By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
One of the first goals of any high school football team at the start of the season is to punch its ticket to the playoffs.
Now East Troy can check off that box.
The Trojans, under first-year head coach but longtime assistant Jeff Crandall, earned their way into the upcoming Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 3 postseason Friday night with a hard-fought 26-22 victory over host Beloit Turner.
With the win, East Troy improved to 5-3 overall with just one regular-season game remaining.
“Getting into the playoffs is always a positive for our program,” Crandall said. “I’m excited for our players, as they have worked hard in the offseason, and now during the season to put us in this position.
“I am also thankful for my assistant coaches who have put in time to help this program to be successful.”
Turner jumped out quickly with a touchdown in the opening quarter, but East Troy responded with 26 of the next 41 points to hang on for the win.
Individual scoring plays from the game were unavailable.
Senior running back Owen Goedland led the offensive charge for the Trojans, as he rushed 27 times for 148 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Jake Dessart threw for 76 yards and a touchdown and also rushed 13 times for 61 yards.
Nick Pallnich led the receiving corps with two catches for 76 yards.
Pallnich’s touchdown came on a 69-yard pass from Dessart with less than one minute left to seal the victory.
“Our players played with some grit this week and kept on battling the whole game,” Crandall said.
Defensive leaders, Crandall said, included linebackers Chase Coleman, Nick Schwall and Sam Goral.
“(They) played a great game defensively,” he said.
Next up for the Trojans is the regular-season finale tonight against visiting Brodhead-Juda at 7 p.m. The Cardinals enter the game at 4-4 and need a win to clinch a playoff berth.
Even with a postseason berth already secured, Crandall said Friday’s contest still has importance.
“We talked as a team about how the better your record is, the better your seed is for the playoffs,” he said.
“Brodhead is always a very fundamentally-sound team. We need to execute well, create turnovers and sustain drives that end with us scoring on offense.”
Postseason matchups will be determined at seeding meetings around the state on Saturday. Results of those meetings will be released on www.wiaawi.org.
