MichiganPreps.com - Clarkston's Coach Richardson

October 30, 2009

Adam Ming
MichiganPreps.com Staff Writer

Clarkston's perfect season will be put to the test Friday, in a rematch of the regular season's final game against rival Lake Orion.

Looking back at the beginning of the season, the predictions were that Clarkston and Lake Orion would finish atop the Oakland Activities Association Red Division, making the last game of the season the biggest game for both teams. But this week's first game of the playoffs will be even bigger than all nine of the Wolves' games this year.

Coach Kurt Richardson, Clarkston's head coach of 23 years and counting, said, "I hope that our best game is yet to come." The Wolves began their season with a tough, rugged 6-3 win against Rochester Adams in a complete downpour. The game's points were exclusively field goals and neither team could muster much on offense. "We knew Adams was going to be a power again and knew it would be a great test for us," Richardson said.

After that game, the Wolves went on to win their next game against Troy Athens 41-15. Their third game of the season would prove to be the biggest test for Clarkston though. "The Troy game was our biggest game this year. We got down 21-10 and came back to win. We grew up in that game," Richardson said. Clarkston won the game 25-21, scoring 15 unanswered points to begin the season 3-0.

"Our motto is to finish. Finish every rep, finish every drill, every practice, every play, every series, every game."

From the fourth game all the way until their last one, the Wolves never gave up more than 20 points per game. Offensively, they went on an incredible run, scoring over 30 points in five of the last six games. On most nights, the team is carried by three Wolves: senior wide receiver Dustin Gamble, senior running back Dakota Bender, and senior quarterback Tyler Scarlett. Scarlett and Bender combine to form a dangerous run game. And, Scarlett can throw the ball well enough to make defenses think twice about overprotecting runs.

"We felt at the beginning of the season that those three would help carry us," Richardson said. "But, we were very concerned about our entire defense going in," he said. But they've surpassed all expectations and have allowed three touchdowns or less in nine games. It's remarkable how well they've been able to hold off teams.

Other Wolves have played key roles in the undefeated season for Clarkston, too. Nike Pike, Brian Benway, Bryan Haslinger and Andrew Schramm have all been a big help in getting to where Clarkston is. "Schramm has had a great year. He's surprised me."

As the season went on, the undefeated team gets a target on its back-becoming a team that the other teams are focusing on beating. Defending that kind of intense and determined team each week can wear on a team, but Clarkston didn't cave in. "We talked a lot about the big picture, meaning not just winning but getting better and how it can help down the road. We try and learn and get better in every game."

The final game of the regular season against rival Lake Orion would prove to be the most interesting one though for Richardson and his team. Coming into week 9, Clarkston was 8-0, while Lake Orion was 7-1 with its only loss in week one. Ever since the first game, Lake Orion also played exceptionally well on offense and defense, giving up no more than 23 points, and averaging nearly 35 points per game offensively as well.

To make matters worse going into week nine, the Wolves team got a terrible flu bug that really tore them down. Every practice we had five or six guys out, Richardson said. "It was a rough week. There was constant juggling, and not many reps with one constant unit." But Clarkston was able to pull through, and beat Lake Orion in a convincing 42-13 win.

The interesting part about the final game actually emerged the two days after the game, on Sunday when the Michigan High School Athletics Association released the first week playoff match-ups. Week one, game one: Lake Orion at Clarkston. "The game will be a total dogfight." After the win, reporters asked Richardson if they held back to keep an edge if they had to play each other again in the playoffs. "We just focus on every game." And he doesn't plan on changing anything for next week either.

If Clarkston can hold off and beat Lake Orion again, they're next big challenge will probably be the winner of the Romeo at Grand Blanc game, which is also on Friday night. After that, Richardson hopes he and the team will prove to be his best so far. "If you want to know how this team ranks compared to others in my 23 years, ask me in three or four weeks."

The Wolves have 23 players graduating-including their big three of Scarlett, Bender and Gamble-leaving a lot of holes to fill in for an undefeated team. "We'll be different, but I think we'll be pretty good again." As long as the Wolves keep their coach, their drive and their determination to live up to this year's team, they should do just fine.

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