Wyandotte Wins Downriver League Football Title

With a 43-7 win over Allen Park Friday night, was crowned Downriver League champions for the second straight year. 

Many expected the game between the Bears (8-0) and Jaguars (6-2) to be a close one, since both teams have played tough defense in 2011. A loss by Roosevelt would have kept Allen Park alive for a shot at the league title.

Instead, the Jaguars had no answer for Wyandotte’s offense and its senior running back , who scored three first-half touchdowns.

Dunn ran 15 yards on Wyandotte’s first offensive play of the night, then took off for a 31-yard touchdown on the very next play, giving the Bears a 7-0 lead early in the game.

A fumble recovery by Wyandotte on the Jaguars’ ensuing possession put the team at the Allen Park 25-yard line. The Bears moved down to the Jaguars’ 9-yard line, where junior quarterback Kevin Matejko was able to hit junior receiver Devan Stewart with a touchdown pass and put Roosevelt up 14-0.

After a second-quarter stop by the Wyandotte defense, the Jaguars kicked away a poor punt that gave Roosevelt the ball at midfield.

Dunn and the Bears took full advantage, and on the first play of the possession he ran 52 yards to pay dirt. Roosevelt was successful on a two-point conversion try and grabbed a 22-0 lead.

With Allen Park desperate to get on the board, Dunn struck again, this time on defense, and picked off a Jaguars’ pass deep in Roosevelt territory.

The Bears gave the ball right back with a fumble, but another defensive stand, capped by a sack from senior Blake Lukasik, forced a turnover on downs.

A possession late in the second quarter was kick-started by senior , who ran 34 yards and set up Wyandotte deep in Allen Park territory.

Three plays later, Matejko hit Dunn with a short pass along the Roosevelt sideline. An Allen Park defender had Dunn all but tackled when the running back suddenly broke free, then got by several other Jaguars for a 27-yard touchdown.

“I had him face up to me and I ended up stiff-arming him,” Dunn said of the first would-be tackler. “Our receiver (then) made an awesome block on the side… and I headed into the end zone.”   

With less than one minute left in the half, Matejko and Stewart hooked up again for a score. A 30-yard touchdown pass essentially finished off Allen Park, putting Roosevelt up 36-0.

The Bears added a touchdown from sophomore Kyle Matejko in the third quarter and the Jaguars got on the board with seven points in the quarter as well. Otherwise, the second half was a countdown to celebration. 

After the game, Stewart, who was on last year’s league champion team as a sophomore, credited this year’s seniors as the reason why the team was able to repeat.

“The seniors worked hard,” Stewart said. “They put in all the extra work in the off season for us, they deserve it.” 

Aside from the efforts of the players and coaching staff, Wyandotte Coach Ron Adams said support from the fans and entire community also helped the team achieve success this year.

“Many people in our city have invested into this program and you see the rewards,” Adams said.

With the start of the playoffs only two weeks away, Adams said the team is aiming toward a shot at the state title.

”We’ve got a lot ahead of us that we’d like to accomplish,” Adams said. “We want to be at Ford Field.”

Game Leaders

In addition to scoring three touchdowns, Dunn was the team's rushing leader with 100 yards and was tops in receiving yardage with 53 on three catches. Kevin Matejko was 9-13 passing with three touchdowns and 121 total yards. Stewart had two catches for 40 yards, both of which went for touchdowns.

A Look Ahead

The regular season ends next Friday with a game at league-rival Southgate Anderson (7-2). Two days later, state playoff brackets will be announced and the Bears will find out which team they will take on first.