BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
The Mountaineers climbed great heights to their first victory in their season opener on Friday.
The Clarkston Everest Collegiate Varsity Football team defeated Auburn Hill Oakland Christian, 37-13, scoring every quarter including 16 points in the third quarter.
“This will be an exciting season for the Mountaineers as we are a young team,” said Michael Pruchnicki, head coach, before the opener. “There is only one senior on the roster. Everest has been the league champs the past two seasons and has been working hard to continue the success on the field. However the team understands this is a new year.”
The Mountaineers led the first quarter after Jimmy Neme scored on a 18-yard touchdown pass from Giovanni Mastromatteo. Fernando.

They scored again in the second quarter off a 2-yard touchdown run by Joey Thibodeau.
Oakland Christian closed the gap off a 10-yard touchdown pass putting six points on the scoreboard. Their PAT attempt was unsuccessful.
Everest scored three times in the third quarter with a 24-yard touchdown run by Jack Lasceski and a 19-yard touchdown run by Neme. Fernando Caccia added three points off his 30-yard field goal, adding to his four PATs.
Michael McGrath caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Mastromatteo in the fourth quarter.
The game closed with a 2-yard touchdown run from Oakland Christian.
Mastromatteo completed 12 of his 19 passes for 128 yards. Neme had 53 yards receiving and McGrath had 59 yards receiving. Lasceski rushed the ball 101 yards and had one interception.
“Offense will be young, but we do have our starting quarterback back,” Pruchnicki said. “Defense has more starters back led by our leading tackler from last year.”
John Suran led with nine tackles and had one punt block. Dominic Cross had six tackles and Aidan Beauchamp had five tackles.
Though the game against Oakland Christian wasn’t a conference game, it does prepare the team when they play their first conference game on Sept. 20 against Bishop Foley.
“The league looks quite balanced,” Pruchnicki said. “Bishop Foley will have over 50 players in their program so they will be difficult to compete with. Waterford Our Lady of Lakes returns two of the best athletes in the league.”
Everest plays OLL on Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.
“The competitiveness of the Catholic league is always fun to play,” Pruchnicki added.
Next for the Mountaineers is hosting Lutheran Northwest this Friday, 7 p.m.
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The Mountaineers continued two of their great traditions before their season opener – the CHSL Rosary Rally at Ford Field and the Jersey Night with Dad ceremony. Both events are unique and help bring the boys closer together as a team and help to prepare them for life.
At the Rosary Rally, in addition to saying a rosary with the other members of the Catholic League, they had the opportunity to hear from John Wangler, a former Catholic league athlete and University of Michigan football player, as well as Vic Michaels, the athletic director for the Catholic League.
During the Jersey Night with Dad ceremony, dads were able to say encouraging words to their sons in front of the team. There was a lot of emotion and got the team excited.

  Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Everest Football