Panthers’ playoff run ends

PLYMOUTH – Kewaskum hit hard from the get-go to fuel an impressive 27-7 win over the Plymouth Panthers in the second round of the Division 3 football playoffs here Saturday night.

The Indians, who avenged a 14-6 loss to PHS during the Eastern Wisconsin Conference season, kept the pressure on the Panthers with an aggressive defense and a balanced offense.

“Kewaskum came out strong and we didn’t play as confident as we could’ve,” said Panther head coach Dan Knaus.

“We were a little tentative. We weren’t the same football team tonight.

“They were able to run the ball well enough to keep us off balance on defense and set up the pass,” he said.

“I’m very pleased,” said Indian head coach Jason Piittmann about his team’s performance. “The kids fired off the ball well in the offensive line and that set the tone for us early.”

The No. 4-seeded Indians, 10-1, advance to the state quarterfinals against No. 2-seeded West De Pere, 10-1. The game will be played either Friday or Saturday at West De Pere. Kewaskum is making its fifth straight trip to the quarterfinals.

Top-seeded PHS, which won the EWC title with Kewaskum second, ended an outstanding season at 9-2. The Panthers had a nine-game winning streak coming into the contest.

Junior quarterback Cody Nuernberg was the catalyst for Kewaskum’s attack with his running and passing. Nuernberg ran for a game-high 76 yards, including one touchdown, and threw for two scores. The elusive 6-foot-2, 175-pounder gained most of his yards off well-executed option plays and a few scrambles out of the pocket.

“Nuernberg is a great runner. He ran the ball really well and made some nice throws,” Knaus said.

“They blocked well [on the option] and have a good line. We lost some containment on him in our rush defense.”

Kewaskum dominated most of the first half en route to a 14-0 halftime lead. The Indians had the ball most of the half with four time-consuming drives, two of which resulted in TDs. In the first half, Kewaskum led PHS in total offensive yardage, 179-30, and first downs, 10-2.

The Indians, keyed by Nuernberg, scored on its second possession of the first half. He rifled a 36-yard scoring pass to split end Jordan Blank who got behind the defender near the goal line. Hunter Flanders’ PAT gave the visitors a 7-0 lead at the 11:30 mark in the second quarter.

It was a six-play, 55-yard scoring drive. Nuernberg had 17 yards on three carries, including an 11-yard burst off the option to the PHS 31-yard line.

Junior Craig Grosshuesch returned the ensuing kickoff 48 yards to the Kewaskum 36. Quarter Jon Criter’s 9-yard scramble to the 15 set up a fourth down and 1. Criter was stopped for no gain on a keeper and the Indians took over with 7:51 left in the second period.

A 5-yard penalty against PHS for delay of game proved costly in the series as it put the Panthers in a third-and-10 predicament. Criter then followed with his 9-yard run.

After the teams exchanged punts, Kewaskum set up at its 38 late in the opening half. Back-to-back 11- yard runs by tailback Cody Seibel and Nuernberg took the ball to the PHS 33.

On third and 12, Nuernberg connected with wide receiver Mat Toles for a 35-yard TD pass with only 34 seconds remaining until halftime. Toles made a nice catch while falling down in the end zone after beating the defender. Flanders’ PAT gave the Indians a 14-0 halftime lead.

On the final play of the half, Criter hurt his throwing shoulder when he was sacked. He was able to return in the third quarter but unable to finish the game after aggravating the injury.

The Panthers’ vaunted ground game kicked into gear on their opening possession of the second half. After Kewaskum went three and out to start the third quarter, PHS marched from its 48 to the Indians’ 3, keyed by tailback Hayden Potts’ 11-yard run and Criter’s 11-yard pass to wide receiver Mitch Unger.

Unger’s reception gave PHS a first and goal at the 9. Two 3-yard gains by Potts sandwiched around an incomplete pass by Criter set up a fourth down at the 3.

Criter lined up in the shotgun for a potential pass but tried to score on a keeper up the middle. He was stopped only inches short of the goal line after stretching the ball out. Criter reinjured his shoulder on the play and was sidelined the rest of the game.

“It’s 14-7 [if Criter scores] and we’re right back in the game. It was the turning point in the game,” Knaus said.

“Not getting that one in kind of popped our bubble. We moved the ball well in the third quarter but weren’t able to capitalize on the fourth-down play.

“When we didn’t score and Jon was done for the night, the kids didn’t give up but it rattled their confidence,” the PHS coach said.

“That goal-line stand was really big. It was a very big turning point,” Piittmann said.

“Mitch did a good job [at quarterback]. You couldn’t have asked for more from a kid in that situation,” said the PHS coach.

“Jon showed what kind of competitor he is and his toughness.”

The Indians were unable to gain a first down after keeping PHS from scoring and were forced to punt. Plymouth had great field position at the Kewaskum 45 following the punt but was unable to cash in as it went three and out.

Kewaskum put the game away with an eight-play, 72-yard scoring drive after regaining possession on a punt. Nuernberg’s 36-yard strike to flanker Andy Schreier down the right sideline brought the ball to the PHS 17.

Two plays later, Nuernberg darted around the left end and dove across the goal line for a score. Flanders added the PAT and Kewaskum had commanding 21-0 advantage with 9:18 remaining in the game.

Tailback Eric Perkins pushed the Indians’ lead to 27-0 when he motored 55 yards for a TD at the 7:07 mark.

PHS averted a shutout when Potts slammed into the end zone from the 5 with 2:03 left. Ross Heginbottom’s PAT made it 27-7. Unger, who replaced Criter at quarterback, sparked the eight-play, 80- yard TD drive with a 27- yard scamper and passes of 20 yards to tight end Alex Grahn and 21 to wideout Grosshuesch.

In the first meeting between the teams, PHS won the battle in the trenches as evidenced by its decisive edge on the ground. In that

game, the Panthers led in rushing yardage, 207-52.

Potts, who gashed the Indians’ defense for 177 yards rushing in the first game, was held to 68 on 20 carries Saturday. Kewaskum led in rushing, 205-114.

“Hayden is a great running back and we focused on not giving him seams,” Piittmann said.

“We were fundamentally sound up front and didn’t give Hayden much running room.

“I thought our intensity and effort were better than the last time we played Plymouth. We let it all hang out there tonight,” Piittmann said.

Piittmann was very pleased with Nuernberg’s performance. “Cody is getting better and better this season. It was his best game of the season,” the Indian coach said.

“He was doing a great job of reading the option. He moves well and makes it tough on the defense”

“They made more plays than we did,” Knaus said. “Those were great throws [by Nuernberg]. Our secondary is not one of our defensive strengths and their players made great plays.

“We’re disappointed we lost but we played much better in the second half.”

Both coaches agreed that the Indians’ playoff experience was a key factor in the game.

“No one wants it to end. Anytime you lose in a playoff situation, it’s disheartening. We’re going to miss a great group of seniors,” Knaus said.

“I’d like to praise them [PHS players] all for an outstanding season. They played their hearts out.”

FOOTBALL

KEWASKUM 27

PLYMOUTH 7

Kew Ply
First downs .13 9
Rushing Yards……….…..…..205 114
Passing Yards…………………114 67
Comp-Att-Int………………...5-7-0 7-20-0
Penalties-Yards………………6-31 1-5
Punts-Averages………………6-31 4-30
Fumbles-Lost…………………. 2-0 1-0
Kewaskum………….…....14 0 0 13 – 27
Plymouth…………………….0 0 0 7 – 7
Score by Quarters
Scoring
Kew – Jordan Blank 36 pass from Cody Nuernberg (Hunter Flanders kick)
Kew – Mat Toles 35 pass from Nuernberg (Flanders kick)
Kew – Nuernberg 6 run (Hunter Flanders kick)
Kew – Eric Perkins 55 run (kick failed)
Ply – Hayden Potts 5 run (Ross Heginbottom kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing – Kewaskum, Cody Nuernberg 18-76, Cody Seibel 9-46, Eric Perkins 3-75. Plymouth, Hayden Potts 20-68,
Mitch Unger 6-33.
Passing – Kewaskum, Nuernberg 5-7-0-114. Plymouth, Jon Criter 4-9-0-22, Unger 3-10-0-45.
Receiving – Kewaskum, Jordan Blank 1-36, Mat Toles 1-35, Andy Schreier 1-36. Plymouth, Alex Grahn 1-20, Craig
Grosshuesch 1-21, Unger 1-11.