Senior Dakota Bender led the gridiron gang to victory during Friday’s Homecoming game against Oak Park.
Bender scored five touchdowns in the first half as the boys finished, 35-6.
‘He was running up inside hard tonight,? said Wolves Head Coach Kurt Richardson. ‘Dakota ran very well tonight. He ran through the tackles. He was the Dakota of old.?
The boys started putting points on the scoreboard less than five minutes into the game.
After taking possession of the ball, the boys moved it forward 30 yards in the Knights? territory.
The Wolves took position in the line of scrimmage at the 13 yard line. The snap went back to Quarterback Tyler Scarlett and he handed the ball to Bender.
He ran forward as the offense line cleared a path. Bender landed in the end zone for the first touchdown.
Less than six minutes later Bender returned to the endzone after a 26-yard run.
Oak Park lost possession a few times in the quarter and Clarkston’s Jeff Dean and Ryan Catalano recovered the ball.
After Catalano’s recovery the boys took possession with only 19 yards between them and the endzone.
Referees made a call against Oak Park for unsportsmanlike behavior and the ball was moved to the 3-yard line.
The Knights stopped Clarkston on their next play but the Wolves were ready. Scarlett handed the ball to Bender.
Oak Park’s defense moved forward to block and trip Bender, but he prevailed and made it past them.
Before the Knights savour a chance to play as the quarter closed Chris Canada got the ball for Clarkston.
Scarlett made a 18-yard run from the 40 yard line concluding the quarter, 20-0.
Coming back from a short break, Scarlett handed the ball to Bender, who drove forward eight yards. The next play sealed Oak Park’s fate for the night as Bender delivered his fourth touchdown and scored a 2-point conversion.
Oak Park’s Sean Coston scored their lone touchdown in the fourth quarter.
‘We jumped on them right at the start and kicked them in the teeth and they couldn’t recover,? said Richardson. ‘Field position was huge for us. We played well and everybody got to play again and that’s fun.?
Kicker Brian Benway was 3-for-4 on PATs.
The boys take the momentum from their seventh win into this Friday’s game at Farmington Hills – Harrison (5-2).
‘Harrison is a very good football team,? said Richardson. ‘They have been putting a lot of points on the board. Going down there, it’s going to be a tough one.?
Richardson is positive for the next game.
‘I think the kids are pretty confident,? he added. ‘We should be pretty healthy. Those are two good things.?
The kick-off is at 6:55 p.m.
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The JV and freshman team also posted victories against Oak Park. JV shut down the Knights, 34-0, and the freshman team, 34-6.
The boys play their last home game on Thursday against Farmington Hills – Harrison.
Freshman play at 4:30 p.m. at the Clarkston Junior High and JV plays at 7 p.m. at the high school.