By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
For the Waterford and Union Grove Union High School football teams, Friday’s 48-7 win at Waterford illustrated two very different seasons.
The Wolverines got a win it expected and needed to in keeping pace in the Southern Lakes Conference race – and Union Grove got another building block in its rebuilding season.
Looking at the final stats, Waterford clearly got the upper hand, football-wise. Head coach Adam Bakken was pleased for the most part with how his team played.
“We did a lot of really good things,” said Bakken. “I think they were obviously a little bit overmatched.
“We were able to do what we expected.”
Among the expected for the Wolverines? 409 rushing yards, including four players with 79 yards or more.
Playing without injured running back Alex THomaschek, Jake Bauer led Waterford with 95 yards rushing, while Kody Azarian added 88, Tom Benko 80 and quarterback Ryan Danbrea 79.
“We rushed for 400 yards, and we didn’t have a 100-yard rusher,” Bakken said. “There wasn’t one kid who really stood out.
“They all contributed offensively.”
Danbrea also had a solid outing at quarterback, completing three of the five passes he threw for 37 yards, including a third-quarter touchdown pass, and had no interceptions.
“He was pretty efficient,” Bakken said.
The Wolverines did turn the ball over twice on fumbles in the first half, and Waterford gave up one big play that led to Union Grove’s only score.
Kyle Pohjola conneceted with Brad Ostrowski for a 67-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter for Union Grove’s only points.
The passing game was a highlight for the Broncos, as they managed 199 yards through the air. Ostrowski finished with four receptions for 143 yards.
But Union Grove, facing a mismatch on the line, had minus-nine yards rushing, and did turn the ball over three times – two interceptions and a fumble.
First-year Union Grove coach Justin Davis remained upbeat after the loss.
“We were outsized drastically, but our kids fought hard,” Davis said. “Our building process is just that – a process. It takes time and an incredible off-season. We are constantly learning and improving. It showed in our passing game this week.”
Union Grove is at Badger tonight at 7 p.m., while Waterford is at Delavan-Darien at the same time.
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