Panthers topple Falcons, earn undisputed EWC crown

PLYMOUTH – The Plymouth Panthers earned their first undisputed Eastern Wisconsin Conference football title since 2003, with a 42-13 victory over arch-rival Sheboygan Falls Thursday, Oct. 22, at Finke Field.

The Falcons finished 2-5 in the EWC and 4-5 overall.

Plymouth finished the regular season unbeaten in the EWC at 7-0 and ran its winning streak to eight, while chalking up an 8-1 record for the regular season.

“We’re really pleased to accomplish one of our goals which was to win the conference championship, and to win it undefeated is even more special,” said Panther head coach Dan Knaus.

“I’m very happy for them. After the game, I told them that this is something that no one can ever take away from them. The main thing was that you didn’t want to share the title with a team that lost to you.

“It means a lot to me to be a part of this. They have worked so hard. They deserve this,” Knaus said.

Kewaskum, which lost to Plymouth two weeks earlier, finished second in the EWC at 6-1.

The Panthers’ strong ground game and rushing defense played big roles in winning the EWC crown. Those strengths were very evident against Falls.

The Panthers dominated on both sides of the ball, holding the Falcons to an incredible 1-yard rushing on 18 attempts and outgaining Falls 343-145 in total offense.

Plymouth, behind a powerful offensive line that knocked Falls off the ball most of the game, ran for 223 yards. The Panthers were led by the 1-2 punch of senior quarterback Jon Criter and junior tailback Hayden Potts. Criter had a team-high 98 yards, followed by Potts with 96 and both players scored two touchdowns.

The Panthers rolled up a 35-0 advantage after three quarters and held Falls without a first down, until late in the third period.

Plymouth scored on its second possession of the game on Potts’ 25-yard touchdown scamper, with 6:15 left in the opening quarter. The extra-point kick failed and the Panthers led 6-0. A 34-yard run by Potts keyed the 77-yard scoring drive.

The Panthers marched 71 yards in 11 plays on their next possession, capped off by Potts’ 2-yard scoring plunge early in the second period. Ross Heginbottom’s extra-point kick made it 13-0.

Criter ignited the possession with 50 yards rushing on three attempts, including a 25-yard draw people to the Falcons’ 33-yard line.

A fumble recovery by linebacker Ian Murray at the Falls 1 set up the Panthers’ third touchdown of the first half. On the next play, Criter knifed into the end zone, with 3:52 left in the second quarter. He then scored on a two-point conversion to give Plymouth a 21-0 halftime lead.

Murray’s fumble recovery came three plays after PHS had lost a fumble at the Falcon 1.

Plymouth turned the game into a rout by scoring on its first two offensive series in the third quarter. The first one came on Criter’s 20-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Mitch Unger.

A 25-yard Criter-to-Potts screen pass to the Falls 23 sparked the possession that began at the Falcons’ 46 after PHS took over on downs. Heginbottom kicked the extra point for a 28-0 score.

Criter tallied the next touchdown on a well-executed keeper off the option from 5 yards out late in the period. His 21-yard draw to the 10 set up the score. Heginbottom’s extra-point kick made it 35-0.

The Panthers only needed to go 31 yards for the touchdown, after Falls turned the ball over on downs at its 31, following an incomplete pass on fourth and 3.

Plymouth’s final touchdown came on junior Craig Grosshuesch’s 87-yard kickoff return early in the fourth quarter to hike Plymouth’s lead to 42-7.

The Falcons’ two touchdowns came on passes by quarterback Adam Lorenz in the final period. The first was a 17-yarder to Matt Henning, followed by a 12-yarder to Kody Meanor.

“We never got started in the first half and struggled against a good Panthers’ D-line,” said Falcon head coach Mike Nikson.

“Our kids never quit. It was some tough playing conditions with wind and rain. It was a tough loss for our seniors. We wanted to finish better.”

The Falcons finished 2-5 in the EWC and 4-5 overall.

Scoring
Ply – Hayden Potts 25 run (kick failed)
Ply – Potts 2 run (Ross Heginbottom kick)
Ply – Jon Criter 1 run (Criter run)
Ply – Mitch Unger 20 pass from Criter (Heginbottom kick)
Ply – Criter 5 run (Heginbottom kick)
SF – Matt Henning 17 pass from Adam Lorenz (Kody Meanor kick)
Ply – Craig Grosshuesch 87-yard kickoff return (Heginbottom kick)
SF – Kody Meanor 12 pass from Lorenz (kick failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing – Sheboygan Falls, Zach Berg 8-16. Plymouth, Hayden Potts 21-96, Jon Criter 12-98.
Passing – Sheboygan Falls, Adam Lorenz 10-21-1-144. Plymouth, Criter 8-13-1-120.
Receiving – Sheboygan Falls, Nick Roelse 2-58, Matt Henning 2-25. Plymouth, Mitch Unger ___________________________ 5-71, Potts 1-25.