By Dwayne Corry
September 8, 2012
Wisconsin Rapids–The Oshkosh North Spartans won their first game of the season last night, downing the Wisconsin Rapids Red Raiders by the score of 26-21. For the young Red Raiders it again was the story of playing 48 minutes of complete football.
“We played very well tonight for 2 and 1/2 half quarters,” said Rapids Defensive Coordinator Steve Hepp.
The Red Raiders took the opening kickoff and marched 79 yards for a touchdown. Ryan Duxbury was the workhorse of the drive, accounting for 79 yards, with a run of 56 yards followed by a 1 yard TD plunge to make the score 7-0 Rapids with 8:11 to go in the first quarter. Neither team would mount a scoring drive the rest of the first half, as both defenses played lights out the rest of the way.
Rapids would stop the Spartans on their first drive of the second half behind a crushing hit from LB Regis Henke, and a pass breakup by Zach Bassuener. Rapids would get the ball back after almost blocking the ensuing punt and forcing the Spartan punter to shank a 13 yard attempt. The Red Raiders would march 62 yards highlighted by Logan Boettcher’s 19 yard reception between two defenders on a pass from Jared Halbur. Kraig Arndt would recover a fumble by the Red Raiders offense in the end zone for a TD to extend Rapids lead to 14-0 with just over eight minutes to play in the third.
Down 14-0, at home, and on parent night ,Oshkosh North wide receiver Phil Brechlin and quarterback Nate Neveau took over the game. Neveau marched the Spartans 70 yards on their next possesion to pull the Spartans within a TD, 14-7. The drive ended with a 35 yard TD toss from Neveau to 6 foot 5 inch Cooper Radtke in the back of the end zone on a perfectly thrown ball with 4:28 left in the third.
Then adversity struck the Red Raiders.
“We played very well at times. We need to keep our intensity all game long. When adversity strikes we HAVE to respond together as a team,” said Rapids head coach Tony Biolo.
The Red Raiders would get the kickoff and move the ball just one yard on offense, forcing a punt. But a bad snap over the head of the Red Raider punter would give the ball to the Spartans on their own 18 yard line. After another Neveau to Brechlin reception, Spartan halfback Peter Lenz bulled one in from the 4 to tie the score at 14 with just a minute to go in the third.
The Red Raiders would turn the ball over on the first play of their next possesion giving the Spartans the ball back on their own 25 yard line. On third and eleven Neveau would again connect with Brechlin on a 25 yard pass play setting up a first and goal from the 3 yard line. Seldom used Spartan halfback Alex Hintze would punch it in from there and give the Spartans the lead 20-14(extra point failed) with 10:48 left in the fourth quarter.
The two teams would trade punts before the Red Raiders would turn the ball over again, with Cooper Radtke making an interception and returning the ball to the Spartan 18 yard line. Nate Neveau would take it to the house on the very next play to put the Spartans up 26-14(extra point failed).
A very determined Ryan Duxbury, who gained 223 yard on 40 carries, ran one in from the two with 35 seconds left to make the final score 26-21.
“We simply did not execute tonight. We will get back to work on Monday and get things fixed,” said Ryan Duxbury.
Both teams now sit at 1-1 in the conference. Wisconsin Rapids will make the trip back to Oshkosh next Friday to take on Oshkosh West in what will prove to be a pivitol VFA South conference matchup.
Stats:
Passing (att-comp-yds)
WR Stevenoski 1-1-7, Halbur 1-4, 44
ON Neveau 8-14-116 (1 TD)
Rushing (att-yds)
WR Duxbury 41-221 (2 TD), Lysne 1-49, Halbur 8-22, Stevenoski 2-10
ON Neveau 13-38, Hintze 3-14, Lenz 5-6
Receiving(rec-yds)
WR Boettcher 2-28, Arndt 2-16
ON Radtke 1-34 (1 TD), Brechlin 5-66
Red Raider Notes: Rapids will get defensive playmaker Tyler Tesch back next Friday… I have a feeling the Red Raiders will ditch the two QB system next week when Tyler Wendt make his season debut… Regis Henke make several bone crushing hits, including knocking out Spartan QB Neveau for a series… Opponents better play to the whistle when Hayden Biegel is on the field. At least three times, Spartan defensive players looking to jump on the pile were leveled by Hayden. Hayden also made several knock down blocks to spring Duxbury for some big runs… Zach Bassuener was all over the field again tonight, but injured himself late in the game… Cabell Sitter of Oshkosh North is one heck of an all out defender.
