Woodcreek rolls to 4-0 as the Timberwolves enjoy rare unbeaten start to the season
This is not the usual Woodcreek football team. The last time the Timberwolves played a full season, in 2019, they finished 2-8. They’ve already doubled that win total this year as Woodcreek shut out Oakmont 28-0 Friday night to improve to 4-0.
However, it wasn’t a straight run past Oakmont on Friday night. The Timberwolves got into some turnover trouble early that slowed their progress. On their first drive, they lost possession on a fumble. Soon after, they fumbled again on a muffed punt return. Rather than pout, they dug in and fixed their mistakes.
“That’s a benefit of having a three-year varsity guy, (quarterback Garrett Krupp) knows what’s expected of him,” said coach Bradley Hunkins. “He ran with the ball loose, that wasn’t like him. He usually tucks it away in traffic. We’re going to go back, fix it, and revisit it before next week.”
The Timberwolves were not the only team making mistakes.
Except for quarterback Danny Myles, the Vikings offense had a rough night. Penalties constantly hindered Oakmont as the offense could never mount an effective attack as they frequently faced third and long.
And with a defense like Woodcreek’s, there is little room for mental errors.
The Timberwolves defense, led by senior linebacker Mitchell Sarmento, is relentless. Each player executed assignments well and continuously swarmed to the ball carrier.
After intercepting a pass in the end zone late in the first quarter, the Timberwolves came to life on offense. Krupp was able to bounce back from the early turnover and find senior receiver Nicolai Nielsen for two big-chunk plays before throwing one of three first-half touchdown passes.
When asked if he enjoys the run or the pass more, Krupp responded, “I enjoy the running, but when it comes to the passing I like it because we got our receivers wide open all the time ... and we can make big plays we get in their hands.”
This game was a warning shot for Wodcreek’s future opponents. The Timberwolves have always been known for their run-heavy offense. But with opposing teams scheming to stop that attack, it leaves them vulnerable to the pass.
“People think of us as a run-first offense, but we have four wide receivers we can throw out there to run routes,” said Hunkins. “Our run game helps us throw the ball and it did tonight. ... Everybody’s got plays.”
Scheming isn’t the only reason for the Timberwolves’ success though.
You can tell what the student section thinks. They chanted “coach of the year” like a war cry Friday night. Whether it be sitting down with the players to make adjustments or jumping into a dogpile after a victory, Hunkins’ players have bought in on the team’s mission. A team like that can be dangerous. Woodcreek will look to maintain momentum as it transitions into league play on the road against Roseville next Friday.
Before the game, Oakmont held a memorial for one of its alumni, Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, who lost her life in the Kabul airport bombing on Aug. 26. She enlisted in the service a year after graduating from Oakmont in 2016.
The Oakmont football team created a helmet sticker, which they wore for the first time Friday, to remember Gee and all the people who lost their lives in the attack.