Clarkston High School is poised for a banner season on the gridiron.
The Wolves 2011 team is stacked with high-quality veterans that share one common goal; Avenge C-Town's devastating last-second loss to Sterling Heights Stevenson in the final four two years ago when the majority of the squad were sophomores.
Heading the charge for the Wolfpack in their quest for their first ever trip to Ford Field is a quad of motivated senior team captains and Kurt Richardson, one of Metro Detroit's best prep football coaches, starting his 25th year at the helm this season.
Quarterback Mitch Baenzinger, running back Joey Goss and the linebacking tandem of Zach Collins and Matt Dellinger, will be the ball club's inspirational leaders on the field and in the locker room.
Richardson, a Clarkston alum himself, has nothing but optimism for the upcoming campaign.
"I think we have the chance to be very, very good," he said. "If we stay healthy, focused and committed, we'll put ourselves in a real nice position to make a long run in the state tournament."
A perennial powerhouse in Oakland County for the past four decades, the Wolves have not missed the postseason since 2002. Last season, Clarkston went 7-3, losing in the first round of districts after battling a series of critical injuries the entire year.
Baenzinger, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, is an intelligent and accurate presence in the pocket for Richardon's gridiron gang. Goss is a down-and-dirty, no-nonsense powerback and could be the hardest working prep rusher in the area – this kid's feet never stop moving when he has the ball in his hands. Collins is the quarterback of the C-Town 'D' from his spot at middle linebacker, a position he has held down for the Wolfpack varsity since he was a freshman. An outrageous tackling machine who has eclipsed the 100 plateau the past two straight years, Collins will most likely end up playing in the Ivy League in 2012. Dellinger is a dual-threat, lining up at outside linebacker and wide receiver, and is already verbally committed to play in college at Kent State.
Two-sport stars Baenzinger and Dellinger are also starters on the Clarkston basketball team, winners of four straight district and league titles. Equally skilled on the gridiron and the hardwood, Baenzinger is pursuing hoops in college, after a fantastic summer lighting up the travel circuit with his AAU team.
Under center this year, he will be protected by a seasoned group of lineman. Senior Lucas Sanders is the captain of the O-Line and is dutifully augmented by juniors Craig Colombo, Nick Azzopardi and Jesse Chadwell and sophomore Nick Mattich, a rising star in the Class of 2014.
Joining Goss in the Wolfpack's backfield will be Evan Montgomery, a shifty swingback that can rush the rock and catch it quite well out in the flat. Lining up opposite Dellinger at wide receiver will be Mike Schwartz.
The team's main pass rushers will be Nate Yellowshoun and Adam Johns, while Chris Calvano starts at inside linebacker providing TEAM K-Rich with arguably the most intimidating linebacker unit in the area.
Returning starter Travis Smith captains the secondary, with the help of fellow defensive backs Joe Genoa, Alex Dicea and Jared Yaroch. Placekicker and punter Alex Barta has one of the strongest legs in the OAA.
"I love my senior class this year," said Richardson, in search of his fifth career district crown. "These guys are pure winners. They live for competition and for testing themselves against the best around. Our football IQ as a team is very high, too. All that will hopefully bring good things for us in the near future. This group certainly deserves it."
OAA Red rival Rochester Adams lies in waiting for the Wolves' season opener on August 26. The Highlanders and Wolfpack have traded wins the past three years straight to kickoff their respective schedules.
On a personal note, C-Town is Burney's pick to win the OAA Red this year....GO PACK!
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