Zach Collins watched as Rochester’s quarterback Nick Bradley kept looking at the receiver.
Collins anticipated what was going to happen next – a pass to close Rochester’s drive on the Wolves’ endzone.
He intercepted the throw at the 25-yard line with 1:21 left in last Friday’s game as Clarkston fans cheered from the stands as the boys won the game, 17-14.
“It’s huge, especially the way we lost to (Sterling Heights) Stevenson last year in the playoffs in a last second drive like that,” said Collins. “It’s a huge boost to know we can stop that.”
Wolves Head Coach Kurt Richardson gave the boys a small pep talk after the game finished.
“Good teams find a way to get it do,” he told them before they left the field.
“It was a character win at the end,” he said. “Zach always comes out big for us at the end.”
Clarkston’s first drive began with Joey Goss catching the kickoff return. He rushed past Rochester defenders making it to the Falcon’s 8-yard line before he was stopped.
They put three points on the board after Alex Barta kicked a 18-yard field goal less than two minutes into the game.
Rochester took the lead with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter on a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Bradley from William Klotz.
The Wolves reacted on the next drive. Goss took the ball on the kickoff return and ran 32 yards to the 47-yard line.
Matt Dellinger slipped out of the Falcons grasp to make a 25-yard run and bring the boys to the 12-yard line.
Quarterback Nick Demattia passed the ball to Goss for the next few plays as the distance to the goal line shrunk.
Demattia handed the ball off to Goss on the third down from the 4-yard line. Goss ran down the middle and pushed through defense as he moved into the endzone for the Wolves first touchdown.
Clarkston’s next touchdown was made by Demattia with 6:20 left in the game, from the 1-yard line. It gave the boys a three point lead.
“We had some sloppy plays and scored on one,” said Richardson. “It was ugly but it was a win.”
The boys prepare this week for Royal Oak (0-6, 0-5 OAA Red).
“We just have to try to stay healthy,” said Richardson, focused on the Homecoming game, which is also the last home game for the Wolves.
Kickoff is set for 6:55 p.m.
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JV remains undefeated after beating Rochester, 54-32. The freshman team was also successful, with a 45-13 win. Both teams travel to Royal Oak on Thursday night.