Chiefs keep rolling; look for community’s support
By Dan Truttschel
Sports Correspondent
By the time the WIAA playoffs reach the third round, there are very few lucky teams still alive.
Every team is talented at this point – and that’s what makes the next game for Big Foot so intriguing.
The Chiefs, 11-0 and ranked No. 1 in Division 4, host Platteville at 7 p.m. Friday night in a Level 3 contest. Platteville enters the matchup at 7-4 overall.
A win Friday will send Big Foot, last year’s state runner-up, to a semifinal contest next week against either Roncalli (11-0) or Freedom (8-3).
In the other half of the Division 4 bracket, Ellsworth (11-0) faces defending champion Somerset (10-1), while Nekoosa (10-1) plays Winneconne (6-5).
Entering the next round, Ellsworth is ranked third, Somerset fourth, Nekoosa sixth and Freedom eighth, according to wissports.net.
But before the Chiefs can think about the next round or their fourth trip to the state finals since 2009, they have to take care of their next opponent.
Big Foot coach Rodney Wedig warned not to let Platteville’s four-loss season fool anybody – two of those came to state power Lancaster.
Platteville knocked off Brodhead 31-21 last week to earn its trip to Big Foot.
“They are like Brodhead, big and very physical, but they can also throw at any time,” Wedig said. “They are very balanced and talented.”
The Hillmen are led by the potent one-two punch of senior quarterback Logan Butson (6-foot-1, 181 pounds) and senior running back William Cooley (6-0, 211).
Butson has completed 80 of 164 passes for 1,365 yards and 15 touchdowns, while Cooley, who had a kick return for a touchdown against Brodhead, has rushed for 1,632 yards on 249 attempts and 21 touchdowns. He is averaging 148 yards per game.
“They are two of the best players we have seen,” Wedig said. “We have played some solid teams, but no one with athletes like these two.
“Cooley is about 220 and can break away. Butson is very athletic and creates problems on both sides of the ball.”
Wedig summarized Cooley’s running style from what he has seen on tape.
“He runs over people, around them and past them,” Wedig said.
Platteville’s top receiving threat is senior Derek Schambow (6-1, 168), who has caught 34 passes for 575 yards and eight touchdowns.
Leaders for Big Foot heading into the game include quarterback Brett Morris, who has completed 90 of 150 passing attempts for 1,203 yards and 14 touchdowns; Tim Long, who has 1,467 yards rushing on 197 attempts and 22 touchdowns; Brandon Hausner, 1,047 yards on 125 carries and 17 touchdowns; and Gus Wedig, who has caught 30 passes for 479 yards and eight touchdowns.
Happy to be home
Wedig is grateful to have this week’s game on the home turf, rather than having to make the long drive to Platteville.
Just being in familiar surroundings will be a positive, he said.
“It is a great advantage,” Wedig said. “We hope to have a great crowd there to see two very good football teams fight it out. Every play and possession will be key.”
Wedig said he’s starting to feel the excitement build around the school, as the students, faculty and staff begin to sense another special ending to the season may be upon them.
“(Getting this far) has become so ‘normal” that this is the week they really start getting interested,” he said. “Last week was unique because so many kids have relatives or friends from Clinton, so they got interested. Hopefully, they will all be there on Friday.”
