Gridiron heroes are preparing for one of their biggest battles of the season for the league title this Friday against the Cougars.
‘Stoney Creek is a very good football team,? said Clarkston Varsity Football Head Coach Kurt Richardson going into the game. ‘We are going to have to play even better.?
Last year the Wolves faced the Cougars for the first time in a close OAA Red battle. Clarkston won the game with a touchdown from Ian Eriksen with less than two minutes left in the game.
Richardson believes it will be another tight game especially since the Cougars have everybody back from last season and are undefeated. They beat Lake Orion on Friday, 36-7.
‘It is going to be a dog fight,? said Richardson. ‘We will have to execute and take care of the ball.?
The Wolves will use their recent 51-0 victory over Troy Athens as fuel as they head into this week.
‘It was a nice win,? Richardson smiled. ‘We came out right from the get-go, took charge and did a lot of good things.?
Caine Watlington opened the game with a 46-yard kickoff return, bringing the Wolves to the 50-yard line.
Watlington’s next big play was catching a 14-yard pass from quarterback DJ Zezula less than four minutes into the game.
‘Caine almost broke it,? said Richardson. ‘Just to take it down there and then score. It sent a message.?
Before the first quarter ended Centrus Williams, Jr. made a 1-yard run into the endzone to put the score, 14-0.
The Wolves kept going with a 46-yard field goal kicked from Shane Hynes at 10:21 left in the first half.
Two minutes later they added another touchdown to the score when Watlington caught a 86-yard pass from Zezula.
Zezula connected another touchdown pass with 4:15 left in the first half. This time it was a 48-yard pass play with Austin Egler finishing the play in the endzone.
Joe Popp turned the ball back over to the Wolves when he intercepted Troy Athens? pass. He caught the ball and took off to the north end of the football field. He was stopped after he reached 76 yards in his run, putting the boys at the 2-yard line.
Zezula handed the ball to Williams, who ran it the remaining two yards to put the score 38-0 with 2:51 left in the half.
The Wolves gained possession of the ball three minutes into the second half and within four plays changed the score again.
This time it a handoff from Zezula to Blake Rehahn. Rehahn grabbed the ball and took off running 48 yards into the endzone.
‘It was nice to see Blake get a touchdown for us,? Richardson said. ‘He has worked very hard for us.?
It was Rehahn’s first touchdown for the season as well as Jason McCowan, who scored the last touchdown for the night with 8:18 left in the game.
Zezula was 9-for-17 in passing for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Watlington was the leading receiver for the passes with four catches and 111 yards with two touchdowns.
Williams was the leading rusher with 81 yards on ten carries and two touchdowns. Hynes kicked a 46-yard field goal and was 7 -for-7 on PATs.
The leading tackler was Rehahn with 16 tackles, two of them with losses for Athens. He also had a fumble recovery. Popp had an interception with a 76-yard run.
Richardson added it was also a good win because the Wolves had four starters including Eriksen, David Beedle and Dom Monson out with injuries and the boys responded well.
‘We talk about it all the time,? he said. ‘Somebody else has to pick it up. David, Ian, and Dom – those are pretty good players.?
He noted Williams stepped up for the night as a running back and Jack McKillop stepped up in the linebacker spot.
The Wolves are back home this Friday against Stoney Creek, 6093 Flemings Lake Road. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.