WAKEFIELD FOOTBALL
Wolverines fight, but fall at Dudley
While a victory eluded the Wolverines at Greensboro Dudley Friday night — Wakefield lost 14-7 to the Panthers — head coach J.D. Dinwiddie got exactly what he hoped for against the defending 3-AA state champions: a chance to win late.
"If you are just a football fan in general, it was just a good football game," the second-year coach said of the Wolverines' first-ever meeting with Dudley. "Two teams going at it, and they are very talented. They're a very disciplined football team. But it was encouraging because we did have our chances to win the ball game. We just came up a little short."
In fact, Wakefield gave Dudley all it could handle, actually leading the Panthers 7-6 at halftime. While some naysayers might have given the Wolverines little chance to pull off the win, Wakefield went toe-to-toe with the traditional football powerhouse.
After a scoreless first quarter, which Dudley dominated the time of possession, but couldn't convert the advantage into points, the Panthers scored a touchdown early in the second quarter. However, Dudley was unable to made the PAT.
While his squad initially played timid — especially defensively — Dinwiddie said the Wolverines picked up their intensity in the second quarter, and mounted their own scoring drive.
With freshman Connor Mitch — making just his second career varsity start — leading the offense on a 70-plus yard drive, Wakefield moved deep into the Panthers' territory. Using their goal-line offensive package, senior Matt Yovanovich — normally a defensive end — sliced in to make a short TD reception from Mitch. With the PAT, the Wolverines staked a 7-6 lead, which they took into intermission.
Unfortunately, for the Wolverines, the lead didn't last very long into the third quarter.
On Wakefield's first possession of the final half, Mitch was intercepted and the Panthers returned the ball back to the Wolverines' 25-yard line. Six plays later Dudley punched the ball into the end zone, and converted its two-point attempt.
With the score, the Panthers led 14-6. But, more importantly, took momentum away from the Wolverines.
"We just had an inopportune turnover and I think it was the determining factor in the football game," Dinwiddie said.
But Wakefield didn't quit, keeping the Panthers' advantage within one score, and eventually the Wolverines' special teams put the squad in position to tie the game.
On a Dudley fourth-quarter punt, Wakefield broke through the Panthers' formation, forcing the punter to ditch his punt attempt and run. But senior Moises Ramirez caught him from behind, making a crucial tackle.
The busted punt gave Wakefield the ball at the Dudley 20-yard line.
However, the Wolverines' resulting possession died inside the 10-yard line, failing to convert on a fourth-down attempt.
The loss drops Wakefield to 2-2 this season, but Dinwiddie believes the Wolverines gained plenty from the experience in Greensboro.
"They were big and they had size," he said of the Panthers. "Other than Jack Britt or Richmond County, we won't see a team of that physical stature — it we made it there — until the third or fourth round of the playoffs.
"It was the best front seven that I've seen in a long time — since I have been in North Carolina, probably."
The Wakefield coach added he couldn't be more pleased with Mitch's development under center.
"I think he grew up a lot Friday. He made some plays that a junior or senior would have made," Dinwiddie said. " I was very, very impressed with his growth the last two or three weeks. He is going to be special, I believe."
Besides keeping turnovers to a minimum — Wakefield had just two — Mitch showed poise in the pocket, directing receivers and hitting the open man down field.
"I really think he earned a lot of respect from his older teammates Friday night," Dinwiddie said. "He took some shots and he got right back up every time and kept competing. I don't think you could ask anymore out of a 14-year-old freshman."
In the end, Wakefield had its chances, but didn't capitalize on the opportunities; the Wolverines also missed two field goals.
"I'm proud of our guys for their effort," Dinwiddie said. "It's not going to do anything but make them better. To go there, lead at halftime and play with them — with a chance to win — I think it says a lot about our program."
The Wolverines look to get back to winning Friday, Sept. 18, hosting Durham Riverside at 7 p.m.
