Broncos playing complete football in two blowout wins
By Mike Ramczyk
UNION GROVE – I bet you didn’t know he could run.
Union Grove senior quarterback Matt Nelson, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound model of a pocket passer, is taking his game a different level in 2016 – and he’s getting there by land.
Nelson ran for three scores, threw two more, and the Broncos defense stymied Wauwatosa East in a 41-6 drubbing.
Union Grove improved to 2-0 and has outscored both nonconference opponents, 98-12.
While the schedule will undoubtedly increase in difficulty, there’s no denying Nelson, who’s already fielded an offer from Division 2 college powerhouse Minnesota State-Mankato, has lifted his game since earning all-conference honors as a junior.
Nelson ran for 131 yards and three touchdowns, sprints of 22, 3 and 3 yards.
Nelson opened the scoring with a three-yard scoring run. He then hit Holden Whybark on a 15-yard pass in the second quarter. Tosa East cut the lead to 21-6 at halftime, but the Broncos offense was just warming up.
In the second half, Nelson again ran for a score, this time 22 yards, and he hooked up with Whybark for another score.
Late in the game, backup quarterback Alec Spang found Alec Rewolinski for a 35-yard touchdown.
The Broncos held Tosa East to 145 yards while racking up 459 total yards, 299 on the ground.
Austin Walker rushed for 53 yards, tallied 2.5 tackles, a quarterback sack and a tackle for loss.
Union Grove looks to make it three straight wins to open the season next Friday at Westosha Central (1-1).
Waterford 17, Racine Case 7
The Wolverines ran the ball down the collective throat of the Eagles Friday night at Hammes Field.
Waterford bulldozed its way to 311 rushing yards, scored all of its points in the first half and held on for the nonconference victory.
The Wolverines improved to 2-0 and have held each opponent to single digits.
On the ground, Ben Michalowski and Nolan Weber ran for touchdowns, and Jared Krattiger led the attack with 128 yards on 20 carries.
Case got a touchdown on the ground from Jaylon Edmundson from four yards out in the fourth quarter, but it was too late.
Case ran for 187 yards, but the Waterford defense came through in crucial moments and also forced an interception.
Weber finished with 78 yards on four carries.
Waterford opens Southern Lakes play Friday at fellow unbeaten Wilmot (2-0).
Racine Horlick 28, Burlington 12
RACINE – Roughly 15 minutes and 10 miles east of the Waterford-Case battle, the visiting Demons showed flashes of success.
Junior quarterback Nick Klug moved the offense down the field for most of the game, and when things broke down Klug picked up chunks of yardage with his swift moves and elite speed.
Combined with nearly 100 yards rushing from senior running back Jack Miller, the Burlington offense outgained the Rebels, 316-291.
That doesn’t tell the story, however.
Led by Klug and fellow juniors Harrison George and Joe Tully in the spread, quick-strike offense, growing pains are inevitable with such a young, green cast of characters.
Horlick played faster and stronger Friday, and running back Joe Garcia’s four touchdowns combined with Demon miscues led to a sound victory.
“Horlick deserves all the credit tonight,” Burlington coach Steve Tenhagen said. “They came out and played fast and made some big plays on offense.”
“They found some holes in the second half, and their defense played well. We’ll see what we can do differently to get ready for Lake Geneva.”
Garcia took Horlick’s first play from scrimmage 69 yards to give Horlick a 7-0 lead, but Klug hit Tully for 27 yards to cut the lead to 7-6 after a missed extra point.
Perhaps the most costly of Burlington’s turnovers was a muffed snap during a punt attempt, which Horlick gobbled up in the beginning of the second quarter.
Garcia’s 2-yard score with 9:40 left before half made it 14-6.
Klug and the Demons moved into Horlick territory and threatened to score on the ensuing possession, but Klug’s deep pass near the end zone was intercepted.
Aaron Sturdevant’s explosive tackle for loss helped force a Horlick punt on the next drive, and the Demons were then forced to punt after one first down.
George and Miller picked up first downs before the half, but another interception on the last play of the half thwarted any scoring chance.
Horlick took the second-half kickoff, methodically ran down the field at will on a long scoring drive and capped things off with a short Garcia touchdown run at the 7:20 mark.
“They did everything that we talk about,” Tenhagen said. “They put a great drive together, had a couple big runs and got the score. It put us in a hole where we had to play a little bit faster in terms of tempo.”
Later in the third, Garcia added another touchdown to make it 28-6.
Klug and the Demons didn’t quit.
With 8:17 remaining in the game, Klug hit Dale Damon on a crossing route for a 17-yard touchdown.
The Demons stopped the Eagles on the next possession, and Burlington drove deep into Horlick territory again.
Klug picked up a key first down on a scramble to get the Demons in the red zone, and later a Miller run up the middle got Burlington inside the 5.
After a false start penalty pushed the Demons back, Horlick jumped offsides.
On fourth and goal from the Horlick 2, Klug rolled right, was forced back left and lofted a desperation heave near the goal line. The Rebels picked the ball off and sealed the victory.
“We had two nice drives in the fourth quarter,” Tenhagen said. “Their defense stepped up.”
“We have some new kids at the wide receiver position, and it’s a process. The offensive line played well tonight. We just have to get all 11 guys going. When we do that, hopefully by next week, I think we should be alright.”
Klug finished 16-of-29 for 179 yards, two touchdowns and three picks.
Miller gained 96 yards on 13 carries, and Klug added 41 rushing yards.
Tully caught seven passes for 88 yards.
Burlington hosts Lake Geneva Badger (2-0) next Friday night.
Since rejoining the SLC in 2009, the Demons haven’t beaten the Badgers, including a 28-27 Lake Geneva win at home in 2015.
Lake Country Lutheran 49, Burlington Catholic Central 14
BURLINGTON – At the Topper Bowl, the Hilltoppers were overmatched up front by the Lightning.
Lake Country pounded its way to 266 rushing yards and held Catholic Central to minus-9 yards on the ground, and the Lightning held a 36-14 halftime lead.
Late in the third quarter, Ethan Wilkins hit Adam Mielke for a 76-yard touchdown pass, and the rout was on.
Catholic Central was outgained, 471-56.
Chad Zirbel was 5-for-13 for 56 yards for Central, but he was held to minus-19 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Zirbel scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter to give Central a 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Zirbel added a one-yard score.
Kyle Goethal caught three passes for 67 yards for Burlington.
The Toppers are 0-2 just one year after advancing to the WIAA Division 7 state semifinal.
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