Clarkston Scouting Report. Football.

Written Saturday October 12th, at 2:00 PM

Rivalries aren’t born overnight and this one was not in a way.

Perhaps this may be Clarkston’s best team they have had in a while. They have size up front, two good running backs, a good quarterback, a good kicking game, a good tight end, and two good receivers. Not to add that they have a strong defense. The Wolves have five division one recruits on their team this season.

Friday night the Dragons will travel to Clarkston to take on the Wolves. Lake Orion is 6-1, 5-1 in the Red while Clarkston is 6-1, 6-0 in the Red. Both teams have had shocking losses, the Dragons to Stoney Creek 36-7 in week four at Rochester while the Wolves lost to Rochester Adams 12-7 in week one in Rochester.

Lake Orion has not beaten Clarkston since 2010, 28-7 victory at Lake Orion and haven’t beaten the Wolves in Clarkston since 2007 in the playoffs when the Dragons won 40-37.

Clarkston basically runs two different offenses. They run a power run oriented offense and can spread it out when they need to. The Wolves love the play action pass a lot and that's where their two dangerous wide receivers can get open and use their speed and balance to beat defensive secondaries.

The Wolves have two running backs with different styles sort of like Javon Ringer and Jayru Culckrick when they were at Michigan State under coach Mark Dantionio in 2007. However Clarkston was forced to do this because of Ian Eriksen's hip flexor but they have found consistency and balance behind a very good and big offensive line led by Western Michigan recruit Nick Mattich, David Beattle, and Nick's brother Adam Mattich.

The first running back is Ian Eriksen, Eriksen is going to Eastern Michigan had 2,000 yards and 34 touchdowns last season. He has been the power of Clarkston’s team in his two years as a Wolf. This season, Eriksen has had an injury riddled season, battling an injured hip flexor returned last week against Troy and scored a touchdown. He will be a force in these last two games of the regular season but also in the playoffs as well.

The next running back is Centrus Williams Jr. Williams is a junior transfer from Macomb Dakota. He is a speedy back and has power even for his lack of height, he makes it up with heart and determination. Williams is a touchdown maker for Clarkston. He had two touchdowns a few weeks ago against Stoney Creek three weeks ago and had a touchdown last week against Troy. Williams has taken advantage of Eriksen’s injury as he has proven to make a name of himself in recent weeks and became Eriksen’s sidekick this season and next season will become the feature back in the Wolves offense.

Clarkston has a very good quarterback in junior DJ Zezula. Zezula struggled to be consistent as a passer last season and the Wolves were predictable as a run oriented offense but he did throw the ball 36 yards to beat Lake Orion late in that game in a 21-14 victory on the road. Zezula has benefited with the line up front and has improved as a passer and has two talented wide receivers and tight end and feels more confident in throwing the football.

The Wolves fell to Rockford 25-14 in the regional finals last season and had high expectations to become a state championship team this season but suffered a 12-7 loss in week one to Rochester Adams. After the loss to Rochester Adams there were calls for Clarkston coach Kurt Richardson to bench Zezula for Caine Wellington but Richardson went with Zezula and has became a better passer and leader ever since and have won six straight games.

Zezula has benefited with a solid passing game in the form of Cole Chewings at tight end and also with wide receivers, Purdue recruit Tim Cason and Wellington.

Wellington is the backup quarterback along with a cornerback on the defensive side of the ball has had a monster season at wide receiver. He averages a touchdown a game and can run and throw the ball well. On defense he likes to pick off passes and likes to take them for touchdowns. This is a very dangerous player whom should get a scholarship very soon.

The next player is Tim Cason. Cason is going to Purdue to be a cornerback but is also a very good wide receiver. He is the Wolves deep threat and did have a touchdown last week against Troy. Cason has had scary numbers in his career whether it was on offense or on defense and he is very versatile and dangerous.

The next player is Cole Chewings. Chewings is a junior tight end and plays defensive end is a very good security blanket for Zezula. He can catch touchdowns when needs to and can block very well in a power football setting. On defense, Chewings can get to the passer and can create pressure a lot.

Clarkston has a very good kicking game in Shane Hynes. Hynes is going to Kent State next season can kick field goals from 50 yards. Also he is a very good punter and kickoff return. Most of Hynes kicks go to the end zone and forces teams to start at the 20 yard line a lot.

The Wolves have a strong 4-3 defense that has allowed less than 15 points only once this season (Pontiac.) Clarkston's defense is led by defensive lineman David Beattle. Beattle is going to Michigan State next season is one of the top defensive lineman in the state and you put along with Nick Mattich whom also plays on the offensive line, it may be tough to run up front against them and Chewings plays the end as well.

Clarkston has a good linebacker in Merrick Canada. Canada had a pick six touchdown against Stoney Creek and has been the team’s best linebacker all season.

The Wolves have a tough secondary with Cason, and Wellington at both corners so they do have a very strong secondary and knowledge where the football is. They both have had big interceptions and returned them for touchdowns. So this is a tough secondary to deal with.

We’ll see what happens on Friday night in Clarkston.