Wolverines run past Braves

The White Pines Wolverines made the High School Football League playoff race much more interesting by rolling past the Bawating Braves on Thursday night.

At a cold and wet Rocky DiPietro Field, the Wolverines chewed up 322 yards rushing to pace themselves to a 27-7 win in senior division action.

The Braves and Wolverines both sit at 2-2 and now share third place with a week remaining in regular season. The top four teams in the senior loop qualify for the playoffs.

Next week, the Wolverines face the Korah Colts (0-3), who play the 0-3 St. Basil Saints on Friday night at 7 p.m. Bawating will face the unbeaten St. Mary's Knights (3-0), who meet the undefeated Sir James Dunn Eagles this Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Colts and Saints could keep their playoff hopes alive with a win on Friday.

The Wolverines used their stellar rushing attack, which continued to get better as the game progressed, to defeat the Braves by controlling the clock with several time consuming drives.

Alanzo Clarke, who had a huge game for the Wolverines, opened the scoring 3:20 into the second quarter by returning a punt 69 yards for the major score. Jonathan Widgett then hauled in an eight yard reception from quarterback Justin Wensley to put White Pines ahead 14-0 at the half.

In the second half, Clarke added his second major on a run from eight yards out to complete a lengthy 80 yard drive and Tom Swystun scored on a four yard run. Matt Santos connected on three convert attempts.

Dan Vaz scored the Braves lone touchdown on a three yard run late in the third quarter with the Braves trailing 21-0. Brad Beatty booted the convert.

Clarke, who added three tackles on defense, finished the game with 215 yards rushing on 23 carries while Chris Tulloch added 67 yards on nine carries.

Defensively for the Wolverines, Josh Reed led with seven tackles and a sack. Matt Ritchie added six tackles and Andy Downing four while Ritchie and Tulloch each recovered a fumble.

For Bawating, Dan Vaz paced the offense with 112 yards on 23 carries. Quarterback Mike Storozuk completed five of 17 passes for 89 yards including a pair to brother Joe Storozuk for 57 yards.

Doug Watt anchored the Braves defense with 7.5 tackles and a sack. Bill Stone, Geoff Olar and Zach Clement, who also recorded a sack, added six tackles each. Tyson Derasp made five tackles, David Christie 4.5 and Vaz four.

*** JUNIOR:

In junior division play on Thursday afternoon, the Bawating Braves ended a lengthy losing skid by shutting out White Pines 18-0. Aaron Rooley scored two touchdowns and Nathan Edwards another in the win.