Burlington 32, Racine Case 20
Burlington dominates county foe with balanced attack
By Mike Ramczyk
The Burlington football team was able to dictate things offensively Aug. 19, and the defense and special teams joined the party in a season-opening victory over Racine Case.
Powered by 260 total yards from first-year quarterback Nick Klug and a comeback-killing special teams touchdown, the Demons jumped out to a big lead and cruised to a 33-20 win.
Klug, a junior who starred as an all-Region wide receiver last season, scored on a 43-yard run and had another long touchdown run negated by penalty.
Through the air, the strong-armed dual threat hooked up with sophomore Julian Luciano for a 43-yard score.
Luciano, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound blur in the open field, finished with two catches for 153 yards in his first varsity game.
Burlington (1-0) travels to Racine Friday night to take on Horlick at 7 p.m. at Horlick Athletic Field.
The Demons handled the Rebels last year amid controversy, when Horlick head coach Brian Fletcher used a racial comment to argue a penalty and was ejected.
The comment came as a Burlington player laid motionless on the field, surrounded by coaches and training staff, after a vicious hit.
Horlick suffered a one-game suspension, as imposed by the school’s administration.
Despite the early setback, Horlick rebounded to make the WIAA playoffs, while the Demons finished just shy at 5-4.
Ground control
Burlington senior running back Jack Miller enjoyed a big game against Case as the single back in the Demons’ spread look.
Standing alongside Klug in the backfield, Miller reaped the benefits of Klug’s of big-play ability.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound bulldozing back compiled 109 yards on 15 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown to send Burlington into the locker room with a 14-7 lead.
Early in the third quarter, an errant snap sailed over the Case punter, and Burlington junior Ben Golon recovered the ball in the end zone, extending the lead to 21-7.
The defense followed with a safety to make it 23-7 at the 4-minute mark.
Klug’s touchdown run put the game out of reach late in the third at 29-7.
Lance Otter added a 41-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Case added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Klug finished his first varsity start at quarterback with strong numbers, completing 9-for-17 for 167 yards with the touchdown and no picks.
Dale Damon, a senior, who was the third baseman on Burlington’s state championship baseball team a mere eight weeks ago, snagged six passes for 90 yards to lead the receiving corps.
Liam Safar added a catch for 24 yards.
Horlick opened the season with a 49-8 victory at Milwaukee Morse-Marshall.
In Week 2 of 2015, Horlick lost at Burlington, 39-24.
Against Milwaukee, Horlick amassed 194 yards on the ground on 19 carries.
Junior quarterback Sawyer Schick completed 6-of-7 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns.
Stay tuned to www.myracinecounty.com at 7 p.m. tonight for Ramczyk’s Week 2 Predictions Column, and follow him on Twitter @mikeramczyk17 Friday night for live updates from Horlick Field.
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