Northlake Christian School senior running back Derek Williams spearheaded the Wolverines’ attack with three touchdowns leading his team to a 34-7 victory over the Archbishop Hannan Hawks 34-7 Saturday in the opener for both clubs. The contest was played at Lakeshore High.

Williams picked up where he left off last season as a 1,000-yard rusher, who found the end zone 13 times. He maneuvered his way for three touchdowns covering 33, 30 and 2 yards while amassing 126 yards rushing on just 11 carries.

The Class 2A Wolverines rushed for 257 yards and scored on their first possession as senior quarterback Tyler Clark engineered a six-play drive, which Williams polished off with a 33-yard run with 9:06 on the clock.

(Use arrows above to view more photos)

Clark made a nice block on the outside corner to free up Williams, who used his speed to outrun the Hawks’ defenders. Wolverines’ junior place kicker Mallery Mele tacked on the first of his four extra points.

Williams said it was a good team performance.

“I was a little hesitant because I wasn’t sure how the blocking schemes would work because we haven’t run against a defense in a game type situation because we didn’t play in a jamboree. Things worked out really well from the first play and I got back in the mode from last year,” Williams said.

Williams said he has been trying to work on making cutback moves.

“I don’t mind contact, but once you break open you need to make a move,” Williams added.

NCS head coach Tony Agresta talked about Williams’ performance.

“Derek is just a good old fashioned north-south runner. I think he showed today that in the open field he can make some people miss and can put on some quicks. I was pleased with his play and really pleased with the way Tyler Clark handled the offense with the lack of a jamboree (St. Martin’s cancelled due to weather). It was nice to see him control things and run the offense,” Agresta said.

Williams also praised the ability of his senior QB (Clark).

“Tyler is the one guy you have to tell to get down. You are the quarterback. He always fights for yardage and I have the utmost respect for that dude,” the senior running back said.

Clark said it was great to get a real live look.

“Hannan mixed their fronts up well. It was good to get real time, live reps, making sure we run the play the right way. Having a real rush rather than a scout team not being able to touch the quarterback was a good thing,” Clark said.

Clark returned praise for his senior running back (Williams).

“Derek’s definitely gotten bigger and stronger from last year. I think speed kind of came with that. He really looked good cutting out there on that turf. That will be good for us in the future,” Clark added.

Following NCS’ initial score, Hannan fumbled on its first play from scrimmage following a Mele touchback. NCS recovered the ball setting up the Wolverines with tremendous field position at the Hawks’ 16. Clark wasted no time calling his own number and scored making a nice cut back move. Mele’s extra point made it 14-0 with 8:51 remaining in the first quarter. Clark, was the Wolverines’ second leading rusher behind Williams, gaining 56 yards on 10 carries.

“We called a boot. I just saw space and made a move. Whenever I get my number called I just try to do with it whatever I can,” Clark said.

Each team’s defense then stepped up forcing each other to punt. On a subsequent possession, the NCS defense came up with a sack forcing Hannan to punt from its one-yard line. David DeHarde got off a 29-yard punt with the Wolverines taking over on a short field. Williams ran behind a big hole and cruised into the end zone for 30 yards out to build a 21-0 advantage with Mele’s conversion with 1:41 left in the opening stanza, which is how the quarter ended.

Hannan picked up a first down on its next possession with freshman quarterback Korey Zeigler completing three consecutive passes to three different receivers. Zeigler linked up with Stuart Seiler for two yards, Thomas Sens for five and Bruce DiMartino for six yards. Zeigler finished the game going 15-of-25 for 79 yards in the Hawks’ short passing game, linking up with five different receivers.

“Our passing game needs to be quick. They were blitzing a bunch of guys

so you can’t ask for that much time. I wanted to get the ball out fast for positive short gains to move it up field,” Zeigler said.

“My receivers are really young with three freshman and only one senior (Seiler). All of us have to continue to step it up and get our chemistry down. It will take some time, but I think we are coming together,” Zeigler added.

Zeigler said playing as an eighth grader last year has helped him tremendously.

“I know where everybody is going to be and I feel more prepared than last year. I know what the defenses are trying to do to me. I just feel better about everything and I know what to expect,” said the freshman QB.

The Hawks stalled and were forced to punt. Williams returned DeHarde’s punt 39 yards, setting up the Wolverines at the Hawks’ 16 with back up freshman quarterback Josh O’Rear entering the game. The Hawks’ defense stiffened and with the Wolverines facing fourth-and-seven Mele was called upon and booted a 32-yard field goal to push the lead to 24-0 with 8:40 left in the half.

Hannan generated a first down on its next possession with Zeigler hooking up with Michael Froeba for an 11-yard completion the longest passing play of the day for the Hawks. Zeigler also found Jason Brooks for seven yards. Facing fourth-and-five from midfield, Hannan first-year coach Pat Lambert decided to fake a punt, which didn’t materialize as the ball was fumbled and NCS’ Cliff Hall recovered resulting in a 19-yard loss. The Wolverines took over at the Hawks 31-yard line. NCS starting middle linebacker Shawn Burst, who also plays offense, got the call on first down and rolled down to the Hawks’ two-yard line before being stopped. Williams did the rest crashing in on the next play to build a 31-0 margin with Mele’s extra point with 6:36 to go in the half.

Burst talked about his one carry.

It’s a little tight end short trap we put in. The tight ends block a lot so the coaching staff likes to throw us a bone every now and then. I cut back in just because I wanted to run over somebody, but I should have just run to the pylon and taken it to the outside. My defensive mentality just got me there,” Burst said.

Burst talked about the Wolverines’ defensive performance.

“I think our defense was pretty solid. We did some things well, but there are some other things we need to improve on so we still have some work to do,” Burst added.

After NCS went up 31-0, Hannan’s Brooks returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards. NCS was flagged for a pass interference call on first down, but two straight incompletions and a sack resulted in a punt.

NCS took over at its 38 with 3:45 left in the half. Sophomore running back Greg Mula carried the ball three times for eight yards and O’Rear gained 10 yards on a running play and also completed a six-yard pass to Will Sigl. O’Rear picked up 27 rushing yards on five carries. The Wolverines only put the ball in the air three times.

On second-and-goal from the six with time winding down in the half, Mele was true on a 23-yard field goal to push the lead to 34-0 as time expired.

Hannan received the second half kick off. Zeigler continued to employ the short passing game. He came up with four completions for 30 yards, but an incompletion and a sack by NCS’ Hall on fourth-and-eight gave the ball back to the Wolverines’ at the 42. NCS fumbled on second down with the Hawks’ Wesley Harwell recovering, but Hannan was unable to capitalize on the miscue.

NCS picked three consecutive first downs on its next drive, but with second-and-goal from the three the Wolverines muffed an exchange between the quarterback and center and Hannan’s Mark Morel came up with the recovery with just 13 seconds left in the third quarter. Once again the Hawks were unable to take advantage and punted after going three-and-out.

Northlake Christian took over at the Hawks’ 40. Mele gained 19 yards on two carries, but when the drive stalled Mele attempted a 39-yard field goal that fell short and wide left.

Hannan took over at its 20 with 7:37 remaining. Zeigler and company put together their first sustained drive with a 12-play series. Hawks’ eighth grader Griffin Hakenjos gained 20 yards on three rushes and freshman Zack Castelluccio contributed 14 yards on four totes. DeHarde capped off the 6:22 drive, sweeping in from 26 yards out with just 1:15 left. DeHarde clicked on the extra point to close out the scoring at 34-7. The Hawks struggled with their ground game, which was led by DeHarde with 23 yards on three carries followed by Hakenjos with 20 yards on three rushes.

Seiler led the Hawks’ receivers with six receptions for 29 yards. He also carried the ball twice for five yards. DiMartino and Froeba had three catches, while Brooks had two and Sens one.

First-year head coach Lambert talked about his Hawks.

“Our kids played hard and never quit. I’m very proud of our players hanging in there. We were able to keep them off the scoreboard in the second half,” Lambert said.

“We’ll keep working hard and we’ll get better,” Lambert added.

Northlake Christian School hosts the Crescent City Pioneers Friday at William Pitcher Junior High with kick off set for 7 p.m., while Hannan hosts the Albany Hornets playing at Jack Slater Stadium on the Covington Lions’ campus.