POTOSI — Since losing their first two games early in the season, the Potosi varsity football team has put together an eight-game winning streak, with Johnson Creek being their latest opponent.
Coach Mark Siegert’s squad had little trouble posting a 46-7 victory over the visiting Bluejays in their WIAA Division 7 Level 1 playoff game last Friday night.
In fact, with 7:30 remaining in the second quarter, and Potosi holding a 38–0 lead, Johnson Creek’s coach asked to put the continuous clock into effect, which coach Siegert agreed to.
“After that we kind of called off the dogs, and that was it,” said Siegert.
During their eight-game win streak, the Chieftains have averaged 39 points per game, while giving up an average of 10.5 to their opponents.
“There is no question that we are playing the best that we’ve played all year, offensively and defensively,” said Siegert. “It’s been probably a month where we’ve been really solid defensively and taken on more and more responsibility. It’s just cool to see because these kids have come so far.
“Offensively it’s the same thing. We had struggled early in games, and that seems to be a thing of the past. I just want to keep it going for as long as we can.”
The Chieftains certainly had it going last Friday night, where for the second week in a row did not have a single punt in the game.
On the ground, Potosi ran for 353 yards and five touchdowns on 46 attempts.
Senior Teagan Friederick led the rushing attack with 132 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while fellow senior Nathan Friederick ran for 91 yards and two TDs on 12 carries.
Playing a large part of Potosi’s domination on the ground was the play of the offensive line.
Through the air, quarterback Tyler Udelhoven completed 4-of-6 passing attempts for 33 yards, including a 20-yard TD pass to sophomore Alex Udelhofen, who caught two passes for 23 yards. Tommy Pluemer also had one grab for seven yards and Zach Reuter one catch for three yards.
Tyler Udelhoven also scored on a 25-yard TD run in the fourth quarter and finished with 25 yards on two carries.
Defensively, the Chieftains held Johnson Creek to 54 yards rushing on 30 attempts, and gave up one completion for -4 yards, leaving the Bluejays with just 50 yards of total offense.
Teagan Friederick led the charge on defense with 15 total tackles, two for loss, and two sacks. Tanner Collins was in on 12 stops and had one interception, while Cole Menne had 11 tackles, two sacks and one interception.
While no injuries were suffered by the Chieftains during Friday night’s game, senior Jacob Udelhoven was involved in a one-car accident and suffered a broken vertebra. He was the team’s leading receiver at his tight end position, and also started at defensive end. He will be lost for the season and is being replaced by Travis Wright (DE) and Zach Reuter (TE).
This Friday night the Chieftains (8–2) will take on top-seeded Cambria–Friesland (10–0), who is coming off a 44–0 shutout of Rio.
The Hilltoppers average 34.8 points per game and give up an average of just 6.1. Earlier in the year they defeated Johnson Creek, 42–6, and beat Randolph, 48–7.
WIAA Division 7 Level 1 playoff
Potosi 46, Johnson Creek 7
(from Friday, Oct. 23 @ Potosi)
Johnson Creek 0 0 0 7 — 7
Potosi 22 16 0 8 — 46
First quarter
P: Teagan Friederick 6 run (Nate Friederick)
P: N. Frieiderick 1 run (Zack Reuter pass from Tyler Udelhoven)
P: N. Friederick 27 run (run failed)
Second quarter
P: T. Friederick 3 run (T. Friederick run)
P: Alex Udelhofen 20 pass from T. Udelhoven (Alex Abell run)
Fourth quarter
P: Tyler Udelhoven 25 run (T. Udelhoven run)
JC: Evan Kapitz 60 run (Adam Becker kick)
Team Statistics
First downs — JC 4, P 16. Rushing — JC 30-54, P 46-353. Passing — JC 1-4-2, (-4); P:4-6-0, 33. Fumbles-lost — JC 1-0, P 2-0. Penalties-yards — JC 3-19, P 5-25.
Individual leaders
Rushing — JC: Evan Kapitz 13-67; P: Teagan Friederick 18-132, Nathan Friederick 12-91. Passing — JC: Alex David 1-4-2, (-4); P: Tyler Udelhoven 4-6-0, 33. Receiving — JC: Evan Kapitz 1-(-4); P: Alex Udelhofen 2-23.
