Wolves clinch playoff spot

The Wolves clinched their sixth win and a playoff spot last Friday with their 42-0 win over Troy.
Now the Clarkston Varsity Football team is gearing up for their crosstown rivals Lake Orion and to hold onto their lead in the OAA Red this week.
‘They have good foot speed,? Kurt Richardson, head coach for the Wolves, said about the Dragons. ‘They are very athletic. They aren’t as big as they normally are but they are athletic. They are a good football team.?
Defensive coordinator Tony Miller agreed their upcoming opponents are quick and Clarkston will have to contain the Dragons? speed.
‘They have a tremendous amount of team speed and we will have to contain it,? he added. ‘We will have to stop the run because that is what they do best.?
The boys will use their experience against Stoney Creek to prepare.
‘Orion is comparable to Stoney Creek for speed wise,? Miller said. ‘Our kids have seen it.?
A key for Clarkston is being balanced on both ends of the ball. Richardson added another was they don’t have one key player on the team.
‘The fact is I don’t think you can key in on one kid at all,? he said. ‘We have a lot of kids who can carry. Our special teams are definitely a strength. Shane Hynes has been kicking the ball all season long. We also have a size advantage on them.?
The Wolves used their strengths against Troy – building their lead in the first quarter off a 1-yard run by Centrus Williams, Jr. and a 33-yard touchdown pass from DJ Zezula to Tim Cason.
Caine Watlington ended the first half with a 2-yard touchdown run to put the score, 21-0.
Watlington scored again in the second half off a 5-yard run while teammates Blake Rehahn and Ian Eriksen helped out. Eriksen on a 16-yard run in the third quarter and Rehahn on a 50-yard run to end the game.
‘We played pretty well,? said Richardson. ‘We dominated offensively and defensively. We shut them out but they did move the ball on us at times which we have to do a better job on.?
Kickoff against Lake Orion (6-1, 5-1 OAA Red) is at 7 p.m. on Friday, 6093 Flemings Lake Road.
‘It’s going to be exciting,? said Miller. ‘It is what we coach for and it is what we play for. It will be a great environment and is suppose to be a beautiful night.
‘It will be the real test for us,? Richardson added. ‘We are going to have to match their intensity because they will come pumped up. They will have to play solid football.?

Wolves clinch playoff spot added by Wendi Reardon on October 16, 2013
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Junior running back Quinn Montgomery held onto the football as Pontiac’s defensive line ran towards him.
He kept going until he finished his 9-yard run in the endzone for a touchdown with 3:12 left in the Wolves’ Homecoming game last Friday.
“It felt great,” he said, scoring for the Wolves. “I never scored a touchdown in my life. I was hoping for the chance and it came.”
Montgomery added one more point with his PAT kick to bring Clarkston up to 61-19 before the game ended.
“It was the funnest game we have played all year,” said Montgomery. “Everyone got to play. Homecoming night made it better. Everyone was here. It is great to see everyone have fun.”
Kurt Richardson, head coach for the Clarkston Varsity Football team, agreed it was great to see everyone have fun.
“Kids got lots of time to play,” he said. “It was fun for them and that’s what its all about. It’s nice because it’s homecoming.”
Ian Eriksen opened the scoring with two touchdowns in the first quarter – both off 2-yard runs. Ben Kaminski closed the quarter scoring on a 8-yard run with 16 seconds to go.
In the second quarter, Nathan Yeloushan got the scoring started with a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback D.J. Zezula. Eriksen and Brad Barker scored two touchdowns before Pontiac got on the scoreboard with 13 points.
With 1:39 left in the first half, Jared Yaroch scored on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Zezula, putting the Wolves 47-13.
Chris Calvano opened the last half of the game with a 17-yard run down the middle.
Eriksen was the leading rusher with 114 yards on 13 carries, with three touchdowns.
Kaminsky ran 58 yards on seven carries and Calvano ran 57 yards on four carries.
Zezula was 4-for-5 on passing for 104 yards with two touchdown passes. Shane Hynes was 6-for-8 on PATs.
Leading tacklers were Cyree Merritt, Tim Cason and Christian Williams. They had a combination of 12 tackles and one sack in the game.
For defense, Dicea had one interceptions and both Yeloushan and David Beedle recovered fumbles.
Richardson pointed out they had a lot of injuries and a lot of players stepped up for the game.
“Joe Popp and Ryan Smith played well,” he said. “Smith is a kid who hasn’t gotten a lot of playing time. He fought and did everything we asked him to do. It was nice for him.”
The win over Pontiac put the Wolves at 6-0, clinching a spot in the playoffs, beginning Oct. 26.
“It’s exciting,” said Montgomery. “We are going to go far this year.”
The Wolves (6-0, 5-0 OAA Red) host Troy (4-2, 3-2) this Friday at 7 p.m. for their last home game of the regular season.
The team isn’t taking the game lightly.
“They always do a great job against us,” said Richardson. “They are very well-coached.”
“I am excited,” said Montgomery. “It should be a good game.”

Wolves clinch playoff spot added by Wendi Reardon on October 3, 2012
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