Up-and-coming team enjoying success under first-year coach
By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
After struggling through the past few seasons, the Union Grove football team has emphatically turned things around this fall.
The Broncos improved to 2-0 behind a stingy defense that held host Wauwatosa East to just seven points on the way to a hard-fought 12-7 victory last Friday, August 28.
Quarterback Matt Nelson fired a 26-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Laxton, while Travis Cadd added a 4-yard touchdown to propel the Broncos into Southern Lakes Conference play tonight undefeated.
Union Grove appears to be ready for conference play after outscoring its two non-conference opponents 65-7 in two games this season.
“Although we started 2-0 last season as well, the biggest difference between this season and last is maturity,” Union Grove coach Craig McClelland said. “We have a lot of 3-year starters that have played a lot of varsity football that have taken their lumps in past seasons, but now we are finally season the benefits of their experience.”
The Bronco defense is certainly benefitting from an experienced group of players. Union Grove has surrendered just seven points in eight quarters thus far with the only score coming on Wauwatosa East quarterback Luke Lindemann’s first quarter touchdown pass to Cade McGown.
Nelson eventually answered with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Laxton late in the second quarter to draw to within 7-6.
“The touchdown came on a slant pass where Nelson threw Laxton open,” McClelland said. “Then Laxton took care of the rest, beating both safeties to the end zone. “
Nelson finished the game completing 9 of 16 passes with a touchdown and no interceptions.
“Matt was a little raw last year as a sophomore,” McClelland said. “But this year he is more aware of what defenses are running and he does a good job managing the game. With the way our defense has been playing, managing the game is enough to win games, although Matt is more than just a game manager.”
Nelson later led the Broncos on a go-ahead touchdown early in the third quarter.
Cadd capped a 60-yard scoring drive with a gritty 4-yard touchdown run to put the Broncos up 12-7.
With the Broncos clinging to a 5-point margin, the defense took care of the rest, stymying the Wauwatosa East offense at every turn. East had three drives inside the Broncos 40-yard line, including one drive that pushed inside the 20. But Cadd then stopped the momentum with a huge sack that pushed East out of field goal range.
“Cadd broke loose on a blitz and was able to get to the quarterback for a 10-yard loss,” McClelland said. “Cadd’s big play reclaimed the momentum for us and helped us stay on top the rest of the way.”
The Broncos look to continue its strong start tonight when they host Westosha Central in a Southern Lakes Conference opener. The Falcons are 0-2 on the season after dropping a pair of non-conference games to Walworth Big Foot and Zion-Benton (ILL).
McClelland, nevertheless, said his team can’t take the Falcons for granted.
“You can tell that Westosha Central is a team that has something to prove and is not and will battle all game long,” McClelland said. “And if we don’t come out and play, they are going to get upper hand. The Lakes is deeper than ever, so we can’t take any conference game for granted this year.”
Likewise, the rest of the Lakes likely won’t be able to take the Broncos for granted this year.
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