Ogden’s passing sparks 17-point outburst
By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
The shift in momentum in the third quarter of the WIAA Division 2, Level 1 football playoff game between Waterford and Monona Grove was palpable and eventually fatal for the Wolverines.
Monona Grove won 24-14 at Waterford, bringing the Wolverines’ season to a close.
“The bottom line is they made two more plays than we did,” Wolverines coach Adam Bakken said. “That’s the bottom line.”
The Silver Eagles (8-2) play at Waunakee Friday, Oct. 28 in a Level 2 playoff game. Waunakee beat DeForest, 42-7, at Waunakee.
Monona Grove kicker Colin Larsh, who will kick at Wisconsin next season, kicked a 43-yard field goal with less than four minutes left in the third quarter and cut the Silver Eagles’ deficit to 14-10.
At that point, it felt as through the Wolverines would need to match the Silver Eagles possession for possession, point for point to remain competitive and extend their season.
“On the sidelines, we could feel the momentum shift,” Waterford quarterback Matt Korman said. “We just couldn’t get it back.”
The Wolverines missed a field goal early in the fourth quarter, and Monona Grove responded with two touchdowns to secure the victory – the two plays Bakken identified as the difference in the game.
Silver Eagles quarterback Alec Ogden threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Capouch with 9:30 left in the fourth quarter, which gave Monona Grove a 17-14 lead.
Ogden scored on a three-yard run with 3:21 left in the fourth quarter. Larsh’s extra point gave the Silver Eagles a 24-14 lead.
Ogden found his rhythm in the second half. Even though the Wolverines’ defense managed to pressure Ogden, the junior quarterback skillfully executed a passing game characterized by short drops, a quick release and accurate throws.
The game proved to be a contrast in styles between the quick-scoring, pass-heavy Silver Eagles and the methodical, run-heavy method of play preferred by Waterford.
The Wolverines held the ball for much of the first quarter, but Monona Grove scored first on a six-yard run by Jackson Thomsen with six seconds remaining in the first.
Waterford answered with two Jared Krattiger touchdowns in the second quarter. Krattiger first scored on a 20-yard run with three minutes left in the second quarter.
After forcing Monona Grove to punt, Waterford took over with 2:21 before halftime. Korman, who said coaches told him he looked like a quarterback over the last month of the season, drove the Wolverines down the field, and Krattiger scored on a five-yard run 13 seconds before halftime for a 14-7 lead.
On Monona Grove’s first drive of the second half, Waterford’s Danny Salazar forced a fumble and Dan Noll recovered to snuff out a Silver Eagles drive.
Larsh kicked his 43-yard field goal on the Silver Eagles’ next possession.
The Wolverines rushed for 270 yards on 47 carries, and Korman passed for another 148 yards. The Silver Eagles rushed for 147 yards and passed for 215.
Krattiger rushed for 116 yards on 15 carries, and Ben Michalowski rushed for 114 yards on 21 carries for Waterford. Aaron Chapman caught three passes for 48 yards, and Michalowski caught two passes for 29 yards.
“There is nothing I can say, or anyone else can say, to make this easier,” Bakken told his players after the game. “And it’s tough – I know it’s tough. I’m proud of how hard you played.”
The Wolverines finished the season with a final record of 7-3, and went 5-2 and finished third in the Southern Lakes Conference.
Waterford’s three losses this season came against three teams that combined to win 26 games. The Wolverines lost to Badger and Wilmot in SLC play.
Other Friday area playoff scores
Division 1
Lake Geneva Badger 30, Madison West 7
Division 2
Watertown 28, Wilmot 21
Division 3
Delavan-Darien 28, Mount Horeb/Barneveld 21 (OT)
-
-
-
-
-