Waterford will play for a shot at SLC title tonight
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports editor
The Delavan-Darien High School football team may have scored first Oct. 7 at Waterford, but the Wolverines got the last laugh.
Waterford followed up the Comets’ opening drive – which ended in a field goal and a 3-0 lead for D-D – with a touchdown drive, and never let up, winning the Wolverines’ homecoming contest going away, 66-10.
The Wolverines are now 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the Southern Lakes Conference. The squad heads to Lake Geneva Badger tonight for the final regular season and SLC game of the year – with the conference title on the line.
If the Wolverines win, they will tie for the SLC title. If Badger wins, they will win the title outright, and Waterford could fall as low as third depending on what Wilmot does. The Panthers will end the season at Delavan-Darien Friday.
Against the Comets, the Wolverines never truly looked anything but in control. The Comets drove the ball down the field on the opening drive, but Waterford recovered and limited D-D to just a 24-yard field goal.
On the Wolverines’ first possession, Greg Steffens capped off the steady drive with a five-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing possession by the Comets, the Wolverines picked off D-D quarterback Danny Supernaw.
It was one of three interceptions by the Wolverines – all three of which turned into scores for the Wolverines. This one turned into a 38-yard touchdown pass from Zach Fisher to Ryan Danbrea, and on the next drive, the Wolverines intercepted again – with Steffens capping the change in possession with a 24-yard touchdown run.
Waterford would score six first-half touchdowns – including a final touchdown off Supernaw’s third interception – and led 45-3 at the half with a Nick Wirsching field goal added to the mix. Delavan-Darien finally got a touchdown at the end of the third quarter, but the Wolverines’ subs answered with a 58-yard touchdown run by David Welch.
“We’re playing well, there’s no disputing that,” said Waterford coach Adam Bakken. “We just did a lot of good things Friday.”
He was surprised by the way his team dominated against the Comets, though, given the strong athletic talent the opposition sported.
“They’ve got a good group of athletes over there,” Bakken said. “I was not expecting us to contain them the way that we did, that’s for sure.”
Delavan managed just 90 yards rushing in the game, and had 147 yards passing. The Wolverines, meanwhile, dominated with the rush, picking up 354 yards.
Steffens finished with four touchdowns and 123 yards, while Dylan Dessart had five carries for 42 yards and a touchdown. The third of Waterford’s trio of running backs, Jordan Underly, had eight carries for 98 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s very important,” said Bakken of his corps of running backs. “It makes it difficult for teams to prepare for who they’re going to focus on. If you focus on one of them, there’s two others.”
Welch added 64 yards on three carries, while Fisher was 5-for-6 passing with one touchdown and 133 yards.
“We just have a lot of options on offense,” Bakken said.
The Wolverines could now not ask for a more important game – or talented opponent – to finish up the regular season. The Badgers are 7-1 after a loss to Mukwonago in the season opener, and are 6-0 in the SLC. Chris Walker and Peter Krien both have more than 700 yards rushing this year, while Rory Klean and Ed Ruzga have more than 400 yards.
Krien, at quarterback, has also thrown for three touchdowns.
“We’re not going to do anything different,” Bakken said. “Obviously, it’s a huge game, and everyone knows what’s on the line. We take things seriously every game that we play.
“We know what Badger’s about. They’re a good team, well-coached,” Bakken added. “We’re both physical teams, we both like to run the ball. Talent-wise, I think things are very similar between us.
“It’s a perfect way to end the regular season for both teams.”
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