By Nick Beversdorf
Reporter
After a series of particularly bad losses, the Hatchet gridmen defeated Chequamegon on Friday with a healthy score of 46-6. An excellent running game contributed scoring every quarter with every scoring drive a running play, although nobody could get a successful PAT during the entire game.
Things started off well and mostly got better as Tomahawk got their first touchdown in the first quarter, courtesy of an Easton Phalin 20-yard run. A two-point conversion, also courtesy of a Phalin run, was good. Tomahawk got two more touchdowns in the second quarter, both short runs. Kole Woodall scored off a two-yard run (PAT no good) and Pahils scored another touchdown off a one-yard run (two-point conversion no good).
Things continued to work out well into the second half with Tomahawk scoring two more touchdowns in the third quarter. Woodall punched in both touchdown runs, one five-yarder with a successful two-point conversion, also from a Woodall run, and a one-yarder with a failed PAT.
Woodall got his fourth touchdown run of the game with a 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The PAT was no good. Brady Anderson wrapped up the scoring with a 10-yard run. Again, the PAT was no good.
Chequamegon scored their only touchdown off a 75-yard kick return in the fourth. Their PAT was also no good.
“Very nice win for the Hatchets and we got it done on the road,” comments head coach John Larson. “Our number one goal heading into the week was to play fundamentally sound football for four quarters. We finally did that. We played better in all phases of the game. We took care of the football, only had three penalties, established the running game, threw the ball well when we needed to and played lights out defensively. In order to put together four full quarters of football we had to clean up the little things. We had great focus, we were disciplined and we came ready to play!”
Tomahawk had 59 total offensive plays resulting in 481 yards. Of that, 383 yards where from rushing and 109 were from passing. Out of the 16 pass attempts, seven were completed along with one intercepted. Chequamegon had only 58 total offensive yards from 51 plays. Tomahawk had 14 first downs, five from passing and nine from rushing.
“Offensively we racked up 481 total yards, 372 coming on the ground,” adds Larson. “Leading the way were Easton Phalin who rushed for 211 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns and Kole Woodall with 94 yards on 13 carries and four touchdowns. Easton would also throw for 109 yards, Eli Wurl led the team with five receptions for 83 yards. Our backs ran hard, blocked hard and we got much improved play up front from our offensive line. We do not have the success we had if the guys weren’t getting it done up front.
“Defensively, the Hatchets were outstanding. We played fast physical football. We had 11 men to the ball and most importantly played our responsibility. In the first half we held the Screaming Eagles to 62 total yards but the second half was even more impressive, holding them to -4 yards for a final game total of just 58 yards. It was an outstanding night for everyone on the defensive side. William Russell, Eli Wurl and Brady Anderson had a great night, Jackson List had a sack, caused fumble and fumble recovery all on one play, Nathan Goehe would record his first interception and sophomore Ty Gerstenberger in his first varsity start at corner back played extremely well all night.
“Special teams play was average at best. We were incredibly awful on our extra point attempts. Our blocking up front was horrendous, this needs to improve and will be a point of emphasis this week in practice.”
Hatchet football will face Auburndale at home on Friday at 7 p.m.
TMK: 8 12 14 12-46
CHE: 0 0 0 6-6
Rushing: Easton Phalin (16 TCB, 211 yds, 2 TD); Kole Woodall (13 TCB, 94 yds, 4 TD); Brady Anderson (9 TCB, 36 yds, 1 TD); Wyatt Wenninger (4 TCB, 13 yds); Eli Wurl (1 TCB, 18 yds).
Passing: Phalin (7/16, 1 INT, 109 yds).
Receiving: Wurl (5 rec, 83 yds); Wenninger (1 rec, 12 yds); Jackson List (1 rec, 14 yds).
Interceptions: Nathan Goehe (1, 0 yds).
Punting: Wenninger (1, 33 yds, 33 avg).