By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School football team is learning the positive ramifications of getting whipped 35-0 at home in the season opener.
East Troy could throw nothing new at the Elks Aug. 28 in the Elks’ non-conference game against the Trojans at East Troy. Almost 400 rushing yards later, Elkhorn beat East Troy 28-7 for its first victory of the season.
“It was a much-needed win for us,” Elks coach Tom Lee said. “I think, with this win, we realized we are a good football team, and Waukesha North was a good football team. When you lose 35-0, you start questioning yourself.”
Elkhorn lost its first game of the season 35-0 to Waukesha North Aug. 21 at home. Some good will come of the crushing loss.
“Even though we lost that game, it helped us tremendously to get ready not just for East Troy, but for the rest of our conference,” said Lee, who noted that Delavan-Darien, Burlington and Wilmot, among others, use a variation of the spread offense favored by North and East Troy.
The Elks open Southern Lakes Conference play Friday at home against rival Delavan-Darien. The Comets improved to 2-0 in non-conference play Aug. 28 with a 41-28 victory at Big Foot.
A key position switch helps illustrate the Elks’ success against the Trojans (1-1). Kyle Smith moved from center to linebacker following the loss to North.
The Elks’ offensive line got bigger and led a rushing attack that finished with 385 yards and averaged 7.3 yards on 53 carries.
Shane Bjerning replaced Smith at center. John Ames started at right tackle, AJ Russel at left guard, Richie Heideman at left tackle and Trey Howes at right guard for the Elks.
The Elks’ defensive speed improved with the addition of Smith, whom Lee said is one of the five fastest players on the team. The unit held East Troy to 269 yards of offense and seven points.
“We probably had about the best defensive game that I have ever coached,” Lee said. “Our kids really did a great job understanding their assignments and just flowing to the ball.”
The Elks led 21-0 at halftime on the strength of three Konnor Mohr touchdown runs in the second quarter.
Mohr scored on scampers of 68, five and 34 yards and rushed for 174 yards on 16 carries.
Ryan Schilts scored the Elks’ final touchdown on a 40-yard run in the fourth quarter, and rushed for 120 yards on 13 carries.
East Troy scored its lone touchdown in the third quarter on a 32-yard-pass from Nick Ruffalo to Mason Malzahn.
The Trojans scored 40 points in a season-opening, 42-40 loss Aug. 21 at Delavan-Darien. The Elks open their SLC schedule against the Comets and another high-scoring offense, which has scored 83 points in its first two games.
Comets’ quarterback Jake Benzing has already passed for 558 yards in two games. Fabias Shipman has 312 rushing yards on the season. Ben Ingersoll has caught balls for 223 yards and Mike Alder 203 yards through two games.
“We’re going to try and do what we do best, and that’s control the time of possession,” Lee said “We need to limit the number of times they have the ball, because when they have the ball they can score at any time.”
In other Aug. 28 games involving SLC teams, Badger (1-1) lost 26-25 at Kenosha Bradford. Burlington (2-0) beat Racine Horlick 39-24, and Westosha Central (0-2) lost 58-15 at Zion-Benton (Ill).
Waterford (2-0) defeated Racine Case 34-7, and Union Grove (2-0) won 12-7 at Wauwatosa East. Wilmot (2-0) won 41-13 at Cudahy.
Burlington plays at Badger, Central plays at Union Grove and Wilmot plays at Waterford in Friday’s remaining SLC contests.
