WAKEFIELD FOOTBALL
With his offensive line making sizable holes to run through — like the one shown above — Wakefield's Courtney Crews (5) rushed for 95 yards in Friday's 30-13 win over Knightdale.
Run game powers Wakefield to win
For Wakefield offensive lineman Michael Gubbins, Friday night's 30-13 win over Knightdale didn't begin at kickoff, but rather in practice five days earlier.
"We did what's called a line charge on Monday, which consists of hitting the sled for about 45 minutes," the senior said. "It sucks when you're doing it. But I feel it was worth it. The payoff is now because I feel we dominated the line tonight."
The sled work was part of Wakefield head coach J.D. Dinwiddie's plan to rededicate the Wolverines to a more physical brand of football after a lackluster performance in last week's 28-14 loss at Holly Springs.
With changes to its block schemes, the addition of a tight end to most offensive formations and an emphasis on running the ball, the Wolverines came out and pounded the Knights physically. In fact, running backs Denzel Brown and Courtney Crews combined to rush for nearly 200 yards.
"We worked extensively on getting our running game right," said Dinwiddie of the days leading up to Knightdale contest. "We worked our guys hard. This was probably the most physical week of practice we've had in two or three years."
The improved running game allowed the Wolverines to ease freshman QB Connor Mitch into
the starting lineup but, more importantly, gave Wakefield an identity.
Having ran a spread offense most of last year, the Wolverines couldn't find a rhythm passing the ball in their first two games this season. But Friday, with the offensive line leading the charge, the Wolverines muscled their way to a win.
After an inauspicious start, allowing Knightdale's Aaron Smith to make a short reception and streak 55 yards for a touchdown on the game's opening drive, the Wolverines eventually settled down.
Two possessions later, assisted by Tye Smith's punt return inside the Knights' 10-yard line, the Wolverines' Denzel Brown busted into the end zone on an 8-yard rush. On Wakefield's next series, Brown raced 43 yards on the squad's first snap, and two plays later dashed in for another score from 15-yards out. With 8:36 remaining before the half, the Wolverines led 14-7.
On the ensuing kickoff, a Knightdale returner inadvertently downed himself at the 1-yard line, and the Wolverines kept the Knights pinned deep in their own territory. Wakefield senior Matt Yovanovich capitalized on the short field, beating his blocker and deflecting the Knightdale punt through the back of the end zone, resulting in a safety and a 16-7 Wakefield advantage.
"We really focus a lot of time on special teams," Dinwiddie said. "We lost the field position battle most of last week, and this week, we definitely won it.
"It was a total 180 from last week."
However, the Wolverines failed to extend their lead on two occasions before intermission, fumbling inside the Knights' 10-yard line and later throwing an interception in the end zone.
Although Knightdale strung together a 12-play drive, neither team mustered enough offense to get into the end zone in the third quarter.
In the beginning of the fourth, however, the Wolverines took advantage of a short field as Mitch hit a streaking Alex Starnes on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 10:02 remaining.
But the Knights' Ben Bolling struck right back, breaking off a 76-yard TD run three plays later, pulling Knightdale within 10 points, 23-13.
The Wolverines retaliated with a six-play, 56-yard drive, highlighted by Crews' 42-yard touchdown run with 4:24 left.
The squads then traded possessions in the closing minutes, and Wakefield senior Lemuel Darrell sealed the game with an interception.
Dinwiddie, as well as several fellow Wolverines, lauded Mitch's performance in his first start.
The ninth-grader completed just three of 11 passes for 69 yards, but a few catchable balls were dropped.
"He showed a lot of composure, and he didn't lose his cool," Gubbins said. "He made some good decisions."
Added Dinwiddie, "I thought he did a good job, and he really grew as the game went on.
"I really think we have found ourselves a quarterback for the future."
Though Mitch didn't get excused from his freshman obligations following the game, carrying equipment from the field to locker room. He happened to be outside Dinwiddie's office when the coach was discussing his new signal caller's progress.
After praising Mitch's play, Dinwiddie caught sight of his quarterback outside his office and quickly added laughingly, "But he's still a freshman."
Wakefield senior Trip Foreman (83) holds off a Knightdale defender during a run Friday night.
Starnes was the Wolverines' leading receiver with two catches for 63 yards.
Brown finished with 12 rushes for 105 yards, and Crews added 91 yards on 10 carries.
The duo's conflicting styles — Crews is a more of a bruiser, while Brown offers more speed — provides the Wolverines with a "lightning and thunder" combo, Dinwiddie explained. And the tandem's conflicting running appeared to keep the Knights off-balance most of the game.
Brown lauded his offensive line's aggressive play Friday.
"When they are blocking like they did tonight, it makes running a lot easier," Brown said.
The line's production was even more impressive considering the Wolverines played most of the game without starter Michael Sabb, who left with a leg injury.
Gubbins credited Jeremy Gillem for stepping up and shifting from guard to tackle to keep the Wolverines rolling.
So what's the line's reward for a stellar game?
During the team's postgame huddle, Dinwiddie explained the sled would return this week.
With a trip to Greensboro Dudley scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11, the Wolverines will need to build on this week's performance.
"From the first two weeks to today, it was night and day," Dinwiddie said of his line's play. "They need to keep it up, and I think they can."
