Loyal shows grit in playoff-clinching win
The high school season is reaching the midway point and plenty of teams have shown themselves to be postseason contenders.
The Week 5 slate featured a matchup of two up-and-coming programs going head-to-head as Loyal faced off with Wisconsin Rapids Assumption. Loyal was not only seeking to keep pace with fellow CloverWood unbeaten Abbotsford, but the Greyhounds also were looking to clinch a playoff bid. Assumption entered at 3-1 and was hoping to keep CloverWood title hopes alive.
After Loyal fumbled a punt return, Assumption turned it into a 40-yard passing strike to Trevor Newton from Jacob Sullivan to give Assumption a 14-7 lead with just six seconds left in the first half. In the second half however, the Loyal Greyounds showed grit and the defense kept the Royals grounded the rest of the way, allowing their offense time to overcome the deficit. Loyal quarterback Riley Geiger's 39-yard touchdown with 3:41 left put Loyal up 21-14 after a two-point conversion, and the Greyhounds held on for a 28-14 win.
With the win Loyal makes it largely a two-team race for the CloverWood title, as only Loyal and Abbotsford are unbeaten and everyone else has at least two conference losses.
Abbotsford dismantled Newman Catholic from the opening kickoff to clinch a playoff spot. Ean Rau ran for two scores and threw for two more for the Falcons.
Also in the Cloverwood, Chippewa Falls McDonell held off Athens 14-7 as the banged-up Bluejays dropped their third-straight game. Athens is likely without running back Jake Stange and quarterback Cade Ellenbecker for the rest of the season. Those injuries are adding up, and the Bluejays will need to now win three of their final four games to ensure a playoff berth.
Wausau West backed up its massive win over Appleton North with a 42-6 victory over Kaukauna to avoid the dreaded let-down game. Wausau West is now 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the Valley Football Association-North. Also, D.C. Everest used a dominant first half to break a two-game losing skid with a 34-19 win over Wausau East. Everest raced out to a 34-0 lead, but East showed fight in the second half, scoring all 19 points, but it couldn't pull within striking distance of the Evergreens.
SPASH clinched a playoff spot with a 44-0 drubbing of Neenah, and it looks like it could be a serious contender to reach Camp Randall this fall.
Iola-Scandinavia faced its stiffest test of the season against Southern Door and didn't fare well. The Thunderbirds fell behind 21-0 in the opening half and were shut out, as Southern Door won 31-0 to improve to 5-0, while I-S falls to 4-1.
Almond-Bancroft also couldn't get anything going against Wild Rose in a battle of Central Wisconsin Conference-10 unbeatens. Wild Rose's defense set the tone from the start and earned a 25-0 victory.
Spencer/Columbus Catholic took care of business against Colby on Friday and have bounced back nicely from the club's only loss of the year two weeks ago against Stanley-Boyd. Hunter Luepke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and the Rockets cruised from there, downing Colby 28-13.
The Marawood Conference powers flexed their muscle on Friday as Marathon took down previously undefeated Rib Lake/Prentice 27-13. Mitchell Putnam returned a fumble for a touchdown and also had a 66-yard touchdown run as those two plays helped Marathon lead 14-13 at half. In the second half the Raiders' defense shut down Rib Lake/Prentice.
Stratford had no issues with Chequamegon, laying a 60-6 drubbing on the Screamin' Eagles.
Edgar bounced back from a narrow loss to Stratford last week with a dominant 49-0 win over Tomahawk. Next week the Marawood Conference will be highlighted as the top four teams are matched up. Edgar (4-1, 4-1 Marawood) travels to Marathon (4-1, 3-1) and Stratford (4-1, 3-0) hosts Rib Lake/Prentice (4-1, 4-1).
Week 5 saw some local teams like Abbotsford and Loyal clinch playoff spots, and in Week 6 a few more can solidify spots in the postseason with the season starting to come into focus.
Mitchell A. Skurzewski: 715-898-7006; Mitchell.skurzewski@gannett.com or Twitter: @MSkurzewski
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
Big plays from around the area Friday night:
Medford's Conrad Bolz goes 77 yards on first play of game. Medford leads Merrill 6-0 just 21 seconds into a key Great Northern Conference battle.
Ben Olson keeps the option pitch on the first play of the game for an 84-yard touchdown scamper, and Wisconsin Rapids leads Marshfield 7-0. Expect a high scoring affair in this one. Now, Rapids' Langemeier with an interception on Marshfield's first play. What a start for the Raiders.
Abbotsford is laying the wood to Newman Catholic. Ean Rau busts a 50-yard touchdown run, and Abby leads Newman 28-0 after the first quarter.
Could be huge turn of events as Assumption turns fumbled punt into a 40-yard TD pass from Jacob Sullivan to Trevor Newton with just 6 seconds left in first half to take 14-7 lead over Loyal.
Mitchell Putnam strikes again with a 66-yard TD run, and Marathon leads Rib Lake/Prentice 14-13 at halftime.
Will Dixon breaks loose for a 50-yard touchdown run and Antigo extends lead to over Mosinee midway through the fourth quarter and Antigo fakes the extra point and Matt Winter runs it in for the two-point conversion. Big conversion as Antigo now leads by two possessions, 22-13.
SCORES
Abbotsford 49, Newman Catholic 7
Antigo 22, Mosinee 20
Edgar 49, Tomahawk 0
Wisconsin Rapids 21, Marshfield 14
Stratford 60, Chequamegon 6
Marathon 27, Rib Lake/Prentice 13
Adams-Friendship 42, Wautoma 6
Altoona 58, Neillsville/Granton 14
Amherst 42, Bonduel 22
Loyal 28, Assumption 14
SPASH 44, Neenah 0
Regis 51, Pittsville 0
Medford 18, Merrill 0
Southern Door 31, Iola-Scandinavia 0
Wausau West 42, Kaukauna 6
Wild Rose 25, Almond-Bancroft 0
Chippewa Falls McDonell 14, Athens 7
D.C. Everest 34, Wausau East 19
Auburndale 39, Phillips 0
Spencer/Columbus Catholic 28, Colby 13
Weyauwega-Fremont 34, Pacelli 0