Running game gets going on gridiron

Quarterback Tyler Scarlett received the ball handoff and he held onto it for the four yard run.
He pushed through Troy-Athens? defense to make it into the end zone, scoring the Wolves? second touchdown six seconds into the second quarter.
The first touchdown was four minutes earlier when Scarlett threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to P.J. Lannon.
When the game concluded the boys had beaten the home team to a tune of 41-15.
Wolves Head Coach Kurt Richardson was in good spirits when he gave the boys their post-game talk.
He kept it short, clapping and congratulating them on a ‘good job? and adding a few more words before letting them go to see excited, cheering family members and friends.
After the last player left, he thought back to the game.
‘We made some strides,? he said. ‘The game had some good things. It had some bad.?
The good things he noted was getting the passing game going for a bit and the boys ran the ball better than they did the previous week against Rochester Adams.
‘I thought we were a little slow getting our offense going in the first half,? said Rich Porritt, offensive line coordinator. ‘We were trying to get our running game going and it wasn’t.?
Running back Dakota Bender scored three of the touchdowns and Chris Canada added the final.
Kicker Brian Benway connected five of his six PAT attempts.
Scarlett completed 11-of-22 passes for 214 yards and carried the ball 11 times for 100 yards.
Lannon played a key role during the game. He drove the Wolves forward in his 52-yard run towards the last four minutes in the night after he caught the Athens? kick return. He maneuvered through defense blocks until he was stopped at the Red Hawks 39-yard line.
Defense held their own by continuing to go to the ball and anticipating Athens? changes to the plays when the Hawks were blocked by Clarkston.
The line kept Athens? to two points in the first half – and those points were from a safety after Clarkston gained control on their own 1-yard line. Scarlett was tackled by Tyler Mason in the Wolves? end zone.
‘Defensively we were pretty good,? said Richardson.
Andrew Schram led many of the defense attacks. Jeff Dean and Canada also led a few.
The boys prepare for their next test when they go into their home opener against Troy (2-0) this Friday.
‘Troy is very good,? said Richardson. ‘We have our work cut out.?
The Colts are coming off from their 57-0 defeat over Royal Oak.
‘Troy always gives us a lot of trouble,? said Porritt. ‘They are a very good football team and they will be ready for us – so we will be ready for them.?
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.