Next up, Union Grove on Friday
By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School football team faced a daunting task Sept. 26 in going on the road and playing Southern Lakes Conference foe Waterford.
The motivated Wolverines played host to the Elks on Waterford’s Homecoming and after losing two games in a row. Waterford routed the Elks, who played without five starters, for a 45-7 victory.
“The kids really bought in this week, and we eliminated some of the mistakes we had been making and played really solid,” Waterford coach Adam Bakken said. “It was something that we needed and, hopefully, we can continue next week.”
Waterford improved to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the SLC. Elkhorn lost its second straight game after opening 4-0 and is 2-2 in the SLC.
Each team needs two victories in the season’s final three games to advance to the WIAA football playoffs.
Waterford dominated the Elks on both sides of the ball. The Wolverines rushed for 321 yards on 43 carries and finished with 499 yards of offense.
Waterford’s defense limited Elkhorn to 23 yards rushing on 28 attempts. Elkhorn passed for 55 yards. Waterford’s defense limited the Elks to 78 total yards and allowed zero points.
“We could not move the ball at all on the ground,” Elks coach Tom Lee said. “We had some key injuries last week and we didn’t get the practice time we typically get.”
The Elks lost five starters – three on the defensive line and two on the offensive line – in Elkhorn’s 21-7 SLC loss Sept. 19 at Wilmot.
“We knew they were a run-first team,” Bakken said. “We did whatever we could to try and take that away. We expected to play well and expected to win. That’s no different than any other week.
“I didn’t expect it to be a 45-7 game.”
Elkhorn scored first when Jon Wulff returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Waterford controlled the game following Wulff’s return. The Wolverines scored 45 straight points.
Max Fischer scored on a one-yard run. Johnny McCormick scored on a 54-yard pass from Dylan Malecki in the first quarter.
Tony Ray kicked a 25-yard field goal and Sam Allen scored on a 61-yard pass from Malecki in the second quarter. Waterford led 24-7 at halftime.
Dyln Ross scored on a two-yard run and Nolan Weber on a 31-yard run in the third quarter. Ben Michalowski scored on a 28-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Miller led Waterford with 77 rushing yards on 12 attempts. Michalowski rushed for 68 yards and Ross for 61 yards. Allen caught two balls for 92 yards and McCormick two for 86 yards.
Elkhorn gets a chance to move past the Waterford game Friday in a SLC contest at Union Grove (3-3, 1-3 SLC). The Broncos lost 27-6 at Wilmot Sept. 26 in a SLC game.
“Grove is a unique situation,” Lee said. “Their record does not show how good they are. Hopefully, we’re healthy again this week and can bounce back and play a little better.”
Waterford plays Westosha Central in Paddock Lake. The Falcons (1-5, 1-3 SLC) lost 41-6 to Burlington Sept. 26 in a SLC game at home.
“In our league there is no one who’s great, at least not right now,” Bakken said. “That could change by the end of the year. Anybody can beat anybody on any given Friday.”
