The Wolves were unable to overcome five turnovers, including two fumbles on the goal line, as they lost to Troy Athens 21-14 on Friday Sept. 24.
‘Turn the ball over five times and you can’t expect to beat anyone,? Coach Kurt Richardson said.
The Wolves found it hard to run the ball against Athens. Clarkston had amassed over 200 yards on the ground the past two weeks, they were held to 53 total rushing yards this week.
Quarterback Scott Leigh passed for 225 yards going 14 for 30 with one touchdown and one interception.
Athens opened the scoring at 6:50 of the second quarter when Quarterback Richie Ortman found receiver Desmond Purnell for a 12 yard touchdown completion.
Clarkston suffered another blow later in the second quarter when Ortman and running back Robbie Wize hooked up on a 64 yard pass for a touchdown with 2:34 left in the half.
The teams went scoreless throughout the third quarter and into the fourth quarter until Wize busted into the end zone from four yards out making the score 21-0 with 10:31 left to play in the game.
‘The kids never gave up, we tried to bounce back and we had every chance to win it,? Richardson said.
Clarkston did answer right back after the Athens score with a drive culminating in a ten yard touchdown run by Scott Lyons at 8:26 mark of the fourth quarter.
After stopping Athens? next drive Clarkston was able to bring the score to 21-14 when Leigh hit Adam Briceland for a 16 yard touchdown catch. The score was Briceland’s eighth touchdown reception on the year.
Any hope to take the game to overtime was dashed when Athens intercepted the ball on their own 20 yard line with just over two minutes left in the game and was able to run out the clock.
The Wolves? loss drops their overall record to 3-2 and 3-2 in the league. Athens is now 3-2 overall and in the league as well.
Clarkston’s next game is Friday Oct. 1, at Waterford Mott.