Lights, camera, action: Waterford football turns up for TV

By Chris Bennett

Sports Correspondent

A TV broadcast and members of Waterford’s youth football program led to a big crowd that helped drive Waterford to a 17-7 victory Sept. 5 at home in a Southern Lakes Conference game against Lake Geneva.

My24 Milwaukee broadcast the game as a special Friday edition of the station’s “Thursday Night Lights” high school football schedule.

“We talked to the kids before the game and told them not to do anything different just because the game is on television,” Waterford coach Adam Bakken said. “I think we did a good job of that and played really solid.

“It was a great game. The kids loved it.”

The game also served as Youth Night, and members of Waterford’s youth football program attended and watched from the end zone.

The contest carried plenty of significance even without the incentives of TV and a fired-up, hometown crowd.

Waterford and Lake Geneva tied with Wilmot last season for a share of the Southern Lakes Conference title. Lake Geneva defeated Waterford 28-6 last season Sept. 6 at Lake Geneva in SLC play.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Wolverines got on the board in the second quarter when Tony Ray made a 24-yard field goal.

Waterford extended its lead in the second quarter when Dylan Malecki threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dyln Ross.

Badger scored its only touchdown of the night in the second quarter on a five-yard run from James Patrick Quinn. Waterford led 10-7 at halftime.

Malecki scored on a one-yard run in third quarter and the Wolverines kept Lake Geneva from the end zone for the remainder of the game.

Malecki finished 13-of-19 for 206 yards and a touchdown. Anthony Miller rushed for 43 yards on 12 carries and Johnny McCormick caught seven passes for 104 yards. Trace Hunsucker caught four passes for 86 yards.

“They were really trying to take away our run and we were efficient enough through the passing game that we were able to move the ball and score some points,” Bakken said.

Defensively, Bakken said the Wolverines gang-tackled and swarmed to the ball.

“We made them earn everything and tried and make them use as many options as they could,” Bakken said.

Jack Ritzman and Max Fisher, two senior linebackers, each led the way with 12 tackles.

Bakken said Waterford also won the field position battle, which forced Lake Geneva into a longer field to score.

“If we make teams try and drive 70 or 80 yards on us not a lot of people are going to score,” said Bakken, who added that the Wolverines’ defense is one of the more athletic groups he’s coached.

“We’ve still got a lot of mistakes to fix,” Bakken said. “Once we fix those I think we’re going to be really good.”

Waterford plays Wilmot tonight at Wilmot in a SLC contest. Waterford beat Wilmot 7-0 last season Sept. 13 at home.

Wilmot committed six turnovers and lost 28-14 Sept. 5 at home in a SLC game against Delavan-Darien.

“They’ve got a really athletic quarterback and some skill guys,” Bakken said. “They run a similar offense to Badger.”