The Wyoming Wolves were unable to capture a victory in their first year under Head Coach Carlton Brewster. Through seven games, they had battled but fallen short. Outside of their narrow 52-49 loss to Holland, Wyoming had been no closer than 24 points. On Friday night, they set those struggles aside. The Wolves rallied from a 9-0 deficit to defeat the Union Red Hawks 33-17.
Late in the first quarter, Union’s defense got the scoring started. The Red Hawks swarmed the Wolves and sacked Bernie Vanesdeel in the end zone for a safety. On the ensuing possession, Antonio Douglas Jr darted 21 yards for a score, giving Union a 9-0 lead after the first quarter of play.
As the second quarter commenced, Wyoming responded. Bernie Varnesdeel connected with Avion Joye on a 27-yard score, pulling the Wolves within two. This was the first of three Wyoming touchdowns in the second quarter. Jaden Lafluer was next up, carrying the football six yards. Finally, Varnesdeel and Joye paired up again, this time on an 11-yard pass with sixteen seconds to go. As a result, Wyoming took a 20-9 lead into the locker room.
There was just one scoring play in the third quarter, and it went the way of the Wolves. Jaden Lafluer found the end zone for a second time, powering across the goal line from two yards out. This extended the lead to eighteen points.
Union finally responded in the fourth quarter, snapping a twenty-seven point run. Keaunt’e Swarn carried the football nine yards for a touchdown. Bernie Varnesdeel put the icing on the cake for Wyoming, sealing the victory with a 3-yard quarterback keeper.
This is the first win for Head Coach Carlton Brewster at Wyoming, giving Brewster victories at four schools (Godwin Heights, Lee, Kalamazoo Central and Wyoming) in his young coaching career. It’s fitting for the Wolves that their streak snapped against Union, a team that snapped their own 45-game losing streak in last year’s shootout.
Wyoming will conclude their 2021 season next week against Mona Shores. Union, now 3-5 on the year, will take on Reeths Puffer.