It is down to Week 9 for Clarkston’s gridiron gang as they host rivals Lake Orion this Friday and one win away from a playoff spot.
“Win or go home,” stated Tony Miller, defensive coordinator for the Clarkston Wolves Boys Varsity Football team.
After the boys 42-35 loss to Oxford on Oct.14, putting them at a 5-3 record and still needing their sixth win to clinch a playoff spot for next week.
“We have to win,” Miller continued. “We will have to pull out all the stops. Our kids have to be focused. They know what to do, we just have to make it happen.”
Kurt Richardson, head coach, already forming a game plan for this week kept the focus simple and to the point.
“They have to get going or their season is over,” he said.
Both power houses lost their last game with Lake Orion experiencing a 28-7 loss to Farmington Hills Harrison last Friday and are eyeing the OAA Red league title. Lake Orion already holds first place with a 5-0 record in the league but a win from the Wolves would have them sharing the title.
With the energy and stakes heightened with everything on the line the Wolves are looking to make big plays. Especially like senior runningback Joey Goss’ big play against Oxford last Friday.
Goss scored the last touchdown for the Wolves with 8:45 left in the game. Catching the kickoff return at the 10-yard line, he broke through Oxford defense and kept going. He finally stopped after running safely into the endzone, finishing his 90-yard run.
“It was a nice run,” said Richardson.
Goss brought the boys ahead to 35-28 on his second touchdown for the game. Wildcats’ Prescott Line scored two touchdowns in the last six minutes to win the game.
“Line is a beast,” said Richardson.
“They have a heck of a runner,” Miller added. “That kids is a great athlete. We had a game plan and he threw it the other way. Now we have to r
Senior Matt Dellinger caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mitch Baenziger to put the boys on the board one minute into the second quarter, finishing a 90-yard drive in eight plays.
Less than eight minutes later, Baenziger faked a pass to Goss before passing the ball 31 yards to senior runningback Mike Schwartz, tying the score 14-14.
Before the Wildcats had a chance to score, they fumbled on the kickoff return and junior Adam Johns recovered the ball on the 25-yard line.
Goss made the next play – a 25-yard touchdown throw to Schwartz to break the tie.
Senior Alex Barta scored on each of his five PAT attempts.
The freshman and JV teams had more success over Oxford. The freshman won 32-0, putting them at a 6-1 record. The JV team held onto their undefeated record with a 49-23 win. Both teams head to Lake Orion on Thursday, freshman beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The varsity team hosts the Dragons on Friday night, kickoff at 7 p.m.