By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School football team’s dream of a third consecutive berth in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 3 playoffs is over.
The Elks lost their Homecoming game Sept. 25 27-7 at home to Southern Lakes Conference foe Union Grove.
The loss puts the Elks’ record at 0-4 in SLC play. Teams must finish with a winning record in conference play to advance to the WIAA football playoffs.
The Elks advanced to the playoffs last season after finishing 5-2 in SLC play and sharing the conference title with Wilmot, Waterford and Burlington. Elkhorn lost 28-14 to Reedsburg at home in the opening round of the playoffs.
The Elks advanced to the playoffs in 2013 after finishing 4-2 in SLC play and lost 20-6 at Pewaukee in the opening round of the playoffs.
Elkhorn (1-5, 0-4 SLC) struggled in seemingly every phase of the game against a resurgent Union Grove team.
The Broncos became playoff eligible with their victory against the Elks, and are 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the SLC under first-year coach Craig McClelland. Union Grove finished 1-6 last season in the SLC.
Union Grove finished with 414 yards of total offense to Elkhorn’s 147.
The Broncos first scored with 6:52 left in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Matt Nelson. The extra point made it 7-0 in favor of the Broncos.
Elkhorn responded with its only touchdown of the night in the second quarter on a three-yard run by Jordan Barr. The extra point tied the game at 7-7.
The score remained tied until the third quarter, when Nelson scored on a 14-yard touchdown run. The extra point gave the Broncos a 14-7 lead.
Two big plays in the fourth quarter put the game out of the Elks’ reach.
The Broncos’ TJ Cadd rushed for a 57-yard touchdown run with 10:22 left. Elkhorn blocked the extra point and Union Grove led 20-7.
Nelson completed an 87-yard scoring pass to Tyrell Laxton with 5:28 left in regulation. The ensuing extra point pushed the Broncos’ lead to 27-7.
Nelson passed for 209 yards, rushed for another 33 and accounted for three touchdowns.
Barr led the Elks with 56 rushing yards on 14 carries. Shane Piasecki caught two passes for 88 yards. Quarterback Dylan Peterson passed for 112 yards.
Elkhorn plays Badger (4-2, 3-1 SLC) tonight at Badger. It is Badger’s Homecoming game.
