The Robert Bateman Timberwolves punched their ticket to the AA Semi-Finals with a 31-6 victory over the John Barsby Bulldogs.
The Timberwolves beat the Bulldogs at their own game. The always-physical Bulldogs struggled to run the ball in their vaunted two-back power offense due to the Timberwolf's dominance up front.
Bateman, on the other hand, had no problem running the ball but with a different approach. The Timberwolves leaned on their spread attack to widen Barsby's 4-4 defense and create advantageous angles and numbers in their running game.
Timberwolves running backs Jackson Kliewer, who finished with 12 carries for 93 yards and one touchdown, as well as Cade Handy, with 9 carries for 80 yards and a score, reaped the benefits of Bateman's offensive game plan.
Kliewer opened the scoring for the Timberwolves, capping off their opening drive with a 29-yard touchdown run where he ran off tackle to the left and cut the ball up into the middle of the field, breaking two arm tackles on his way to the endzone.
The rest of the half was a defensive battle. The Timberwolves suffocated the Bulldog's run game by stacking the box and forced their opponents into throwing a ball, which isn't Barsby's identity.
The Bulldog's defense also proved difficult to crack until, In the second quarter, Timberwolves quarterback Luke Hall connected with Brady Doucette for a 6-yard score to put Bateman up 12-0 at the half.
With it only a two-score game to start the third quarter, the game was very much still up for grabs. Timberwolves receiver Dante Meyer had other plans.
On the second-half opening kickoff, Meyer made a house call for an 88-yard kickoff return touchdown. Not long after, Hall found Meyer for a 25-yard touchdown, this time through the air, and the rout was on.
Bateman's defense continued playing a very strong game. Led by Cade Handy's six and Ryelly MacDonald's four tackles, the team's defensive unit held Barsby to 19 yards passing, 50 yards rushing, and just one late score for a 31-6 final.
The Timberwolves will play the Windsor Wolves next week in a battle of Lupinus teams with an AA finals spot up for grabs.
