Brent’s game-winning TD lifts Wilmot

Robert Brent, shown here in a game last year, scored Wilmot's game-winning touchdown in a 21-14 season-opening decision against Bradford.
Robert Brent, shown here in a game last year, scored Wilmot’s game-winning touchdown in a 21-14 season-opening decision against Bradford.

Junior running back breaks out in back-and-forth affair

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Robert Brent is ready to step up to the challenge.

The Panthers’ junior running back, who had 15 carries and produced 157 of Wilmot Union High School’s 361 total offensive yards, scored two touchdowns including the game-winner with just over a minute left to defeat nonconference foe Kenosha Bradford, 21-14, Aug. 19 at Indian Trail High School.

Brent, the 185-pounder that stands 5-foot-10, knows he needs to step up after losing Mason Nindl and Linc Bennett to graduation.

“I am ready,” he said.

Wilmot, however, had to overcome a 6-0 halftime deficit, which stemmed from three turnovers.

At halftime, Coach Erick Kaiser told his squad to stay focused, noting they were down by only one score.

“I was telling the guys we were down just six points,” Kaiser said. “It was a blip on the radar, and the fact that we had three turnovers and we were only down six points.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Bradford posted its first points on an 85-yard touchdown pass between quarterback Tony Martin and receiver Jakari Godfrey with 1 minute, 30 seconds left in the half.

Martin completed 16 of 36 passes for 184 yards while Godfrey had 108 yards receiving on three catches.

Down 6-0 in the third quarter, Panthers quarterback A.J. Frisby pulled the team ahead courtesy of a 35-yard pass to Carlson Kade at 8:59, followed by a successful point after by kicker Jeff Shoopman.

Frisby completed seven of 16 passes for 89 yards, and on the ground, had 89 yards rushing on 19 carries.

After the Panthers allowed an Erick Doke III 1-yard touchdown run, Brent responded with his first of two touchdowns on a 28-yard run to close out the third quarter tied at 14.

With 1:10 left of regulation, Brent added his second, and eventual game-winning touchdown on a 13-yard score.

Brent said the tide turned when the Panthers adjusted strategies, opting for outside runs, when they had difficulty penetrating the Red Devils’ defensive line.

“In the first half, we focused on our middle run, which was not working as well,” Brent said. “We focused on our outside run in the second.”

Along with Brent, Kaiser acknowledged the team possessed a strong work ethic entering the second half, noting the team regained composure.

“Our guys knew exactly what we needed to do,” Kaiser said. “We focused on our execution and that is what you saw in the second half.”

As the Panthers look ahead to its home opener against Cudahy, a team they blew out 41-13 on the road last year, Kaiser believes the team, including Brent, is ready.

“If (Brent) is not ready, we got a problem, I think he is ready,” Kaiser said. “He will be just fine and be good for us this year.”


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