After a hard fought first half at CHS Friday, one could anticipate a battle for the final two quarters.
Instead, the ball landed in the arms of senior Kyle Cummings whose 79-yard touchdown return made the score 21-6 and opened up a second half of domination culminating in a 35-6 win for the Wolves. Clarkston’s record now stands at 7-1 (6-1). With a win against Lake Orion on Oct. 21, Clarkston could secure a playoff game at home.
‘It (the return) broke their back. Kyle Cummings was outstanding tonight. He stepped up. Kittle was banged up a little bit’I thought Klye was outstanding for us,? said Coach Ricardson.
A deflated Groves Coach Brendan Flaherty felt the return for a touchdown was key to the game.
‘We talk about it through the course of a game, there is five big plays you have to make to win a game in this league and beat a team like Clarkston,? said Flaherty.
‘I think (the return) was exactly what we needed and I’ve never been more excited in my life,? said Cummings.
The lopsided win came in stark contrast to last year’s game when Groves defeated Clarkston 27-9.
‘Last year’s game put a stab in every one’s heart. It couldn’t be a better feeling going into next week,? said Cummings.
Coach Richardson said after the game he felt last year may have played a role in motivating the players, but he ultimately thought the team was more excited about the playoff picture as a whole.
‘There’s some sweetness in it. There’s no doubt they thumped us and there was a bitter taste in the mouth,? said Richardson.
This year, Clarkston rolled up 265 yards on the ground, including three runs of 20 yards or more. The Wolves outgained Groves 272 to 225 in total yards for the game.
The Wolves drew first blood on a 25-yard fumble return by linebacker Michael Hresko with 5:42 left in the first quarter.
Groves responded four minutes later with a 4-yard rushing touchdown by fullback JJ Vercammen. Groves failed to tie the game after missing the extra point making the score 7-6.
Answering that touchdown, the Wolves made the score 14-6 on a seven play 74-yard drive created in part by three strong runs of about 20 yards by senior Mike Kittle, senior Nick Devault and Cummings, who scored on a 21-yard scamper.
The drive epitomized the problems created for Grove’s defense by Clarkston’s ground game.
‘I think they were just powerful on offense? You think it’s Kittle, but it’s a host of guys and they’re just good,? said Flaherty who thought Clarkston might make a strong playoff run this year.
After Cummings set the tone for the second half with his return, the Wolves got a seven-yard touchdown run from senior fullback Steve McIsaac with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter. A key play to the drive came on fourth-and-seven near midfield when quarterback Eric Ogg completed a pass to Devault for a first down. That play represented the only Clarkston completion of the night on three attempts.
Devault capped off Clarkston’s scoring with a 14-yard run to the endzone making the score 35-6 with 9:00 left in the game.
Tempering the lopsided outcome for Clarkston were eight penalties for 65 yards and four fumbles, two of which were lost.
Groves drew nine flags of their own, costing them 52 yards.
‘I wasn’t happy at all with our penalties and not taking care of the football today. We got sloppy. We’ve been so good at that all year,? said Richardson.
Looking ahead to next week, the Wolves will face rival Lake Orion, who they beat to get into the playoffs last year. Going into the game last year, Richardson made the team remove their names and individual tape markings to stress the team concept, a trend that continued this year.
‘Obviously Orion is a big game for us. Even if we were both 0-7, it’s always a big game for us. It’ll be a battle,? said Ricardson.
Clarkston visits Lake Orion on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.