BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Clarkston’s gridiron heroes knew the first test of the season would be tough as they battled in the Showdown at the Swamp.
They finished with a 28-14 loss to Southfield Arts & Technology at West Bloomfield High School last Friday.
“We couldn’t block them and we couldn’t stop them,” said Clarkston Varsity Football Head Coach Kurt Richardson. “We will be alright. We will go back to the drawing board and work our butts off.”
The Wolves were the first to score in the non-conference game between the OAA Red teams.
The Warriors were in possession of the ball when Clarkston junior Alec Boan intercepted a pass to Southfield’s Robert Army from Anthony Rumpf.
A few plays later, senior Devin Parkison scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:11 left in the first quarter. A PAT from senior Chris Acevedo put the score at 7-0.

The Warriors wouldn’t let the lead last long as Rae’Quan Lee zigzagged down the field on a 64-yard run on Southfield’s first play, marking the score tied at 7-7 with 3:41 remaining in the quarter.
Southfield didn’t score again until 1:12 remaining in the second quarter to take the lead.
Junior Justin Buchmann caught the return and made a long run until he was knocked out of bounds by the 39-yard line.
Sophomore Mike DePillo’s next two passes went incomplete. After a time out, DePillo held onto the ball, gaining four yards on the play.
The Wolves didn’t have long to score and with five seconds until half time were on their fourth and final down. DePillo connected a 35-yard pass with senior Matt Miller in the endzone to end the half, 14-14.
Southfield scored less than two minutes into the third quarter. For the Wolves first play DePillo ran the ball 62 yards, putting it on the 4-yard line. The Wolves fumbled on the next play and the Warriors were quick to recover to stop them from scoring and take possession.
“We got down inside five twice and didn’t score and you can’t do that, not against a team like that,” Richardson said.
DePillo went 7-for-19 for 138 yards in passing with one touchdown and three first downs. Miller was the leading receiver, catching three passes for 103 yards, one touchdown and two first downs.
DePillo carried the ball five times for 60 yards and junior Jack Gurn carried the ball 16 times for 37 yards.
Senior Dylan Erskine led defense with ten tackles and three assists. Junior Ayden Brooks had seven tackles with two of them with loss of yards and three assists. Sophomore Caleb Stalworth had six tackles and three assists, and senior Hayden Temple had four tackles with three assists.
The Wolves will see Southfield again when they host them for homecoming, Oct. 4. Clarkston prepares for Bloomfield Hills this week as both look for their first win after the Blackhawks lost their season opener to Utica, 37-34.
Kick off is at 7 p.m. with the Clarkston Community Education Family Tailgate beginning at 5 p.m.

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