Big Foot ends season at 6-5 after defeat by top-seeded team
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
Even before last week’s WIAA Division 4 Level 2 playoff game at top-seeded Lodi, Big Foot football coach Greg Enz knew his young team was in for a challenge.
It didn’t take long for that point to be driven home.
Lodi exploded from the starting gate with 21 points in the first quarter and 21 more in the second en route to a 49-7 victory. The loss ended the Chiefs’ season at 6-5 overall, while Lodi advanced to a Level 3 game this week against Columbus.
Count Big Foot coach Greg Enz as impressed with what the Blue Devils brought to the field.
“Some of the (Big Foot) coaches who have been here a while said (Lodi) may have been the best team they have faced,” Enz said. “I was really impressed with how efficient they were.
“Their size and athleticism was incredible. We could not cut, double team or pass block them. We tried a number of things, and they were just that good.”
The fast start by Lodi, with three touchdowns in both the first and second quarters, proved to be too much for Big Foot to overcome.
Lodi’s Mark Nellen, who rushed for 125 yards on just nine carries, put the Blue Devils on the scoreboard with a 33-yard run. Quarterback Garrett Schreiber followed with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Derek Paulson, while Nellen added his second touchdown of the quarter, this time on a 16-yard run, to give Lodi a 21-0 lead.
The second quarter was much the same.
Schreiber connected on a 32-yard pass play to Rob Volk, and then hit Paulson on a 30-yard strike to give the Blue Devils a commanding 35-0 lead. Nellen’s 13-yard touchdown at the end of the quarter sent Lodi into the locker room ahead 42-0.
“(Giving up earl points) is a tough prospect for any team against any opponent,” Enz said. “We continued going after them, but then the turnovers and failed conversions made the situation worse.”
After Lodi added its seventh score of the night, Big Foot finally reached the scoring column in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore quarterback Jackson Enz found senior receiver Michael Heidenreich for an 11-yard touchdown pass to help the Chiefs avoid the shutout.
“To avoid a shutout in those circumstances is psychological,” Enz said. “We had moved the ball well at times, but penalties, drops and turnovers frustrated the players. A late drive and TD was important.”
For the game, Enz completed 17 of 34 passes for 174 yards and rushed seven times for 23 yards. Pedro Sierra led the receiving corps with seven catches for 90 yards, followed by Heidenreich with four receptions for 42 yards and Kasey Woodside with four catches for 32 yards.
The defense was led by Ben Bauer’s nine tackles, followed by Mickey Sededucate with eight, Zak Greco with seven and Charlie Peterson with five.
Lots to build from
Even in defeat, there were still plenty of positives in 2015, Enz said.
“This season was a success on a number of levels,” he said. “The ninth straight (Rock Valley Conference) title, the win in Level 1 and just how competitive we were week-in and week-out was a testament to efforts of the players and coaches, he said.
“This was a year where many picked this team not to fair well. With all the starters lost from a year ago, this was a great accomplishment.”
Enz said the senior class was a vital piece to the puzzle – but that’s never a surprise.
“Every senior class defines your program,” he said. “A very wise coach once told me, ‘You win with your seniors,’ and this couldn’t be more true. They did a very good job this year.”
As for the returning Chiefs, very soon work will begin for 2016, and Enz said there are plenty of building blocks in place moving forward.
“We will get together as a (coaching) staff, evaluate the season and examine film again,” he said. “After this, we will have a plan and direction for the 2016 season. Like every year, we will need to make these adjustments for the season to be a success.”
