FOOTBALL: Clarkston silences Lapeer in classic battle of unbeatens
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CLARKSTON — Halloween took place one week ago. Clarkston’s biggest scare in nearly two seasons took place one week later.
The host Wolves pushed their win streak to 24 straight games, holding off Lapeer, 23-20, in a Division 1 district final Friday night in front of an overflow crowd.
The game featured two undefeated teams, with the newly-merged Lapeer bringing down a 10-0 mark from the Saginaw Valley League. The Lightning, formed after the merger of Lapeer East and Lapeer West over the summer, had not played as a community high school since 1974.
The school went undefeated in the regular season during that campaign some 40 years ago.
Top-ranked Clarkston, the defending Division 1 state champions, ended Lapeer’s fine season and improved to 11-0. The Wolves advanced to the Elite Eight (regional finals) for the third straight season and fourth time in six years , and will face Walled Lake Central for the right to go to the Final Four.
Behind its array of offensive weapons and stingy defense, Clarkston found away to prevail in the end. D.J. Zezula finished 10-for-17 passing for 220 yards with one touchdown pass. Merrick Canada had four catches for 91 yards and one rushing touchdown, Nolan Eriksen rushed for 77 yards on 12 carries and scored a touchdown, while Austin Egler added 55 more rushing yards and also scored a TD for Clarkston.
“We had some turnovers that cost us a couple of touchdowns,” said Clarkston coach Kurt Richardson. “This was an ugly win — sometimes you have to win that way. We got it done and we beat a very good football team.”
“We didn’t play very well,” added Richardson said. “We’ll need to play better (next week).”
Lapeer, which came in averaging some 45 points and outing, took a rare lead on Clarkston. That’s when Brian Bach hauled in a 9-yard touchdown pass from Elijah Hunt, providing one of two leads the Lightning (10-1) would enjoy on the evening.
Clarkston answered the bell later in the first quarter when Egler scampered home on a 14-yard dash.
Lapeer took its final lead when Hunt plowed his way through the line on a 1-yard rush to put the Lightning back in front at 13-7. Lapeer did not convert the extra point, leaving the door open for the Wolves
Eriksen put Clarkston up midway through the second frame on a 12-yard run, while Canada scored on a 56-yard run to push the lead to 20-13 at the half.
In the fourth quarter, Alex Kessman connected on a 27-yard field goal to put the Wolves up 23-13. His boot proved to be the game-winning points.
Tyler Willis hauled in a 5-yard toss from Hunt with just under three minutes to pull the Lightning to within three points. Lapeer could not score again, and Clarkston ran out the clock down the stretch.
“It wasn’t pretty, but good teams find ways to win,” said Richardson.
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