Citizen Staff/James Wold
Beaver Dam's Devin Kellenberger (25) runs over Luther Prep's Peter Schlicht (24) on his way to a TD Friday night.
Turnabout was fair play for the Beaver Dam football team Friday night against Watertown Luther Prep.
One week after Waupun scored a late touchdown in the first half of a 19-7 loss, BD's Mitch Aplin returned a 42-yard interception for a touchdown with 1 minute, 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
"It started with our line getting pressure on him," Aplin said. "Their starting QB (Jon Schroeder) was out and the new guy (Jake Jenswold) was just chucking them up not knowing where they were going.
"And I caught the ball in perfect position and had about five guys in front of me. A cut or two and I was able to get in."
The ensuing momentum combined with Devin Kellenberger's 304 rushing yards propelled the Golden Beavers to a 38-20 nonconference victory.
"The interception return for a touchdown was a huge swing in our favor," BD coach Tim White said. "That allowed us to go into halftime tied and that was due to our defensive pressure. It forced a lot of pressure on their young quarterback."
Kellenberger, for one, was pumped up by the turn of events which turned a 13-7 deficit into a tie game.
"It was a huge emotional high for me," Kellenberger said. "Mitch is one of my good friends and it was nice to see. It shot me up (emotionally) from a five or a 10 to a 20."
Not that Kellenberger really needed it.
The senior tailback riddled the Phoenix defense all night long. He opened the game with a 76-yard touchdown run that gave BD an early 6-0 lead.
When Luther Prep's defense started tiring in the second half, the holes only got wider for Kellenberger. In addition to his 76-yard run, Kellenberger also ripped off scoring plays of 55, 49, 13 and 9 yards after halftime.
Kellenberger credited his backfield mate Aplin for helping to soften up the Luther Prep defense.
"I'd have to say they were covering me real tough early on and I couldn't buy a run," Kellenberger said. "I have to give the props to Mitch. Everything that opened up was due to him.
"One cut, huge holes, everything you could ask for."
However, all three agreed the offensive line did the job, especially in the second half. BD totaled 395 yards on 35 carries with 284 of it coming over the final two quarters.
"You have to credit those guys on the offensive line — Raul (De La Garza), (Matt) Haase, Hank (Jacobs)," White said. "Mitch Berger did a great job. Josh Westphal came in on the left side and really did well."
On the other hand, BD's defense stepped up and smothered Luther Prep, limiting the Phoenix to 19 yards on the ground while intercepting Jenswold four times.
Even when things appeared to go wrong for BD, they turned out right. Dusty Blanchard intercepted Jenswold and looked to have a 70-yard touchdown return. But the play was called back on a penalty.
No worries.
Kellenberger needed one play to go 55 yards for the score and the rout was on.
White said his team must continue to work like this next week when defending Division 3 state champion Wisconsin Lutheran comes to town.
"We're excited about next week with Wisconsin Lutheran coming in," White said. "We need to be ready to play."
BEAVER DAM 38, LUTHER PREP 20
Luther Prep 6 7 0 7 - 20
Beaver Dam 7 6 6 19 - 38
LP - Mattek 5 run (kick fail)
BD - Kellenberger 76 run (Propst kick)
LP - Jo. Schroeder 22 pass from Jenswold (Chartrand kick)
BD - Aplin 42 interception return (kick fail)
BD - Kellenberger 49 run (kick fail)
BD - Kellenberger 13 run (pass fail)
BD - Kellenberger 55 run (pass fail)
LP - Jo. Schroeder 30 pass from Jenswold (Chartrand kick)
BD - Kellenberger 9 run (Propst kick)
WL BD
First downs 5 9
Total Net Yards 171 452
Rushes-yards 31-19 35-395
Passing 152 57
Comp-Att-Int 13-20-4 5-12-0
Penalties-Yards 4-30 5-60
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: RUSHING - LP, Mattek 14-10. BD, Kellenberger 17-304. PASSING - LP, Jenswold 9-12-4-99. BD, Berg 4-8-0-56. RECEIVING - LP, Henrich 4-71. BD, Blanchard 3-25.