Waskily Wildcats

Martin Solid in the Clutch

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Wolves had to stave off a second half rally by the Wildcats to take home the 37-23 NSIC win on Saturday night at Clark Swisher Field. The Wildcats rallied in the second half to tie the game at 23 before the Wolves scored twice to seal the win.

The Wolves hopped on top early with a 22 yard TobyKorrodi to Matt “Turbo” Pinto with 7:55 left in the first. Rudy Jones crept in from three yards out for the Wolves to take a 13-0 lead with just under five minutes to go in the first. Clinton Arial-Ryan’s extra point was blocked and returned over ninety yards to make the score 13-2.

On the following possession Jason Wenner picked off a Jake Christian pass on the Wayne 25. Three plays later the Korrodi hit Shadee Shakir from eight yards out as the Wolves were rolling 20-2 after the first.

Early in the second quarter Korrodi coughed up the ball while scrambling; Wayne’s Jeremy Neil picked up the fumble and returned it 46 yards to bring the score to 20-8; Ryan Rogenes blocked the extra point.

In the second half the Wolves stopped the Wildcats and Pinto returned a Wayne punt 24 yards down to the 22 yard line. The Wolves drove to the seven yard line but stalled and settled for a 24 yard Arial-Ryan field goal to go up 23-8 with 11:53 left in the third.

The Wildcats did not fold as they took the ball 63 yards on 13 plays down to the Wolves 17 yard line before they falter on a fake field goal attempt. However, on their next possession Jake Chastain hit Tony Manning on an 84-yard strike to bring the Wildcats to the Wolves two. Chastain ran in from two yards out, then caught the a Tyler Chamber’s throw back pass to complete the two-point conversion to bring the score to 23-16.

In the fourth Wayne knotted the score at 23 after a 61 yard Chastain to Josh Peterson strike. The drive was only one play as the Wolves corner bit on the out, and Peterson went up.

The Wolves offense then awoke as on their next possession Josh Martin had a pretty over the shoulder catch from 20 yards out to put the Wolves up to stay.

After Sione Tupou sacked Chastain and Wayne turned the ball over on down, fullback ChuckDriscoll touched the ball for the first time all season and took the Korrodi pass 12 yards in for the score, clinching the 37-23 win.

The Wolves out gained the Wildcats 409 to 331 on the day, but the eye popping stat was that the Wolves defense held the Wildcats to 32 yards rushing on 32 attempts.

Steve Espinoza’s 13 tackles again led the Wolves defense. Kia Tupoa was SOLID…seven tackles, four for 20 yards lost, a forced fumble, a QB hurry and a sack in the game. T.J. Johnson picked off his third and fourth passes of the season including one with under two minute to play to put the game on ice. The Wolves defense had ten tackles for a loss of 50 yards in the game.

Korrodi finished the game 24 of 42 for 285 yards and four touchdowns. Jones had 86 yards on 23 carries and a TD. Eleven different receivers caught a pass for the Wolves including Pinto, Martin, Shakir, and Driscoll all for scores.

Pinto had four punt returns for 94 yards and two kickoff returns for 47 yards in the game.