By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Waterford and Lake Geneva Badger football teams had been winning games with the same formula all season: strong running games and defense. The two teams met last Friday with the Southern Lakes Conference title on the line and something had to give. Unfortunately for Badger, Waterford pulled out a come-from-behind 6-3 home victory.
Strong defense from both teams bottled up normally potent rushing attacks. Badger (6-2, 5-1 SLC) rushed for 117 yards and Waterford (7-1, 7-0 SLC) rushed for 184, 80 of them coming on the two game-winning plays on Waterford’s final drive.
“Our defense played really well,” Coach Matt Hensler said, “The staff had a great scheme, the kids were well prepared and flew around. I was very happy with how they played.”
Hensler said Waterford also played very well defensively.
“They have a very sound defense,” Hensler said. “Their front four is fantastic. They gave us fits up front and their linebackers and overall team speed were impressive.”
Hensler said his team did make some mistakes but gave all the credit in the world to Waterford’s defense.
Badger took the lead on a 28-yard field goal by Tom Ritzman in the second quarter and it looked like that might be enough as the Badger defense preserved that lead until late in the fourth quarter.
With about a minute and a half left Waterford ended all that by running two plays that netted 80 yards and the victory. Alex Thomaschek ripped off a 59-yard run and quarterback Ryan Danbrea stuck in the final dagger with a 21-yard touchdown run.
Robert Johnson led the Badgers with 40 yards rushing on 16 carries. Matt Reynolds added 33 on 11 carries and Peter Krien rushed for 30 on 14 carries. Thomaschek led the Wolverines with 87 yards, 59 of them on the ne run on the game-winning drive. Kody Azarian added 71.
Badger received the No. 3 seed and will host No. 6 seeded Muskego (5-3, 4-3 Classic Eight) in the first level of WIAA playoff action on Saturday at 4 p.m. Muskego tied for fourth in the Classic Eight with Waukesha West (4-4, 4-3) who will face Waterford in its first level game.
“We have to get our confidence back and do what we have done well all year,” Hensler said about the matchup with Muskego. “Our offensive line has to get off the ball and win the battle up front.”
