By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
Elkhorn Area High School football coach didn’t hesitate when asked if the East Troy Trojans were 30 points better than his Elks.
Lee’s answer? A definite “No.”
However, 30 points is the margin by which Elkhorn lost its season opener Aug. 24 to East Troy, 36-6, in a non-conference game at home.
They’re a talented group of kids,” Lee said. “I knew they were going to be good and we’d have to play out best game to compete with them.
“We made a couple of mistakes. I liked what I saw, for the most part.”
Elkhorn is coming off a season in which it finished 1-8 overall and winless in the Southern Lakes Conference. Last season East Troy finished 7-3 overall, 4-1 in the Rock Valley North Conference. The Trojans also advanced to the WIAA Division 3 playoffs.
Elkhorn opens its SLC season Friday at arch-rival Delavan-Darien. The Trojans play at Whitewater in their Rock Valley North opener.
Delavan-Darien lost a non-conference game Aug. 24 at Wauwatosa East, 27-21 in overtime.
Against East Troy Elkhorn trailed 14-6 at halftime. Lee said Elkhorn stopped the Trojans within the Elks’ 10 yard-line on the opening possession of the second half.
On the ensuing punt, though, the Elks’ return man muffed the exchange and East Troy recovered and scored.
“We just misplayed the punt,” Lee said. “It bounced the wrong way and they recovered it.”
After the Elks threw an interception, the Trojans scored again, putting the deficit at 28-6 just a few minutes into the third quarter.
Elkhorn finished with three turnovers – two interceptions and the fumble on the punt.
Lee said the Elks to within the Trojans’ 20-yard line twice and did not score.
“At times, we moved the ball,” Lee said. “We have athletes. We had a couple of nice plays here and there.
“Our kids hit very well and played well. They just had a couple more big plays than we did.”
Lee said on two instances an Elkhorn defender played the ball well, but in each instance East Troy scored receiving touchdowns. Lee said in each instance the Elks’ defender established inside position, but the Trojans’ receiver jumped higher and pulled down the ball.
The Elks don’t get much time to lick their wounds after losing to the Trojans. Up next is Delavan-Darien, which last season advanced to the WIAA Division 3 playoffs and is the Elks’ hated rival.
“Delavan is very good,” said Lee, a Delavan-Darien alum.
Lee said he thought the Comets were the better team in their season-opening loss at Wauwatosa East.
“I think they were, legitimately, the better team,” Lee said. “They had a couple of opportunities to score. They spread the field and they’ve got a very good defense this year.”
In non-conference games involving other SLC teams in the season’s first week, Burlington defeated Racine Horlick 20-13 and Wilmot lost 27-7 to Notre Dame (Ill.) Prep. Big Foot beat Westosha Central 49-13 and Waterford lost at home 22-6 to Homestead. West Allis Hale beat Lake Geneva Badger 21-20 at Badger and Union Grove lost 35-0 to Racine Case at home.
On Friday, Badger plays at Burlington, Waterford plays at Wilmot and Union Grove visits Westosha Central.
