Competition rises to a new level Friday as the Wolves fight for the MHSAA District title.
They host the Lapeer Lightning (10-0), which is a new program after combining the Lapeer West and Lapeer East high schools.
‘They are good,? said Tony Miller, Clarkston defensive coordinator. ‘They are as big as we are. They are as skilled as we are. I don’t know if they have played the same competition we have, but on film they look very good. We are going to have to answer the bell. But it’s playoffs. You have to answer the bell every Friday if you want to be the champion.?
Lapeer had four shutouts during the regular season with all four of them over 40 points. Miller added Wolves? defense is ready to slow them down and they have the strengths to do it, including their size and speed.
‘We have great DBs,? he said. ‘We have a deep front line. We have linebackers who know our scheme. One thing we are getting better at is everyone is doing their job and not trying to do too much. When you do those things then the system takes care of iself. They count on each other to do their job.?
The Wolves defeated Oxford for the second time this season last Friday ? this time to the tune of 31-8 in the pre-district game.
‘Our kids stepped up to the challenge besides one big play in the fourth quarter our kids answered very well,? Miller said. ‘We challenged them all week they were going to be very physical and we had to match that. Our kids did an extremely good job of matching their intensity.?
Besides fighting to continue their season, the Wolves battled strong winds and snow while capturing the win.
‘It was nasty out there,? Miller said. ‘It falls as one of the top three worst games I have ever coached in the last 20 years. But it didn’t bother the kids. They stayed focused and they knew that they had to do.?
Nolan Eriksen started the scoring for the Wolves three minutes into the game on a 5-yard touchdown. The half ended with a 30-yard field goal from Alex Kessman with three seconds left.
The Wolves set the third quarter off with a bang with two touchdowns to secure the lead.
The first touchdown came from a 10-yard run from DJ Zezula at 6:54. He struck again five minutes later with a 17-yard run as he ran up the middle of the field and broke past Wildcats? defense.
Oxford opened the fourth quarter with a touchdown from Adam Schlicht and a 2-point conversion. The Wolves ended the night with a 11-yard touchdown by Eriksen.
Zezula was 2-for-3 for passing for 33 yards. Eriksen caught one pass for 19 yards and Mitch Heaton caught the other one for 14 yards.
Eriksen was the leading rusher as he carried the ball 23 times for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Zezula carried the ball 18 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Kessman was 4-for-4 in PATs.
Jack McKillop led defense with eight tackles and three assists. Bryce Witherspoon had four tackles and two assists and Merrick Canada had four tackles and one assist.
The Wolves (10-0) host Lapeer this Friday at 7 p.m.
‘Everybody is 0-0 every game,? Miller said going into this week’s game. ‘It’s win or go home and we feel very good because these kids have already been there. They are very experienced and they have a great set of leaders and it shows.?