Wolverines run for more than 400 yards
By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
The Wolverines are headed to the WIAA Division 2 high school football playoffs for the sixth straight season after a 38-0 rout of Union Grove Sept. 30 in a Southern Lakes Conference game at home.
Waterford (6-1, 4-1 SLC) plays tonight at Delavan-Darien in a SLC game.
The Wolverines last missed the playoffs in 2010. Waterford finished that season with an overall record of 3-6, and finished 2-5 in the SLC. It is also the last season in which Waterford finished with a losing record.
The Wolverines have outscored their previous four opponents 132-6. Included in that stretch are shutout victories against Burlington, Elkhorn and Grove.
“I think the most encouraging part is how hard everyone is playing,” Waterford coach Adam Bakken said. “You can see how much the kids care, and how much they want to win.
“Our leadership has been great. It’s very fun being around the kids right now. They know how important every game is and what’s on the line.”
Waterford’s offense against the Broncos consisted of 438 yards rushing on 50 carries. The Wolverines’ defense limited the Broncos (4-3, 2-3 SLC) to 133 total yards – 134 passing yards and -1 yard rushing on 21 carries.
Waterford’s defense opened the scoring in the first quarter with a sack of Broncos quarterback Matt Nelson in the end zone. Nelson passed for five touchdowns and rushed for two more Sept. 23 in a 48-20 SLC victory at Elkhorn.
Ben Michalowski returned a kick 67 yards for a touchdown and rushed 19 yards for another score, and the Wolverines led 16-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Quarterback Matt Korman rushed for a nine-yard touchdown and Jared Krattiger rushed for a 48-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Not content with one safety, the Wolverines added another in the fourth quarter after tackling Grove’s Alec Spang in the end zone.
The Wolverines’ Dylan Persinske punctuated the scoring with a 33-yard run in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
Michalowski rushed for 175 yards on 14 carries. Krattiger rushed for 80 yards on 10 carries. Korman rushed for 53 yards on six carries and Persinske rushed for 52 yards on three carries.
“It’s a credit to our offensive line and our backs that we can run the ball for 440 yards,” Bakken said. “They had eight or nine guys in the box for most of the game.”
On defense, Bakken said Waterford is playing well against the run, which eliminates an option for the opposing offense.
“If teams struggle to run, it makes it easier for me to call the defense and take away big passing plays,” Bakken said. “We haven’t given up the big passing play.”
Passing is an area in which Waterford needs work. The Wolverines did not complete a pass against the Broncos – Korman finished 0 for 6 – but struggles in the passing game cannot be attributed solely to the quarterback.
“We’re never going to throw a lot, but we’ve got to have that as an option,” Bakken said. “We’re very capable of doing just that.”
At the very least, if the Wolverines can complete a handful of passes each game it loosens the opposing defense, and might keep the running game from facing so many stacked fronts.
Waterford’s next opponent, Delavan-Darien, beat Westosha Central 38-6 Sept. 30 at home, and became eligible for the Division 3 playoffs with the victory. Like the Broncos, the Comets (5-2, 4-1 SLC) are a pass-first offense.
“We’ve just got to be able to find a way to control the ball,” Bakken said. “We need to get first downs and keep their offense off the field.”
If Waterford beats the Comets and Badger beats Union Grove at home the Badgers and Wolverines will meet Oct. 14 at Waterford with a share of the SLC title at stake. Waterford has won a share of five straight SLC titles.
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