CWS Sports DeskOctober 17, 2012
Stevens Point–The weather was poor and the mood somber from many different standpoints this past Saturday for the final week of YAF tackle football. In the 5/6 heavyweight division the Lions played Fahrner for what was deemed the championship game of the season. Unofficially, the only team to have beaten the Lions was Fahrner. With a constant downpour of rain and cold weather the players felt mixed emotions throughout the game trying to get feeling into their cold wet hands. Fahrner was hot first marching down the field in the first quarter, but Jacob Feltz fell on top of a fumble to end the threat. Fahrner later struck first in the first half with a bounce pitch to the outside that they took downtown for a long 50 yard plus run. The Lions seemed to be in a world of hurt without Coach Christopherson, but Coach Stankowski and Gutzdorf motivated the troops going into the second half. The Lions took their first possession and methodically charged down the field and punched it in by key blocks from Austin Stankowski, Jaylen Gassman, Braden Christophersen and Hayden Hoffenspredl. Ethan Kane had no worries taking it into the end zone. He then followed with a beautiful PAT down the middle. Fahrner would not go away and began to march right back, but the weather started taking its toll. Sloppy handoffs and poor ball handling led to Stankowski’s seventh fumble recovery of the season. The Lions would turn that fumble into six points as they pounded the ball up the middle by spelling Stankowski and Desmond at fullback and Kane at Halfback who eventually put a score in on the right side. With little time left Fahrner went down in the final minutes to 4th and long and failed to convert. Leading the way in tackles again was Stankowski who ended up with 76 tackles in seven games for the team. Gassman also had several key tackles for losses and held his outside edge. Players of the game were Stankowski, Gassman, Christophersen, Desmond, Feltz, and Hoffenspredl.
The Store’s “Orange Crush” finished its season this rainy Saturday morning with on outstanding performance by its 5th and 6th graders. They gained 155 yards of offense while allowing 48 yards. The first touchdown was scored by JD Schultz with a 20 yard run up the middle followed by two more from Evan Thomas who also made 3 of 3 extra points. The entire offense came into the game ready to play and did a great job blocking while the defense was all over the field with solid tackling. Evan Thomas received “Mr. Offense” for his two touchdowns, Brett Berens received “The Hitman” award for his solid and crisp tackling and Zach Czaikowski received the “100%” award for his all-around outstanding performance. The “Coach’s Award” went to Max Schierl for an outstanding job at center and displaying positive leadership that set the tone for the team’s success.
