Wyandotte Shuts Out Woodhaven 28-0, Qualifies for State Playoffs

On a cold Friday night with rain pouring down, dominated Woodhaven and sailed to a 28-0 victory.

The shutout win, which qualifies the Bears (6-0) for the state playoffs, was an impressive showing against the high-flying Warriors’ offense. Coming into the matchup, Woodhaven had scored 157 points this season, second only to Roosevelt's 192 in the Downriver League.

Wyandotte opened the scoring by going up 7-0 at the 6:21 mark of the first quarter. Junior quarterback Kevin Matejko hit senior tight end Tony Parker with a short pass that he took 19 yards for a touchdown.

Senior running back , returning from an last week, helped set up Parker’s touchdown with two big first-down runs previous to the reception.

On the first play of the second quarter, with the Bears driving again, senior barreled into the end zone from 15 yards out for another Bears’ score. The team was successful on a 2-point conversion try and went up 15-0.

Later in the second quarter, the Roosevelt defense, which was tough all night, forced a turnover on downs deep in its own territory.

With the ball back in Wyandotte’s hands, Matt took off for a 64-yard run on the first play of the possession. The Bears then drove down inside the 5-yard line of the Warriors, thanks mostly to a big gain by sophomore running back Kyle Matejko.

From the 4-yard line, Kevin Matejko lofted up an end zone pass at the 1:30 mark for junior receiver Devan Stewart. Like Stewart has done many times already this year, he went up high above defenders and came down with an amazing catch for a touchdown.

The Bears took a 21-0 lead on Stewart’s touchdown, following a failed 2-point conversion. 

Junior defensive lineman Tyler Winters ended Woodhaven’s hopes for a score before halftime and intercepted a pass by the Warriors’ Nick Maher with only 12 seconds left in the second quarter. 

“We knew the quarterback, Nick Maher, was one of the better quarterbacks in the league,” Winters said. “We had to pretty much shut him down.”

Wyandotte’s final scoring drive started late in the third quarter when senior defensive back Edge Jelsemeno picked off a Warriors’ pass, his second interception in as many weeks.

Starting at the Woodhaven 37-yard line, the Bears again drove down deep inside the Warriors’ territory. A big 11-yard catch by junior David Skarzynski helped to later set up a 4-yard touchdown run from Kyle Matejko at the end of the quarter, giving the team a 28-0 advantage.  

Despite the big margin of defeat, Kyle Matejko said the Bears’ offense had to work hard to earn the yardage they gained against Woodhaven.

“Their D-line was good,” he said. “There really wasn’t much room to run, but we pulled through.”

The Warriors’ offense was able to march down the field late in the game and threaten to score. However, a final stand by the Bears defense, a unit comprised of several second-team players at that point, preserved the shutout.  

“I think it’s a big accomplishment,” Wyandotte head coach Ron Adams said of the shutout against high-scoring Woodhaven. “I was very proud of our defense. (We were) very well prepared tonight.”

Game Leaders

Matt led the team in rushing with 86 yards and a touchdown on five carries. Kyle Matejko had 10 rushing attempts and gained 41 yards and scored a touchdown. Dunn put up 76 yards on the ground, getting nine carries. Quarterback Kevin Matejko was 5-8 on passing attempts with two touchdowns. Parker had two receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown.

A Look Ahead

Wyandotte travels to Gibraltar Carlson on Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup, which will be the Marauders' homecoming game. Carlson (4-2) defeated Allen Park (5-1) Friday night 27-17, leaving the Bears in sole possession of first place in the Downriver League.