The Wolves were able to stymie Utica Eisenhower on offense for much of their first round playoff game on Oct. 31. But in the end, the Clarkston varsity football team could not overcome blustery winds and their opponents own stout defense for a 10-7 loss.
‘I’m just proud as hell of these kids,? said Coach Kurt Richardson. ‘They played their butts off.?
When senior quarterback Scott Leigh found senior Adam Briceland in the end zone for a five-yard score with 11:13 left in the fourth quarter, the Wolves looked to have a legitimate shot to upset the undefeated Eagles.
The momentum, which up to that point had been on Eisenhower’s sideline, shifted to the Wolves and their fans, who packed the visiting bleachers. A buzz was in the air.
That buzz was swept away by the gusting wind later in the quarter when Clarkston’s 33-yard field goal attempt was pushed less than a yard to the left of the goal post.
Clarkston was able to get the ball back after the missed field goal, but their drive stalled at Utica’s forty yard line. Two kneel downs by the Eagles sent Clarkston to offseason purgatory.
‘We made one mistake,? said Richardson.
With 3:31 remaining in the second quarter, Scott Caruso hauled in a bullet from Doug Scott and cruised untouched 53 yards to paydirt. Eisenhower Coach Bob Lantzy said after the game the play was ‘designed in the dirt.?
Aside from the long pass play, Clarkston was able to clamp down on the Eagle offense, allowing only 121 total yards on defense and just 30 yards in the second half.
‘We knew we were not going to be able to do anything in that wind. We came out first to play defense and then kick the ball,? said Lantzy
Eisenhower’s Brett Meldrum powered a 36-yard field goal well past the uprights to make the score 10-0 midway through the third quarter.
‘That’s why he is an all-state kicker,? said Lantzy of Meldrum.
In the end Clarkston took Utica Eisenhower, currently ranked number one in the statewide division one poll and pushed them to the edge. But the Wolves were unable to muster one final push to finish them off.
‘They can walk out of here with their heads held high,? said Richardson on his team’s overall effort.
The running back tandem of senior Scott Lyons and junior Nick DeVault combined for 101 yards rushing late in the game as Clarkston found success moving the ball on the ground.
Lyons broke through for a 35-yard scamper down to the Eisenhower 13-yard line in the fourth. Leigh was later sacked at the 16-yard line to set up the missed field goal.
Clarkston finishes the season with a record of 6-4 and will return 38 out of 60 players from this year’s team.