Win buys team one more week in the playoffs, boys to face Lodi Friday night
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
Lessons from a loss to East Troy in a Rock Valley Conference crossover game two weeks ago were filed away in the Big Foot football team’s memory banks.
It didn’t take long for the Chiefs to reach back into that file – and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.
Big Foot erased a 20-14 setback to the Trojans with a hard-fought 7-6 win when it counted most Friday night, in a Division 4 Level 1 playoff game.
The win improved the Chiefs to 6-4 overall and sends them to a Level 2 game this week at top-seeded Lodi.
Lodi, the state’s top-ranked team improved to 10-0 with a 45-13 win in the first round over Platteville.
The importance of the win over East Troy can’t be overstated, Big Foot coach Greg Enz said.
“This win was enormous for our team and program,” he said.
“This was not a team that was expected to have as much success as it has this year, and the fact that we have been able to accomplish as much as we have with how much youth that has supported the season says a great deal. Also, to beat a team that defeated you just two weeks ago was big in and of itself.”
Enz said the coaches took the film from the loss to the Trojans and quickly found the areas that needed to improve in the rematch.
“Our focus was to shore up where we were exposed,” he said. “We knew we needed better play up front on both sides of the ball. If we could run and stop the run, this could be the difference.”
Big Foot put its only points on the scoreboard in the second quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Enz to Beau Cary.
Zak Greco added the extra point – which later proved to be the difference in the game.
The scoring play was set up by a 40-yard pass from Enz to Michael Heidenreich, which moved the ball to the Trojans’ 10-yard line.
Cary, a 6-foot-5 junior, has helped the offense since his return from various injuries and ailments, Enz said.
“Having him play at or close to 100 percent lately has been key,” he said.
East Troy pulled to within a point on a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter by Zach Zewiske, but the extra point hooked left to leave the Chiefs with a 7-6 lead they would keep the rest of the way.
It goes without saying how important the Chiefs’ defense was all night, Enz said.
“The defense was huge,” he said. “Holding the running back (Owen Goedland) to 68 yards after 277 two weeks earlier had an enormous impact on the game.
“We also had great pass defense and some possible interceptions that could have pushed things even more in our favor.”
Jackson Enz completed six of 14 passes for 93 yards, while Ben Bauer led the rushing attack with 13 carries for 82 yards. Olinh Craig added 44 yards on 10 carries, while Heidenreich caught two passes for 45 yards and Kasey Woodside had two catches for 24 yards.
Huge challenge looms
The trip to Lodi Friday night for the second round is going to be a challenge, Enz said.
But it’s one the Chiefs definitely aren’t shying away from.
“They are big, physical and athletic,” he said. “They do their thing and make you have to stop them whether that is on offense or defense. They have an excellent program and a senior class that is both big in numbers (22) and size.”
Enz said his team will be ready to embrace the challenge.
“There were 224 teams invited to the playoffs,” he said. “Now we are one of 112 and one of 16 left in Division 4.
“To have done that and get the chance to play one of the best teams in the state is an opportunity that not many get the chance to do.”
