PLATTEVILLE — Tabbed as perhaps the best match up on the season-opening Six Rivers Conference Football Jamboree ticket, Saturday night’s contest between Potosi and Pecatonica/Argyle was on all accounts a little surprising.
The Chieftains, who are coming off a 7–1 conference record from last year’s league championship run, were held scoreless by a stingy Viking defense Saturday night, as Pec/Argyle handed the defending league champs a 38–0 loss.
Coach Mark Siegert’s squad also had a tough time on defense containing a balanced scoring attack by the Vikings, who scored two touchdowns through the air and two on the ground.
Pec/Argyle first scored on the game’s opening possession, as they went 73 yards in 14 plays, scoring on a 15-yard pass from Logan Green to Riley Ostby.
The Vikings took a 13–0 lead with 1:13 to play in the opening quarter on a three-play scoring drive that covered 17 yards
The short field came as a result of a muffed punt return by the Chieftains which was recovered by Pec/Argyle on the 17-yard line.
Potosi’s ensuing possession ended with a three-and-out, and the Vikings used their next possession to add to their lead.
Pec/Argyle needed just eight plays to go 65 yards, scoring on a one-yard TD run with 7:35 to play in the second quarter.
Trailing the Vikings, 19–0, the Chieftains played with a sense of urgency, and on fourth-and-eight from punt, which was snuffed out for no gain.
The first half came to an end with Pec/Argyle holding a 19–0 lead, as the closest Potosi got to their end one was at the Viking 30-yard line.
The second half started off on a sour note for the Chieftains, and put them in a hole which proved too deep to climb out of.
Faced with a third-and-18 from their own 10-yard line, senior quarterback Tyler Udelhoven rolled back into the end zone to elude defenders.
As he was attempting to throw the ball, a Viking defender hit him, causing a fumble, which was recovered by Pec/Argyle in the end zone for a touchdown.
Following a failed two-point conversion pass, the Vikings held a 25–0 lead with 9:47 to play in the third.
On their next three possessions in the third quarter, Potosi didn’t get the ball passed their own 33-yard line, as the Pec/Argyle defense remained strong right up till the end.
The Vikings opened up the fourth quarter with a 12-play scoring drive that covered 60 yards, and took a 31–0 lead with just 6:11 to play in the game.
Pec/Argyle scored their final touchdown later in the quarter for a 38–0 victory.
“Pec/Argyle is really a tough first-week match up for us right now,” said coach Mark Siegert. “They have some very fast athletic kids and their line is enormous. Defensively they do a great job of flying to the ball with their athletic kids playing in the defensive backfield and their big guys up front.”
With only two offensive linemen returning from last year’s squad in Jake Langkamp and Tanner Collins, the Potosi running game struggled a bit.
Senior running back Nathan Friederick rushed for 60 yards on nine carries to lead the Chieftain rushing attack, while Teagan Friederick finished with 33 yards on 16 carries.
As a team, the Chieftains finished with 101 rushing yards on 33 attempts, while Pec/Argyle had 155 yards rushing on 46 attempts.
Through the air, senior quarterback Tyler Udelhoven completed 5 of 12 passing attempt for 26 yards, while rushing for three yards on six attempts.
Nate Friederick hauled in one pass for 10 yards, while Jake Udelhoven had two catches for nine yards.
On the injury front, Potosi lost right tackle Noah Groom (6’3”, 230 pounds) during Wednesday’s practice with a dislocated kneecap. His playing status for the rest of the season is uncertain.
This Friday night, the Chieftains will host Cassville (1–0), who is coming off a 70–22 trouncing of Shullsburg.
Pec/Argyle 38, Potosi 0
(from Saturday, Aug. 22 @ UW–Platteville)
Pec/Argyle 13 6 6 13 — 38
Potosi 0 0 0 0 — 0
First quarter
P/A: Riley Ostby 15 pass from Logan Green (Brooks Chandler kick)
P/A: Cameron Treuthardt 2 run (kick failed)
Second quarter
P/A: Green 1 run (pass failed)
Third quarter
P/A: Andrew Schild fumble recovery in the end zone (pass failed)
Fourth quarter
P/A: Cory Linder 22 pass from Green (pass failed)
P/A: Treuthardt 8 run (Chandler kick)
Team Statistics
First downs — P/A 14, P 7. Rushing — P/A 46-155, P 33-101. Passing Yards — P/A 109, P 26. Passing — P/A 7-14-1, P 5-12-0. Fumbles–lost — P/A 3-1, P 4-3. Penalties-yards — P/A 8-85, P 10-77.
Individual Statistics
Rushing — P/A: Cameron Treuthardt 17-72; P: Nate Friederick 9-60, Teagan Friederick 16-33. Passing — P/A: Logan Green 7-14-1, 101; Tyler Udelhoven 5-12-0, 26. Receiving — P/A: Cory Linder 4-77; P: Nate Friederick 1-10, Jake Udelhofen 2-9.
