Wyandotte Football Wins District Title, Advances in State Playoffs

Wyandotte Roosevelt captured its second consecutive district title Friday night, winning 9-0 at Taylor Truman in the second round of the state playoffs.

The Bears (10-1) will host Oak Park next week in the regional final, while the Truman (8-2) season comes to an end.

Roosevelt’s defense completely shut down the Cougars, who had come into the game hoping to avenge a Week 5 loss to Roosevelt.

• Read Patch's live blog from the game.

The Bears kept Truman off the scoreboard and allowed only 119 yards of total offense. Before Friday night, the Cougars had been averaging 40 points per game and more than 400 yards of total offense per game.

Although the Roosevelt offense struggled at times, the team got all the points it would need from kicker Jacob Simpson.

The junior made three field goals, giving the Bears more than enough points to win the game.

Wyandotte head coach Ron Adams said it takes a special group of people to accomplish what his squad has this year.

"It’s not very often that you’re in a position where you can win a district championship, and this is the second one (for us)," he said. "I think that says a lot about our program, our players and the coaching staff we have.”

Right from the opening kickoff Friday night, it appeared the Bears came ready to play.

David Davis opened the contest with a 37-yard kick return, setting his team up at midfield. A 22-yard run by Kyle Matejko ultimately lead to Simpson’s first field goal of the night; a 26-yard kick that put Wyandotte up 3-0.

To start the second quarter, Wyandotte went on a 66-yard drive and set up Simpson for his second field goal of the night.

A big run by Aaron Robinson, and receptions from Brandon Sowards and Devan Stewart, put the Bears at the 8-yard line of Truman. In a fourth-down situation, the Bears lined up for a play, but were quickly backed up by a penalty. Simpson then came on and drilled a 30-yard kick between the uprights.

As the second half got under way, Sowards helped out again, this time on defense. He made his first of two interceptions on the night when he picked off a Truman pass near midfield and took it down to the Cougars 10-yard line.

Sowards said the Wyandotte defense was well prepared this week, knowing that the Cougars would likely try to establish a passing attack to compliment their strong running game. 

“We knew they were going to change some things, so we just (adjusted) our defense to their offense,” he said.

The Bears failed to reach the end zone after Sowards’ pickoff, but Simpson hit a 26-yard field goal, making it 9-0 early in the third quarter.

As the Cougars tried to make a comeback, using the passing game, the Wyandotte defense completely slammed the door. Truman quarterback Devin Goodwell was only able to complete two passes all night.

Sowards’ interceptions, along with strong play by Aaron O’Meara, Tyler Winters and rest of the defense, kept Goodwell from having any success, and ultimately ended the Cougars' 2012 season.

A Look Ahead

Wyandotte will host Oak Park next week in the regional final of the state playoffs, as the Knights (9-2) beat Southfield 19-12 in overtime Friday night. The winner of next week’s game will move on to play in the semi finals and will face either Walled Lake, Oxford or Brother Rice.

Game Leaders

Simpson's three field goals on Friday night were the most he has made in one game all season. Robinson was the team’s leading rusher, carrying the ball 12 times for 55 yards. Sowards’ two interceptions on Friday night give him a total of five for the season, which leads the team.