Woodcreek isn’t ranked nationally or regionally, hasn’t traveled out of the area to play a high-profile game and isn’t the first team mentioned in conversations about Sierra Foothill League football.

But the Timberwolves are being physically and mentally tested more than most teams in the area.

Some of Woodcreek’s best players didn’t suit up for the opener against Lincoln in Week Zero, a 28-21 loss. More impact players were injured in that game, and the Timberwolves played a wobbly first half against Casa Roble on Friday night. They missed tackles, couldn’t stop the Rams’ quick-hitting passing attack and committed personal foul and unsportsmanlike penalties.

But in pouring it on with a 34-point fourth quarter to win 46-35, the Timberwolves showed they have what it takes to stick around in a league in which every Friday is meaningful – depth and desire.

Coach John Hildebrand said halftime in the Timberwolves’ locker room wasn’t exactly the stuff of which movie scenes are made. He simply told his players to pour their hearts onto the field.

“We had kids kind of banged up and bruised and starting to kind of feel the pain of playing a tough varsity football game, and I told them, ‘Suck it up, and let’s go,’” Hildebrand said. “This was a physical football game. We’re banged up like crazy. The difference in last week and this week is we finished this week.”

Woodcreek ran 21 offensive plays to Casa Roble’s five in the third quarter and had nothing to show for it other than what it believed to be a touchdown run by quarterback Shaun Mize being ruled a fumble that was recovered by Casa Roble.

Even that didn’t faze the Timberwolves. They scored on the first play of the fourth quarter on a three-yard run by Ryan Kovach, filling in for a cramping Mize for the second game in a row, and kept piling it on.

Tight end Brandon Whitebear had touchdown catches of 67 and 56 yards 54 seconds apart, Blake Cervantes had a 57-yard scoring ramble, and Dylan Zuverink stepped in front of a Casa Roble pass and went 80 yards for his second interception return for a touchdown in the game.

Cervantes lost a fumble inside the Casa Roble 10-yard line in the first half. He had his helmet ripped off twice and sustained a cut over an eye that Hildebrand said would require stitches. He hobbled on a bum ankle.

But his heart and head were intact. He rushed for 156 yards in 15 carries in the second half and totaled 213 for the game. Cervantes ran through holes on both sides of the line, opened by players lacking All-SFL credentials: junior center Ian McCoog, filling in for senior Mark Smith, who sustained broken bones in his back against Lincoln; and 6-foot-5, 301-pound senior Kenny Herrera, playing for Jenner Lubinsky, who has a separated shoulder.

“We have great depth. A lot of people have stepped up,” Zuverink said. “One of the best linemen in the league (Lubinsky) goes out, and we have another guy (Herrera) step in and he play his butt off. When (Lubinsky has) been hurt, he’s been able to coach up (Herrera).”

Woodcreek has made other moves to fill gaping holes. Down to its third kicker (starter Bobby Reeves broke a collarbone during a soccer match) and without receiver Devon Murphy (lacerated kidney), Andrew Lara split two defenders for a 22-yard reception to the Casa Roble 4 that set up the go-ahead touchdown, and he kicked the last two extra points. Kovach has moved from safety to inside linebacker to help fill the void left by the injured Jason Stewart.

“We’re very deep in all our positions, and we just deserve this,” Whitebear said. “They’re all doing their job, and they’re doing good.”

St. Mary’s 41, Granite Bay 35 – The Grizzlies (1-1) led 28-14 at halftime, then were held to one touchdown in the second half as the host Rams came back in Stockton. St. Mary’s quarterback Mitch Walding passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for 123 yards.

Granite Bay quarterback Brendan Keeney completed 14 of 28 passes for 168 yards, but his last attempt was blocked on fourth and two in St. Mary’s territory.

Cory Brehm scored on runs of 31 and 10 yards for the Grizzlies, Danny Thomas scored on a 13-yard run, and Keeney threw touchdown passes of 42 yards to Matt Kasner and 13 yards to Tanner Holt.

San Juan 13, Valley Christian 7 (OT) – Aaron Perchaz scored the Lions’ only touchdown on a run and had 48 yards in 13 carries. He also had 11 tackles, including a sack. Wright Hagerty completed 12 of 19 passes for 124 yards for Valley Christian. Micky DeFiebre had seven tackles and two sacks.

Bill Poindexter can be reached at billp@goldcountrymedia.com.