The THS football team continued its dramatic turnaround from an 0-3 start with a 32-12 triumph over Milwaukee King in Saturday’s Senior Day game that pushed the Hatchets to 4-4 on the season.
“We lacked the intensity we have played with for the last four weeks, but the guys made enough plays to get the job done,” Tomahawk coach John Larson said.
Nate Kuehn recovered a blocked punt for a first-quarter score, and the Hatchets sandwiched a pair of passing touchdowns around a 10-yard King run in the second.
Andy Firkus connected with Craig Swan for a 10-yard score, then hit Clay Borchardt with a 35-yard strike. A Kory Brietzke two-point conversion made it 20-6 with 1:00 to go to halftime.
Brietzke recovered a fumble at the King 14 in the third quarter and six plays later Mitch McAllister dashed six yards for a score.
Milwaukee cut it to 26-12 after picking up a fumble, but THS responded with a kick return to the Generals’ 45. Seven plays later McAllister raced 14 yards for the TD, leaving it 32-12 with just 2:01 left in the game.
“Mitch continues to run the ball hard and get the tough yards when we need them,” Larson said. “The O-line has really done a nice job with pass protection the last couple of weeks. This keeps teams from loading up defensively with eight guys in the box.
“Defensively, we were solid. We gave up a couple of big pass plays. We need to react to the ball. Tackling was good at times, but needs to get better. There is still room for improvement in all phases.
“The Hatchets need to have a better week of preparation to be ready for Mosinee.”
Playoff-bound Mosinee (3-1, 7-1) represents the final game of the regular season on Thursday. The Hatchets were eliminated from playoff eligibility with their one-point loss to Rhinelander on Oct. 8, since as an independent they needed to win at least six games.
Tomahawk out-gained the Generals 250-197. McAllister (19-73), Firkus (4-19), Adam FauFau (5-17), Austin Bellile (1-9) and Brietzke (3-8) gave the 126 ground yards. Firkus completed 8-of-13 passes for 124, spread out to Borchardt (2-51), Swan (3-30), Brietzke (1-23) and McAlliser (2-20).
Pacing the THS ‘D’ were: Brietzke (3 s, 8 a, 1 FR, 1 PBU); Nate Erickson (3 s, 5 a, 1 sa, 1 PBU); Payton DuPlayee (2 s, 9 a,); Swan (1 s, 10 a); McAllister (2 s, 4 a, 1 sa); Dan Galloy (3 s, 5 a); Kuehn (1 s, 2 FR, 1 PBU); Bellile (1 s, 4 a, 1 PBU).