By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
A positive series led to a negative outcome in short order and stunning fashion Sept. 11 in Elkhorn Area High School’s Southern Lakes Conference football game at Wilmot.
The Elks trailed 21-12 at the start of the second half. Elkhorn’s defense stopped the Panthers’ offense on the first possession of the second half.
“We talked about getting a stop,” Elks coach Tom Lee said. “We told the kids, ‘We have to get a score to get back within a score, and we’ll be fine.’”
Instead of driving for a touchdown and narrowing its deficit, the Elks fumbled on the ensuing punt. Wilmot recovered inside Elkhorn’s 10-yard line, scored and cruised to a 41-12 victory.
“Instead of being down two scores, now we were down three,” Lee said. “That certainly didn’t help.”
Elkhorn (1-3, 0-2 SLC) plays Friday in a SLC game at home against Waterford (4-0, 2-0 SLC). The Wolverines won 34-14 Sept. 11 at Burlington, and are tied with Badger and Union Grove for first place in the conference.
The Elks led Wilmot (3-1, 1-1 SLC) 12-6 in the second quarter after a one-yard touchdown run from Jordan Barr. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
Wilmot responded with a 22-yard touchdown run from Robert Brent and a five-yard touchdown run from A.J. Frisby and led 21-12 at halftime. Two first-half Elkhorn interceptions contributed to Wilmot’s points.
Mason Nindl made the Elks pay with a four-yard
touchdown run after Elkhorn fumbled the opening punt of the second half inside their own 10-yard line. Nindl’s touchdown pushed Wilmot’s lead to 28-12.
Later in the third quarter the Panthers’ Jake Rainan scored on a 78-yard run. Wilmot closed the scoring when Gunnar Johnson scored on a 34-yard interception return in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
“Our kids played hard,” Lee said. “They’re a good football team. We’ve got to cut down on our mistakes. It’ll help us stay in the game.
“There’s a couple of games here where our turnovers have certainly made the difference.”
Up next for the Elks is Waterford. The Wolverines finished with 398 yards of total offense in their defeat of Burlington – 200 passing and 198 rushing.
Defensively, Waterford limited the Demons to 26 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Burlington passed for 254 yards.
“They’re one of the top two teams in the conference, I’d say,” Lee said. “They’re good.”
Lee said Waterford makes plays when it must on offense and relies on a big front line on offense.
“They run the ball out of different formations,” Lee said. “We’ve got to be able to stop the run and force them to pass.”
Defensively, Lee said the Wolverines are fast and flow to the ball very well.
“Their defense limits you,” Lee said. “They force you into tough situations where you have to make a play.”
Waterford and Elkhorn shared the Southern Lakes Conference title last season with Burlington and Wilmot. Elkhorn will need to win its final four conference games to advance to the WIAA Division 3 playoffs if the team loses to Waterford.
