Citizen Staff/James Wold
Mayville's Brandon Mueller (22) tries to elude New Holstein's Travis Steffen (66) Tuesday.
NEW HOLSTEIN — Mayville had played four straight weeks of playoff football just to qualify for the tournament.
The toll eventually caught up with the Cardinals Tuesday night.
New Holstein racked up 348 yards on the ground and dominated the line of scrimmage to blank Mayville, 40-0, in the opening round of the Division 4 playoffs.
“We’ve been playing on reserve for quite a while,” Mayville coach Jason Harder said. “We’ve never had any consistency to these last few weeks.
“I told the guys they shouldn’t hang their heads after what they accomplished.”
New Holstein (7-3) had its ground attack going from the opening drive, marching 83 yards on seven plays. Cody Thede scored the first of his three touchdowns from 10 yards out to give the Huskies a 7-0 lead.
After a three-and-out by Mayville, Jordan Birschbach returned the ensuing punt 38 yards down to the Cards 10. Two plays later, Austin Polster rumbled in for a 10-yard score and a 14-0 advantage.
The Huskies continued to push the attack on Mayville (5-5) throughout the first half. New Holstein’s offensive line allowed Thede, Polster and Jake Entringer to combine for 316 yards on 31 carries.
“They really came off the ball tonight,” Harder said of New Holstein. “They were playing playoff football.”
Mayville, meanwhile, could got get anything going on offense.
The Cardinals were held to 66 yards of total offense and three first downs. Nick Hasch led Mayville with 28 yards on 11 carries.
Thede exploded for two more scores late in the second half, including a 43-yard rumble in which he broke three Mayville tackles. The junior finished with 145 yards on 13 carries.
Polster added 99 yards on nine carries and three scores.
Despite the loss, Harder said his team had plenty of reasons to be proud of their season, which opened 1-4 against the likes of playoff teams Brodhead/Juda, St. Mary’s Springs and Winnebago Lutheran Academy.
“They battled through a tough start to the year,” Harder said. “It’s been a makeshift-type of season from the beginning. But the seniors buckled down and that’s why we were able to win our last four games.”
NEW HOLSTEIN 40, MAYVILLE 0
Mayville 0 0 0 0 - 0
New Holstein 14 19 7 0 - 40
NH - Thede 10 run (Klapperich kick), 10:40
NH - Polster 10 run (Klapperich kick), 8:06
NH - Polster 4 run (kick fail), 11:56
NH - Thede 43 run (run fail), 5:16
NH - Thede 1 run (Klapperich kick), 1:11
NH - Polster 19 run (Klapperich kick), 6:38
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs - M 3 NH 14. Rushing (Att.-Yds.) - M 25-41, NH 48-341. Passing yards - M 25, NH 9. Passing (Comp.-Att.-Int.) - M 3-10-2, NH 1-7-0. Fumbles-lost - M 0-0, NH 0-0. Penalties-yards - M 4-25, NH 2-20.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: M - N. Hasch 11-28; NH - Thede 13-145, Polster 9-99. Passing: M - Mueller 2-9-2, 25; NH - Lefeber 1-7-0, 9. Receiving: M - Moehr 1-13; NH - Boettcher 1-9.