Falcons can’t hold off Comets

Westosha Central’s Luke Millhouse pulls in a pass during last week’s game against Delavan-Darien High School in Salem. (Photo by Earlene Frederick)

By Dan Truttschel

Sports Correspondent

Early in the second half Friday night, the Westosha Central football team found itself with a four-point lead over one of the Southern Lakes Conference leaders.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, they couldn’t hang on quite long enough.

Visiting Delavan-Darien scored three second-half touchdowns to hold off Central’s upset attempt in a 44-28 victory.

The loss dropped the Falcons to 1-4 in the SLC and 1-6 overall, while the Comets improved to 4-1 in conference play and 5-2 overall.

Untimely errors were the Falcons’ downfall, Central coach Scott Mirkes said.

“We had a couple crucial penalties at crucial times,” he said. “You just can’t have those things happen against good, quality football teams.

“I was really (pleased) with how our kids played for about three and a half quarters. That’s probably the best football we’ve played all year (during that time).”

Mirkes said he wants his team to take the next step and be able to close out games.

“We continue to talk about finishing games and doing the things that good teams and good programs do to finish games,” he said. “We’re still working on those. We’ll continue to get better.”

Delavan held a 24-21 halftime lead before the Falcons jumped out in front for the only time on a 29-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tyler Stoxen a little less than two minutes into the third quarter.

The play was designed as a pass-run option, Mirkes said.

“(Stoxen) bounced off a tackle, saw a cutback lane and cut it all the way back from the right to the left hash,” Mirkes said. “He trusted himself and kept his feet going. I thought that he had a real good game.”

Central’s momentum was short-lived, however, as Delavan struck back a little more than four minutes later to take the lead for good.

Talented junior quarterback Danny Supernaw scored on a 6-yard run to give the Comets a 31-28 lead they wouldn’t give back.

Mirkes was impressed with Supernaw’s effort Friday night.

“Supernaw is probably going to end up being the best of the quarterbacks they’ve had there,” Mirkes said. “He is going to be a real, real special one, and he has the (offensive) weapons to match.”

Delavan, which closed the scoring with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, opened the game with a 10-0 lead before the Falcons got on the scoreboard.

Central’s Jason Castona, who caught six passes for 122 yards, hauled in a 1-yard toss from Stoxen to cut the Comets’ lead to 10-7.

After Delavan rebuilt the lead, Stoxen and Castona hooked up again, this time on a 57-yard pass from Stoxen with 8:02 left in the first half.

Stoxen, who rushed for 100 yards and threw for 255 more, closed out the first half with a 1-yard touchdown run with just a little more than a minute left before the intermission.

For the game, the Falcons finished with 17 first downs, 173 yards rushing and 255 passing. Delavan had 21 first downs, 280 yards rushing and 185 passing.

Central travels to Wilmot Friday night for the Panthers’ Homecoming game at 7 p.m. Wilmot improved to 4-1 in the SLC and 6-1 overall last week with a 52-37 win over Burlington.

Mirkes said he expects his team to be ready to go against its biggest rival.

“We’re going to have our hands full, but we’ll put together a great game plan for the kids, and I’m sure they’ll be excited about playing,’ he said.

“They’ve (the players on both sides) have grown up with each other, and they look forward to this game every year. It’s a chance for us to do some things to continue to get better.”


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