Clarkston all over Troy Athens in 40-20 rout
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLARKSTON — A year ago, Clarkston won by defense. While the Wolves’ defense has still been stifling at times this season, Clarkston’s offense is starting to make a statement as well.
The Wolves continued to impress Friday night, as Clarkston raced out to a 33-0 lead and cruised to a 40-20 OAA Red Division victory over visiting Troy Athens to remain perfect on the year and start 3-0 for the fifth time in 12 seasons.
Senior Mike Schwartz led the attack with four catches for 83 yards and scored twice for Clarkston, which had five different players score touchdowns. Quarterback Mitch Baenziger had 170 passing yards, scored a rushing touchdown and threw for three more TDs.
“Mitch played another great game. For the second game in a row, he looked really good,” admitted Clarkston coach Kurt Richardson, who watched Baenziger play in only two games as a junior due to injury. “He’s doing a great job leading our offense.”
Clarkston blocked two field goals in the contest, the first was scooped up by Chris Calvano and returned 85 yards for the score and a 6-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Baenziger pushed the lead to 12-0 on a 14-yard jog and Schwartz hauled in a 32-yard strike for Baenziger later in the frame. The two hooked up on the ensuing two-point conversion for a 20-0 lead at the half.
Schwartz caught a 4-yard toss from Baenziger and Travis Smith caught the other TD pass, this time from 14 yards out to put the Wolves (3-0, 2-0) in a comfortable 33-0 lead through three quarters of play.
The fourth TD was set up after a blocked field goal.
“I thought our secondary played really well. Really, our whole defense did until the fourth quarter,” said Richardson, noting that Athens’ touchdowns came on second- and third-unit players. “We rotated six guys back there. They all did a nice job. We shut down some of their top backs.”
Shavanta Brown scored on a 7-yard run and Alex Barta hit a pair of extra points to account for the rest of the Wolves’ scoring on the night. Brown’s touchdown helped Clarkston go up 40-14 midway through the fourth quarter.
“We were able to move the football and control the (line of scrimmage),” said Richardson. “we still have a lot of work on, and we have another big one next week against Troy. I have great respect for Gary Griffith and what he does at Troy. We’ve had a lot of great games with them over the years.”
Athens (2-1, 1-1) scored all three of its touchdowns in the fourth quarter, long after the game had been decided.
Jake Spinek caught a 15-yard pass from James Ortnann, Sam Haskell scored on a 77-yard run and Joe Shields added a 55-yard sprint for the final scored for the Red Hawks.
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Troy Athens
