CUBA CITY — Cuba City had plenty to celebrate on Homecoming Night as the Cubans overwhelmed the visiting Boscobel Bulldogs, 61-6, in a SWAL prep football game at Barth Field on Friday, Sept. 22.
Junior quarterback Andy Clendenen accounted for five first-half touchdowns to lift the Cubans out to a 48-0 halftime lead, and junior running back Mason Reuter scored three rushing touchdowns to aid the rout.
The Cubans (4-2 overall, 4-0 SWAL) kept pace atop the league standings heading into Friday’s showdown with SWAL co-leader Mineral Point (5-1, 3-0) by posting their fourth straight victory, and they also locked up their seventh straight WIAA playoff berth with their Homecoming win.
“It was a big win for us. You never know how kids will play on such a busy homecoming week. The players where very focused on the job they set for themselves. We executed on all phases of the game,” commented Cuba City head coach Guy Kopp.
Clendenen got the Cubans rolling with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Hoppman and a 1-yard TD run of his own to put the hosts up 14-0 less than three minutes into the game.
A power outage turned shut down the field lights for a brief time, but once they came back on there was little the Bulldogs (0-6, 0-3) could do to shut down the Cubans on each side of the ball.
A 27-yard TD jaunt by Reuter and a 9-yard TD reception by senior Ben Marti extended the lead to 28-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Clendenen tossed his third TD of the game on a 45-yard scoring strike to senior Mason Erschen and tacked on his second rushing TD of the night on a 6-yard scamper, while Reuter hit pay dirt from 12 yards out midway through the half to put the Cubans up 46-0.
The Cubans’ defense, which didn’t allow the Bulldogs to run a play across the midfield stripe until late in the third quarter, got into the scoring act by registering a safety with 44 seconds remaining in the first half to go into the intermission sporting a 48-0 lead.
“This was such a great team effort in this win. Our offensive line gave our quarterback great time to throw the ball and our receivers caught the ball. That, in return, set up our run game,” Kopp pointed out.
Reuter, who ran 13 times for 109 yards to lead the Cubans’ ground attack, secured the hat trick with a 17-yard TD run in the third quarter to make it 55-0.
After Boscobel finally crossed the 50 on a long pass down the Cubans’ 1, Eric Ward punched the ball across the goal line from there to put the ‘Dawgs on the scoreboard.
The Cubans didn’t wait long to answer with Erschen returning the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for his second TD of the night.
Cuba City rolled up over 400 yards of offense in the game, rushing 29 times for 199 yards and five touchdowns while completing nine passes for 240 yards and three more scores. Boscobel was limited to 137 total yards for the game, including just 40 rushing yards, by the Cubans.
Clendenen connected of nine of the 15 passing attempts for 240 yards and three TDs, and he ran five times for 28 yards and two TDs.
Hoppenjan caught three passes for 105 yards and a score, and added 25 yards on one carry for the Cubans. Erschen had two catches for 76 yards and a TD, while Marti had three catches for 46 yards and a TD and he intercepted a pass one defense.
The Cubans heads to Mineral Point for a key SWAL clash with the Pointers on Friday, Sept. 29. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
“The Pointers are tough. They are very big up front, and their QB is not only a good passer but he can run the ball very well. We will need to stay focused on defense and really have to do our job in order to stop them. On offense, we will need to keep ball control and take advantage on what they give us,” noted Kopp. “We have been playing fast and hard and just having fun. We will be tested and have to face some adversity. We must be able to deal with it on the field. I know our players and they will be up for that challenge.”
Boscobel………. 0 0 6 0 – 6
Cuba City……… 28 20 13 0 – 61
CC – Ryan Hoppenjan, pass from Andy Clendenen (Kaleb Polzin kick)
CC – Clendenen, 1 run (Polzin kick)
CC – Mason Reuter, 27 run (Polzin kick)
CC – Ben Marti, pass from Clendenen (Polzin kick)
CC – Mason Erschen, pass from Clendenen (kick failed)
CC – Clendenen, 6 run (kick failed)
CC – Reuter, 12 run (kick failed)
CC – Safety
CC – Reuter, 17 run (Polzin kick)
B – Eric Ward, 1 run (run failed)
CC – Erschen, 75 kickoff return (kick failed)
Team Stats: First Downs– B 7, CC 12. Rushing– B 27-40; CC 29-199. Passing– B 9-19-1, 97; CC 9-12-0, 240.Fumbles-Lost– B 2-2; CC 1-1. Penalties- B 7-62; CC 4-50.
CC Individual Leaders: Rushing (Att-Yds-Td)– Mason Reuter, 13-109-3. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Td-Yds)– Andy Clendenen, 9-18-0-3, 240. Receiving (Cat-Yds-Td)– Ryan Hoppenjan, 3-105-1.
