Everything clicks as Panthers roll

By Dan Truttschel/Sports Correspondent

At different points throughout the season, one part of the Wilmot football team’s overall game has been better than the others.

But rarely have all phases clicked at the same time – until the first quarter Friday night.

And that was more than enough to lead the Panthers to a win.

Wilmot came out of the gates fast in its Southern Lakes Conference contest at Union Grove and never looked back in a convincing 37-20 victory. The win improved the Panthers to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the SLC, good for a second-place tie with Waterford and one game behind league-leading Badger.

The Badgers travel to Wil-mot this week for the Pan-thers’ Homecoming contest in a hugely important game that will go a long way in deciding the race to the SLC crown.

“The (fast start) makes me feel kind of good because my job all week was to make them focus on the fact that they had to play really hard even though they were playing against a team with a 1-4 record,” Wilmot coach Mike Greinke said.

“For them to get out there and play hard was good. That was a sign of maturity and focus for them to come out and do that. They executed in that first quarter, obviously.”

Just two plays into Friday’s contest, the Panthers were knocking on the doorstep after Albert Rogalski sprinted 76 yards to the Broncos’ 1-yard line.

Rogalski, who started at fullback in place of the injured Cam Loveless, scored on the next play to give the Panthers the early lead with 7:56 left in the opening quarter.

“He is just a top-notch ath-lete,” Greinke said. “Fullback in that offense is, ‘You get the ball and go.’ It plays to (Rogalski’s) strengths. He’s not the biggest fullback in the world, but for what we’re try-ing to do in the veer, he’s definitely a threat.”

Wilmot added 16 unan-swered points to take control. Quarterback Michael Linde-man scored on a 5-yard run, followed by a safety when Rogalski tackled a Union Grove runner in the end zone.

Rogalski, who rushed for 153 yards on 14 carries, added his second score of the night, this time on a 10-yard run, to build Wilmot’s lead to 23-0.

Union Grove scored its first touchdown of the game before the half, but after the intermission, the Panthers went right back to work.

Zach Dodge got into the scoring act with a 3-yard touchdown less than four minutes into the third quarter, followed by a 6-yard run by Ethan Scott at the 8:02 mark of the fourth that put Wilmot ahead 37-6.

Union Grove added two late touchdowns against Wil-mot reserves, but it was far too little, too late to stop the Panthers.

For the game, Wilmot rushed for 278 yards on 50 carries. Scott had 59 on 13 attempts, followed by Bryce Kothe with six carries for 37 yards.

The defense continues to shine for Wilmot, Greinke said.

“The defense was excel-lent,” he said. “They’ve been excellent all year. They stepped up. It’s hard for teams to get to the perimeter on our defense.”

Dodge anchors that defense up front and continues to cause havoc for the opposition, Greinke said.

“The quarterback has to get the ball off quicker,” Greinke said. “They’re pretty much always running away from him or having to cut him on every play. That affects every-thing the defense does.”

Big week ahead

Next up is Badger, a team that advanced all the way to the Division 1 state semifinals a year ago, and one that has its eyes on another deep run in 2013.

Badger improved to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the SLC with a 62-13 dismantling of Delavan-Darien last week.

Entering this week, the Badgers have rushed for 1,961 yards as a team, including 724 on 82 attempts and nine touchdowns by Andrew Allen. Badger has outscored its opponents 214-68.

The challenge for the Pan-thers is a tall one, but Greinke said his team and coaching staff will attack it head on.

“They’re the big dogs of the conference, no doubt,” he said. “They have the best record, the best offensive numbers, the best defensive numbers, a good coaching staff. It’s a tough challenge.

“But the way I look at it, if there’s one team that can beat them in this conference is the Wilmot Panthers. Everything we’re striving for is toward that goal of beating them and competing for the conference championship.”

Greinke is looking forward to an exciting week as the days lead to Friday night.

“I don’t think our kids will be lacking for motivation,” he said. “It’s going to be fun. This is why you become a coach. This is why Friday nights are so exciting. It’s exciting to be a part of this.

“It’s the biggest game of the season. But it’s a game. You (have) to go out there and play it.”

 


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