Rice Lake runs over Eisenhower
MADISON – The film didn’t lie. New Berlin Eisenhower football coach Matt Kern watched video of Rice Lake’s offense in preparation for the Division 3 state championship game. He came way impressed with what he knew would be a physical attack that had ground out almost 3,800 yards in 12 games.
“The closest thing we’ve seen to that in our conference is Wisconsin Lutheran,” he said. “But they definitely upped it from what we had seen this season.”
Did they ever.
Rice Lake had Eisenhower’s defense on its heels all day, grinding out long drives early and then mixing in more of its passing game in the second half.
The result Friday was a 25-3 victory for the Warriors at Camp Randall Stadium and the first championship for Rice Lake (11-2) since 1979.
Eisenhower, which was back in the final for the first time since winning a second straight Division 2 title in 1996, finished 13-1.
“They’re really a solid team. What got us ready for this is I think people still are underestimating the Big Rivers Conference,” Rice Lake coach Dan HIll said. “There are teams we’ve had that are about as good that haven’t made it into the playoffs.”
Anyone who watched Eisenhower’s defense this season understands the impressiveness of Rice Lake’s performance: 396 yards of total offense, a time of possession advantage of almost 25 minutes, and a 26-8 edge in first downs.
And then there was perhaps Rice Lake’s most impressive stat, a 79% conversion rate (11 of 14) on third down.
“It was as simple as they were winning the line of scrimmage,” Kern said. “There were plenty of third-and-mediums there that we had chances to get off the field. We felt good about the scheme we had in place and the kids we had out there. They’d need 4 and they’d get 5. It was just tough for us.”
Senior fullback Brandon Sutton finished with 23 carries for 107 yards for Rice Lake. Junior quarterback Peyton Buckley was a master of play fakes, completing six of seven passes for 71 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 93 yards in 18 carries.
Eisenhower got 46 yards in seven carries from senior running back Jack Belongia. Senior quarterback Bryce Miller completed six of 12 passes for 68 yards. Senior linebacker Mark Shields finished with 23 tackles (11 solo) to set an all-division record for a state final.
The highlights were few for Eisenhower, but it did enjoy a moment at the end of the first half when the team moved 44 yards in 10 seconds thanks to a 29-yard pass play from Miller to Belongia that got an additional 15 yards tacked on for a personal foul penalty.
The Lions had a first down on the 16, field position that set up a 33-yard field goal by Miller with 2 seconds left in the half that got the Lions on the board.
Eisenhower needed the momentum.
Rice Lake had gotten the best of the Lions’ stout defense in the first half, rushing for 204 yards, gaining 14 first downs and running 18 minutes 20 seconds off the clock. Eisenhower, in comparison, had the ball for 5:40 and just five first downs and 73 yards of total offense.
At that point the Lions’ average per rush and average per pass were on par or better than Rice Lake’s, but the defense couldn’t get off the field.
Rice Lake’s two scoring drives each took 6:29 off the clock. The tone setter was a 14-play, 80-yard drive to open the game.
“It’s huge,” Hill said of his team’s start. “The psychology of high school kids. You come out (and wonder) what’s this going to be like. ... The long drive to start with just got our guys jacked up that we can do this.”
Rice Lake took care of business a program that had its best season in 21 years. The Lions’ run included a second Woodland West title in three years, the five shutouts and four playoff victories.
“For our seniors, it’s been such a tremendous run,” Kern said. “They’ve had so much success. What I want for them once the hurt of today goes away, I hope they’re able to look back and realize what a special season they had.”