-man coaching staff to help players overcome shortcomings. He said making football a priority by following a rigid year-long routine is paying dividends.

The addition of an $800,000 weight room has also boosted strength and conditioning.

“Teams have remarked on the difference they’ve seen in our players,” said Ostrowski, who has high school friend Daryl Demanski as his talented offensive coordinator, and experienced Sean Shields, formerly the head coach of Berkley, running the defense.

Longtime assistant coaches in the high school arena have joined Ostrowski’s movement: Manny Bellamy, Ian Burgess, Michael Winborn, Mike Bollan, and Frank Pendergrass, as well as Devin Gardner, Sr., Evan VanBuskirk, Ed Tatters, and former players who have joined the fray.“It hasn’t been easy,” said Ostrowski, who faced discipline from the MHSAA last season when he self-reported four ineligible players and consequently sat out the first two games. “Our staff has grown as the program grows.”

Since his arrival, Ostrowski, formerly an assistant coach at Berkley and Lake Shore, has led the Rams to a 30-8 record and four consecutive playoff appearances.

He has one playoff victory on his watch, but the program is still looking for its first district title.

“That’s one of the goals,” he said.

Division 4 state champion Harper Woods and Catholic League powerhouse Dearborn Divine Child are potential opponents in their ‘district of death’ starting Friday.

Besides tough opponents, the Rams have faced adversity off the field, as well. Leading tackler Julius Gerald’s father died last year, resulting in the senior back to move from Nevada to live with family in Madison Heights. Gerald, a hard-hitting linebacker/receiver who scored three touchdowns Friday, leads the team in tackles.

Team captain Deandre Verge, a tough senior nose tackle/center with an eye on playing in college, and Devin Gardner Jr. a spirited sophomore cornerback, both chose Lamphere in their freshman year over their Detroit neighborhood schools to pursue not only football, but a better education from the district’s award-winning teaching staff.

Explosive college-bound safety/wide receiver Quincy Twymon Jr., has handled his father’s incarceration with maturity. Twymon, a Birmingham Brother Rice transfer, keeps the team loose with his comedic character and outstanding play.

“He’s probably our best player,” Ostrowski noted.

Also. college baseball-bound quarterback/safety Aidan “Griz” Grzesikowski, the likely team MVP, provides heady senior leadership, while mainstays Landyn Sanborn, Amaliki Harris-Ward, most improved lineman Majd Kdade, back Peyton Archer, backup quarterback Jaxson Riddle, and the Maczuga brothers, Mason, Austin and Matthew, all grew up in Lamphere Schools.

Next season is in good hands, too, with the likes of sophomore starter Justyse Strzalkowski-Nash, twins Austin and Chase Dort, gritty Logan Henkel, smart Braylon Cox, hard-hitting Grant Konarski-all garnering valuable varsity playing time as underclassmen.

The Rams’ JV program put together an undefeated season under disciplinarian first-year coach Sonny Douglas, who arrived from Warren Woods-Tower, while the “winning” Wolverines — the city’s youth program — and Page Middle School’s hire of former Lamphere varsity coach Jason Charon, indicates the positive direction the program is going.

“Yeah,” said Ostrowski, a master of fiery pre-game speeches, “I’d say it’s on the rise.”

The newly-formed Athletic Leadership Club started by English teacher Rachel Vickers, the school’s girl’s soccer coach, is another entity that has benefited student-athletes.

“It really does start with our teachers and administration, and parents,” Ostrowski said. “They’ve all been supportive since we got here.”

And the best is yet to come for the north Madison Heights school that thrives in the shadow of larger enrollment schools in the MAC and Oakland Activities Association.

“The goal is to win a state championship,” Ostrowski concluded. “To win the day; to win at everything.”