BENTON – Shullsburg’s football team was shining bright under the new lights at Benton’s Swift Park on Friday, Sept. 2.
Quarterback Noah Wand threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, while running backs Ben Sigwarth and Lance Lierman each ran for two touchdowns to lead the visiting Miners over Benton/Scales Mound, 46-7, in the Zephyrs’ home opener under their newly installed lights.
Wand put the Miners (4-0 overall, 3-0 Six Rivers Conference; ranked #8 in Division 7) on the scoreboard when he scrambled 28 yards for a touchdown with 7:29 to play in the first quarter to put the guests ahead to stay.
Lierman bulled in from four yards out with under a minute remaining in the first quarter to extend the lead to 14-0, and the Miners tacked on 26 more points in the second quarter to build up a 40-0 halftime lead.
Wand hooked up with senior wideout Nathan Wedige on a 40-yard scoring strike to open the quarter, and he teamed with senior tight end and former Zephyr Jeremiah Bailey on a 16-yard TD connection to close the scoring in the quarter. In between, Sigwarth ran for scores of three and 14 yards for the Miners.
Lierman accounted for the lone score of the third quarter when he raced in from 18 yards out to put the Miners up 46-0.
The Zephyrs (0-3, 0-2) posted the first points on the Miners' defense this season in the fourth quarter when junior Brendan Carlborg found the end zone from four yards out. Aldo Maziu added the PAT to close the scoring at 46-7. The Miners had outscored their opponents 126-0 this season before the Zephyrs broke through for their score.
The Miners outgained the Zephyrs 457-102 for the game, including a 277 to 93 edge on the ground and a 180 to nine advantage through the air.
Lierman carried it 10 times for 125 yards and two scores, while Sigwarth added 83 yards on eight totes with two scores of his own. Wand completed 8-of-10 passes for 180 yards and two TDs, and he ran five times for 30 yards and a score.
Wedige had two catches for 65 yards and a TD, and Bailey- a transfer from Benton who had two TD catches for the Zephyrs in their 36-34 win over the Miners last season- hauled in two passes for 46 yards and a score.
Defensively, William Martin recorded a team-high 13 tackles for the Miners. Chris Trejo and Wedige each made seven stops, while Wedige, Alan Montanye and Joey Meyer each registered a sack.
Junior Ethan Shetler gained 67 yards on 10 carries to lead the Zephyrs, and Carlborg added 54 yards on 14 carries with a TD.
Shullsburg returns to Badger Park to host Potosi (0-3, 0-2) in a Six Rivers Conference contest on Friday, Sept. 9, starting at 7 p.m.
The Zephyrs will host Black Hawk (1-2, 1-2) in a SRC clash at Swift Park on Friday at 7 p.m.
Shullsburg…. 14 26 6 0 – 46
Benton-SM…. 0 0 0 7 – 7
S – Noah Wand, 28 run (Lance Lierman run)
S – Lierman, 4 run (pass failed)
S – Nathan Wedige, 40 pass from Wand (Oscar Ortiz kick)
S – Ben Sigwarth, 3 run (Ortiz kick)
S – Sigwarth, 14 run (kick failed)
S – Jeremiah Bailey, 16 pass from Wand (kick failed)
S – Lierman, 18 run (kickfailed)
BSM – Brendan Carlborg, 4 run (Aldo Maziu kick)
Team Stats: First Downs– SH 18; BSM 7. Rushing– SH 31-277; BSM 43-93. Passing– SH 8-10-0, 180; BSM 1-6-0, 9. Fumbles-Lost– SH 2-2; BSM 2-0. Penalties– SH 4-28; BSM 6-58.
Leaders: Shullsburg– Rushing (Att-Yds-Td)– Lance Lierman, 10-125-2; Ben Sigwarth, 8-83-2. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Td-Yds)– Noah Wand, 8-10-0-2, 180. Receiving (Cat-Yds-Td)– Nathan Wedige, 2-65-1; Jeremiah Bailey, 2-46-1. BSM– Rushing (Att-Yds-Td)– Ethan Shetler, 10-67-0; Brendan Carlborg, 14-54-1. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Td-Yds)– Wyatt Bastian, 1-6-0-0, 9. Receiving (Cat-Yds-Td)– Zach Stadel, 1-9-0.
