By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
DELAVAN – It was cold, rainy, and downright sloppy at Delavan-Darien High School Friday night.
Or as Elkhorn High School’s football team put it – Elkhorn weather.
The big and strong Elks passed just twice in the game, but wore down the Comets’ defense with their hard-nosed running attack, pulling out a gritty 22-19 victory in a Southern Lakes Conference showdown.
With the victory Elkhorn (4-0, 2-0) finds itself alone atop the SLC standings heading into the third week of the conference season, one game ahead of six teams, including Delavan (3-1, 1-1).
Running back Keenan Leahy struck the crucial blow for Elkhorn with a one-yard touchdown leap over the pile into the end zone with 9:17 left in the fourth quarter to put Elkhorn on top for good, 22-19.
Leahy’s run capped a jaw-dropping 20-play, 71-yard drive that started at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter.
“It was a huge drive for us and give all the credit to our offensive line with outstanding blocks and getting a line surge,” Elkhorn coach Tom Lee said. “And we ran with Leahy and Keaton Verhoeven to the right side, left side, it didn’t really matter because our line really came through for us.”
Delavan-Darien, meanwhile, is still looking to find ways to improve its defensive line play going forward this season.
“When it came down to it, we couldn’t get a stop when we needed it,” Delavan-Darien coach Bret St. Arnauld said. “Up front we have to get better, and Elkhorn is a tough team, and I have a feeling they are going to be very good this year.”
The Comets aren’t too shabby either.
Trailing 15-13 at halftime, the Comets opened the second half with a textbook 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive capped by a Fabias Shipman 3-yard touchdown run at the 7:11 mark of the third.
Shipman, who also added a 4-yard touchdown run, kept the Elks on their heels for most the game with his speed and quickness.
But Shipman and the Comet’s high-powered offense spent most of the second half on the bench watching the Elks methodically move the ball.
The Comets had one final possession with three minutes to play in the game, but were unable to convert after the Elks’ defense kept pressure on quarterback Jesse Collins, the reigning SLC Player of the Year.
“We came to play today and our kids were able to keep up with their athleticism and I couldn’t be prouder,” Lee said.
Verhoeven showed a little bit of speed and athleticism of his own on the third play of the game when he ran straight up the gut for a 66-yard touchdown run to the put the Elks on top, 8-0.
After Delavan-Darien answered with a Shipman touchdown to make it 8-6, Verhoeven responded with a three-yard touchdown run to rebuild the lead to 15-6 late in the first quarter.
Collins then retaliated with a pinpoint 37-yard touchdown pass into a brisk wind to Jake Benzing to trim the lead to 15-13 just before half.
The Comets rode the momentum into the second half with an opening-drive score to take the lead.
But it was all Elkhorn from there.
“We have to worry about next week,” St. Arnauld said. “The coaching staff will have to re-evaluate our game plan and come out and be better next week.”
Elkhorn finished with 239 rushing yards, led by Leahy’s 133. Verhoeven added 96 yards on 28 carries.
Other area scores
Catholic Central 26, Greendale Martin Luther 14
Lake Geneva Badger 28, Burlington 6
Wilmot 15, Waterford 0
Westosha Central 18, Union Grove 11
Big Foot 28, Jefferson 27 (OT)
Mukwonago 35, Waukesha North 6
Arrowhead 24, Catholic Memorial 21
Muskego 52, Waukesha West 28
Franklin 48, Kenosha Bradford 2
Racine Park 32, Racine Case 7
Kenosha Indian Trail 29, Kenosha Tremper 25
Williams Bay 35, Hustisford 6
Brodhead 41, East Troy 0
Whitewater 27, Parkview 0
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