DuMez notches game-winner in 4th quarter after key blocked punt
By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
In his 10-year tenure as Lake Geneva Badger football coach, Matt Hensler has seen a lot of victories.
But Friday night’s come-from-behind triumph on the road at Delavan-Darien might be one of his most miraculous triumphs.
With Hensler’s team down a point and Delavan-Darien’s high-powered offense surging inside the Badger 35 with just three minutes to play, things inexplicably changed in Badger’s favor.
Following a Delavan-Darien penalty and Badger lineman Alex Evans’ blocked punt, quarterback Mason DuMez improvised on a broken play and tallied a 23-yard touchdown run to seal the improbable win.
The unlikely turn of events keeps Badger unbeaten in the Southern Lakes Conference, and leaves Delavan-Darien one game back.
“On the touchdown, we ran the same play a lot of times tonight and didn’t block it well at any point, but Mason just created and he is just a good football player,” Badger coach Matt Hensler said. “It all started with a great defensive stop first and then an awesome punt block.”
And it ended with the Comets watching the Badgers taking a knee in victory formation after defensive back Braden O’Laughlin intercepted Benzing’s pass with 30 seconds left.
“In the end Badger executed when they had to execute and it’s a credit to Badger,” Delavan coach Bret St. Arnauld said. “We won in almost every facet of the game, except the scoreboard, and it’s a tough one to accept.”
It was indeed tough for the Comets, who battled the bigger and more physical Badgers for three quarters before Benzing scrambled right and found Ben Ingersoll for a 41-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-6 Delavan with 8:22 to play.
After the Badgers went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Delavan-Darien surged inside the Badger 35 with just over three minutes to play.
But a crucial holding penalty stalled the drive, forcing the Comets to punt at the Badger 41.
Evans came free off the left end and blocked Benzing’s punt attempt, which was eventually recovered by Badger at the Comet 35.
“The coach told me to go to the trips side of the ball and he said to rush inside the back, and when the punter moved outside and then tried to punt it, I was able to block it,” Evans said.
Four plays later, DuMez improvised on a broken play and turned the corner for a 23-yard touchdown run.
The Comets got as far as the Badger 36 on the final drive, before an interception sealed the loss.
“This game puts a chip on every one of my coaching staff’s shoulders,” St. Arnauld said. “If I could have next Friday right now, I would be ready to play right now.”
Instead, the Comets have a week to get past the tough loss, while the Badgers celebrate the victory.
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