WIAA FOOTBALL STATE SEMIFINALS RECAP
The WIAA football state field was set Friday when area teams competed in Level 4 (state semifinal) battles around the area. A look at how it all went down:
Division 1
Muskego 24, Marquette 21: Senior RJ Bosshart had back-to-back runs of 76 and 15 yards to reach the end zone and provide the Warriors with the go-ahead points in a victory at Arrowhead. The plays were part of a momentumshifting stretch that started when Marquette returned a blocked field goal to the Muskego 10 but failed to get any points. After the defensive stand, Bosshart helped Muskego take the lead with his back-to-back runs.
He finished with 160 yards in 11 carries. Sophomore Alex Current finished with 212 yards in 19 carries. Muskego finished with 437 yards on the ground and averaged 8.9 yards per carry. Marquette finished 12-1. Junior Daeleon Brown-Williams had 37 carries for 146 yards.
Division 2
Brookfield Central 20, Waunakee 13: In a rematch of last year’s Division 2 state championship game, Central (12-1) took control late in the fourth quarter on a 53-yard touchdown pass from senior Drew Leszczynski to senior Connor Kolb to give the Lancers their final margin of victory in a game played at Oconomowoc.
The defense did the rest with senior Joey Cleary wrapping up Waunakee running back Will Ross short of the first down on a fourth-down play to all but seal the win. It was a fitting end considering the role the defense played in containing the Warriors, who entered play averaging 43.5 points per game. “We’re a team built on our defense and we just try to find enough offense to win,” Central coach Jed Kennedy said. “We turned it over three times and still got a win.”
Homestead 12, Marshfield 7: The defense continues to shine for the Highlanders, who held Marshfield to 57 yards rushing in 22 carries and didn’t allow a point until about 5 minutes remained.
“They’re one of the most solid defenses you’re going to face all year,” Marshfield coach Dennis Goettl told the Marshfield Time Herald. “They don’t screw up. They don’t mess up. They go where they’re supposed to go. They play manto-man defense. They switch to a zone. Muskego coach Ken Krause jumps into the arms of lineman Jacob Leszczynski after their 24-21 victory over Marquette in the WIAA Division 1 semifinal game Friday night.
They’ve got a great big man in the middle of the field. It’s a Level 4 playoff game.”
Senior Willie Garrison carried 24 times for 100 yards for Homestead. Jared Schneider, another senior, added seven carries for 54 yards and scored on a 6-yard play in the second quarter. That is where the game remained until a 9-yard run by junior Luke Konik with 8 minutes 52 seconds left that made it 14-0 after the extra point.
Division 3
Catholic Memorial 41, New Berlin Eisenhower
14: Scores on three straight possessions in the third quarter were the difference for Memorial (12-1) in a game played at Kettle Moraine.
A high snap on a punt attempt on the Lions' first possession of the second half set the Crusaders up all the way on the Eisenhower 18. They needed six plays before punching it in from 3 yards on a run by senior Tate Kopulos. Eisenhower (12-1) got its next punt away to finish its ensuing drive only to see Fox hit Joe Sikma with a 56-yard touchdown pass on Memorial's next play. One play later, the Lions fumbled and a 4-yard Tommy Schmitzer run culminated a six-play drive that made it 28-7 and eliminated any mystery. The contest was a rematch of the state quarterfinals last season, a game Eisenhower won, 7-0.
"It feels really good to get revenge," said senior linebacker Luke Hubley, who had a hand in Memorial's big secondhalf performance. "This is a great program and we've had a lot of success over the years.
"But it feels great to get revenge on them."
Division 4
Racine St. Catherine’s 30, Lakeside Lutheran 28: The Angels (13-0) rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit to advance to the championship game for the first time.
Junior Isaiah Dodd finished with 221 yards in 37 carries and scored on a 7yard run late in the third quarter followed by a two-point conversion by senior Da’Shaun Brown that trimmed Lutheran’s lead to 28-22. That’s where the game stood until 32 seconds remained and senior Rashid Poole scored on a 7-yard play to tie it. Brown’s twopoint conversion gave St. Catherine’s its final margin of victory.
Division 5
Fond du Lac Springs 41, Lake Country Lutheran 12: Springs senior Mitchell Waechter ran and passed for touchdowns in the first quarter to help the team jump out to a 14-0 lead. Lutheran came back with a 7-yard touchdown pass from senior Ethan Wilkins to senior Bryce Haertle early in the second quarter, but the Ledgers responded with 27 unanswered points to seize control.
Division 6
Racine Lutheran 55, Lancaster 28: Junior Tyler Tenner struck again and again for the Crusaders, who improved to 11-2 and advanced to their first WIAA state final.
The junior opened the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and later in the first quarter added a 52-yard touchdown run. He finished with 302 yards in 30 carries, his second straight 300-yard game.
Overall it was a big day on the ground. Lutheran didn’t complete a pass but totaled 513 rushing yards in 52 carries. Junior Jaylen Houston added 174 yards in 11 carries and scored three TDs. Journal Sentinel, Now News Group staff