By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Lake Geneva Badger football team ran over Oregon 42-14 on Friday setting up a matchup at undefeated Waunakee Friday night for the right to advance to the WIAA state semifinal.
Oregon shocked the Badgers on the very first play from scrimmage as Sam Mueller broke free in the secondary and caught a Trent Ricker pass over the middle that resulted in a 75-yard score.
Instead of panicking, the Badger defense held the Panthers to 96 rushing yards and 114 yards through the air, much of which was gained well after the game was decided. The Badgers also intercepted Ricker twice and recovered an Oregon fumble.
Oregon failed to score again until Badger put the second team defense in mid-way through the fourth quarter.
“I think our kids have been through a ton of tight games this year, so they just settle down and play,” Coach Matt Hensler said of his team’s ability to respond to Oregon’s opening score. “One score isn’t enough to throw them off their game.”
Hensler said his team’s ability to pick off opposing teams’ passes in the post-season has been due to a combination of a good pass rush, good underneath coverage by the linebackers, and a good job by the defensive backs on making reads and breaking on the ball.
On the offensive side of the ball, Tyler VanDeVelde had roughly 190 yards rushing and three touchdowns before halftime. The Badger offensive line repeatedly opened huge holes for VanDeVelde to run through.
“The offensive line created that,” VanDeVelde said of his big first half. “They opened that up for me.”
“He had a great game,” quarterback Mason DuMez said. “He wanted it – you could tell.”
DuMez said the offensive line did a great job picking up exactly what they had seen Oregon do on game tape and getting it done.
“When the read (option) was there, there were some really big holes,” DuMez said.
“It’s pretty hard to stop the triple option,” VanDeVelde said. “The momentum was phenomenal.”
“I think the offensive line is getting better week by week,” Hensler said.
“We are coming off the ball harder and holding our blocks better,” Hensler added. “Tyler is hitting holes hard and running behind his pads and picking up extra yards.”
After Oregon’s opening score, Badger ran off 42 unanswered points. The onslaught began on Badger’s first series. VanDeVelde sent a message on Badger’s very first play ripping off a 35-yard run right up the middle. Six plays later, VanDeVelde scored on a three-yard run to tie the game.
A Chase Craig interception on Oregon’s next possession set the Badgers up with a first and goal on the seven yard line. Two plays later VanDeVelde had his second touchdown, this time from two yards out.
Patrick Quinn intercepted another Ricker pass at the Badger 32 yard line, but the Badgers could do nothing with it. Oregon was also forced to punt. VanDeVelde then ripped off a 36-yard run down to the Oregon 18 yard line and later scored on a nine-yard run to give the Badgers a 21-7 lead. Isaac Ziervogel later scored on a sweep right from twelve yards out to make it 28-7 at the half.
Badger got the ball first in the second half and immediately drove 85 yards in seven plays to push the lead to 35-7. VanDeVelde scored from two yards out and took most of the rest of the night off. Patrick Watrous took over the primary ball carrying the rest of the way and scored from four yards out to make it 42-7 late in the third quarter.
Oregon put together its best drive of the night against some of Badger’s reserves early in the fourth quarter and scored on a 13-yard run by Lucas Mathews to make it 42-14.
The Badgers rushed for 393 yards. VanDeVelde had 202 of them on 21 carries with four touchdowns. Quarterback Mason DuMez ran for 54 yards on 11 attempts. Ziervogel also had 54 yards on just three carries. Watrous added 53 yards on nine carries.
VanDeVelde and DuMez both credited the Badger defense for making things easier on the offense.
“We have the best defense in the conference,” VanDeVelde said. “Defense wins championships.”
“The defense was great as always,” DuMez said.
“Our defensive line played great,” Hensler said. “They really controlled the line.”
Badger’s reward for beating Oregon (7-4) is a trip to undefeated Waunakee (11-0) in a WIAA quarterfinal game Friday night. Waunakee defeated DeForest 31-7 last week.
“They are 11-0 for a reason,” Hensler said. “They are very talented.”
Hensler said his team will need to play hard, be physical, and limit mistakes to have a chance.
In other playoff action, Waterford defeated Union Grove 28-20 and Wilmot lost to Waukesha West 28-0.
