SHELBY — Bo Schembechler — okay, sorry, Jim Harbaugh for you high school kids — would be proud of the way that Wilber-Clatonia wears their green and white helmets. With a little bit of nasty, but plenty of discipline.
The Wolverines, ranked No. 1 in Class C-2 by both state newspapers, were a model of efficiency for the fourth time in as many outings to start the season here Friday as they defeated Shelby-Rising City 49-14 on homecoming.
That nasty, and that efficient, start right up front for W-C. It sure did Friday. Up 42-0 after three quarters, the Wolverines has one play for negative yardage and had held the Huskies to minus-3 yards rushing and 106 yards of total offense.
“They came out tough,” Wilber-Clatonia coach Lynn Jurgens said of the Huskies who marched down the field on their opening possession that ended in a blocked field goal. “They came and smacked us in the mouth early. But, our kids responded. We got some stops, then on defense and that was big.”
After Zach Keller blocked the field goal, the Wolverines used 14 plays to cover 68 yards for their opening score when quarterback Tanner Sand scored on a 1-yard sneak. And then the floodgates opened.
Brice Broz — Jurgens calls him an “all-state talent” — intercepted a Jake Hoatson pass on the next possession, then scored on a 7-yard pass from Sand for a 14-0 lead. Then, Riley Homolka force a fumble that Galvin Oliver recovered to set up Broz’s 10-yard run and it was 21-0 with 5:02 left before half.
They led 28-0 at the break with most of the big plays and clock sustaining drives you need in November spearheaded by a line full of seniors who have been through a little together.
Nathan Thompson is the left tackle. Dustin Jelinek is the left guard. Homolka, an all-stater, is the center. Keller is the right guard. And, Oliver is the right tackle.
“It all starts with those guys up front,” Jurgens said. “Those darn kids are amazing. They are super football intelligent.”
With that line, Jurgens has an almost unlimited play sheet. A little Bud Wilkinson wishbone (Google him, kids). A little Tom Osborne I-pro. And, some Urban Meyer spread.
“Heck, we just kind of go to different positions and see what is there,” the coach said. “And, then we try to take advantage of it by formation.”
The defense isn’t bad either. The season scoreless streak ended at 186 minutes and 47 seconds when Lincoln Schronerock scored from 24 yards out with 5:13 left in the game. Hoatson later added a touchdown run as well.
Little went wrong for W-C again. They had six ball carriers by the end of the first half, eight total. They committed just two penalties. Their one turnover came with a 42-8 lead in the fourth quarter. They look like a team built for “after harvest” football season.
Austin Powers
The ride home on Friday night’s for The Rewind generally includes a phone conversation with my favorite football coach: Dad.
So, when he heard of Heartland running back Austin Stuhr’s 35-carry, 448-yard effort against Nebraska Christian in a 62-44 win for the Huskies, his quick retort didn’t come as much of a surprise.
“It’s a good thing the ball isn’t heavy,” dad said. I think he’d get along with Heartland coach Matt Maltsberger just fine.
Stuhr is believed to be the first back over 1,000 yards this season as the Huskies are off to a 2-1 start, the lone loss to third-ranked High Plains in the season opener. So far, he’s carried 101 times for 1,083 yards and 18 touchdowns. You’d think those were “team” stats.
The senior is finding most of his success behind six key blockers his coach said. They include: Ethan Hall, Aaron Buller, Connor Peters, Hayes Oswald, Connor Boehr and Morgan Maltsberger.
It also doesn’t hurt that the guy doing the running won the 100, was second in the 200 and fourth in the 400 at the state track meet last spring.
Let’s Rewind
Class A | THURSDAY | Patient Bellevue West tops Wildcats
Class A | No. 1 Omaha North blanks LSE
Class A | Millard North needs late stand to beat Prep
Class A | Turnovers spark Bearcat romp
Class A | Kinne thefts lift GISH past Lincoln East
Class B | Road Warriors: Bluffs tops Aurora (GI Independent)
Class B | Antlers shock No. 2 Omaha Skutt
Class C-1 | Aquinas too much for Scotus
Class C-2 | Big first half lifts Centennial past Malcolm
Class C-2 | Bison bounce back; top HSC
Class C-2 | Defense lifts St. Paul to 3-1
