CLARKSTON PREVIEW: Wolves will put their size to the test
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
CLARKSTON — One look at the size of his lineman and it does not take Kurt Richardson very long to give his opinion.
“We are big, very big,” said the veteran Richardson, who is now in his 26th season at the helm of Clarkston’s football program. “This is one of the biggest lines we’ve had.”
Clarkston actually graduated a couple of its big boys that did the dirty work in the trenches last season. There are several others back that have beefed up, plus some monstrous newcomers. The line is going to be the strength this season for the Wolves, who must replace most of its starters at the skilled positions.
“We have some good kids (at the skilled positions) but most of them will be first-year starters,” offered Richardson. “I do have confidence that they’ll do a good job.”
Clarkston will rely on protecting those athletes as they continue to develop this season. The offensive line will be perhaps the biggest in the three-division Oakland Activities Association, with the likes of seniors Jessie Chadwell (6-6, 270), Craig Columbo (6-4, 280), Eric Eberle (6-2, 275) and Nick Azzopardi (5-10, 240) playing alongside junior Nick Mattich (6-3, 250).
OVER THE TOP: Clarkston senior running back Ben Kaminsky and the Wolves hope to land another OAA Red Division title and make a deep run in the Division 1 postseason. File Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
Chadwell committed to Illinois back in May, while Mattich is starting to garner interest from some MAC schools.
Senior Ben Kaminsky (5-8, 205) will be joined by junior newcomers Ian Eriksen (5-9, 165) as the top running back. They’ll take orders from sophomore signal caller DJ Zezula (6-0, 180), who has drawn high praise since he was in middle school.
Zezula will have plenty of options when going to the air. Senior Nathan Yeloushan (6-0, 200) returns at tight end and senior Alex Dicea (5-10, 170) is back at one of the wide-out positions.
Junior Tim Cason (6-2, 185), who is also gaining some looks from MAC schools, senior Jared Yaroch (5-10, 160) and sophomore Adam Kline (6-3, 175) all bring talent to the table as reliable wide outs.
Clarkston lost several of its top linebackers on defense, one area where the Wolves will have to mature in a flash. Kaminsky and Yeloushan will play starting roles next to returning starter Chris Calvano (6-1, 185), a senior. Fellow senior Dylan Hancook (6-3, 170) and juniors Alex Peck (5-9, 175) and Caine Washington (5-10, 160) should also be in the rotation.
On the defensive line, junior David Beedle (6-5, 250) and sophomore Bryce Witherspoon (6-0, 215) should fill in some gaps. Nick Mattich and sophomore brother Adam Mattich (6-0, 250) will also plug up any holes near the line of scrimmage.
Dicea, Peck and Yaroch are the top defensive backs.
“We have size on both sides of (scrimmage),” noted Richardson. “We hope we can cause some match-up problems for other teams. We lost some really good linebackers, although we have a nice group that will play there this season.”
Clarkston’s 2011 campaign was marred by some disappointments last season. The Wolves had to forfeit its first two wins of the season against Rochester Adams and West Bloomfield due to the use of an ineligible reserve player. Later in the year, Clarkston lost to Oxford in the OAA crossover game featuring second-place teams.
The Wolves did end up defeating Lake Orion in Week 9 to gain a share of the OAA Red Division title with the Dragons and defeated Pontiac in a Division 1 pre-district contest. In the district finals, the Wolves were roughed up by Walled Lake Central, 45-26, on their own field.
“That was not the way we (envisioned) finishing the year,” sighed Richardson. “I think that has motivated them in the offseason.
“We have a chance to be better in some areas and I think we have some nice players coming up,” added Richardson, who has coached in three Final Four games but never a state final. “We’ll see how they do. We play another tough schedule this season.”
Clarkston
HEAD COACH: Kurt Richardson, 26th season (179-76).
ASSISTANT COACHES: Jeff Long, Pete Gallagher, Tom Hurley, Ryan Kaul, Phil Price, Brian Zezula, Tony Miller, Steve Pearson, Rich Porritt
2011 RECORD: 7-4, 6-1 OAA Red Division (tied-first); Postseason: Def. Pontiac (40-12); lost to Walled Lake Central (45-26) in Division 1 district finals.
NICKNAME: Wolves
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 15, 1977, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.
OFFENSE: Pro-I
DEFENSE: 4-3
RETURNING STARTERS: Ben Kaminsky, sr. RB-LB (5-8, 205); Jesse Chadwell, sr. OT (6-6, 270; committed to Illinois); Craig Columbo, sr. OL (6-4, 280); Nick Azzopardi, sr. OL (5-10, 240); Nick Mattich, jr. DL-OL (6-3, 250); Nathan Yeloushan, sr. TE-LB (6-2, 200); Eric Eberle, sr. OL (6-2, 275); Chris Calvano, sr. LB (6-1, 185); Alex Dicea, sr. DB-WR (5-10, 170).
KEY PROSPECTS: DJ Zezula, soph. QB (6-0, 180); Dylan Hancoock, sr. LB (6-3, 170); Ian Ericksen, jr. RB (5-9, 165); Jared Yaroch, sr. WR (5-10, 160); Tim Cason, jr. WR (6-2, 185); Alex Dicey, sr. WR (5-10, 160); Adam Kline, soph. WR (6-3, 175); David Beedle, jr. DT (6-5, 260); Bryce Witherspoon, soph. DT (6-0, 215); Alex Peck, jr. LB (5-9, 175); Caine Watlington, jr. LB (5-10, 160).
NOTABLES: Last season was marred by two forfeit losses due to the use of an ineligible reserve player and a second-round postseason exit where the Wolves were run out of their own stadium. There’s plenty of talent back, especially on the massive offensive and defensive lines, and every reason to believe that Clarkston will again be in the hunt for a league title and more. If the skilled athletes mature behind the protection of the area’s biggest linemen, than this could also be a team to watch come postseason time.
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