Character building victory
By Jim den Hollander
Wisconsin Dells is like most small towns in the American midwest - or America for that matter. Talk in town on a September Saturday morning often revolves around the high school football team's latest test. Following yet another winning battle with adversity and a 35-19 win against the visiting Milwaukee Bradley Tech Trojans Friday night, the WDHS Chiefs were the object of a lot of talk Saturday no doubt. The conversations likely started out with an admission like "I thought our boys were done," and no doubt included words like 'comeback' and ''surprise' and in some cases 'gutsy.' That talk came after the Chiefs wrapped up a perfect 4-0 non-conference portion of its schedule with a gritty and inspired effort and despite the fact the game was far from a 'do-or-die' contest, it has to rank up their among the team's biggest victories in the past decade. It would have been hard to find a person outside of the student body that figured the team had a chance 10-minutes into the contest with the Chiefs trailing 13-0 and seemingly unable to do much against the 'city boys.' The Trojans appeared to have the ability to move the ball at will while the Chiefs' offense wasn't sputtering - it was idling. Senior quarterback Kyle Theiler finally got the medical 'OK' to start for the Chiefs after sitting out the first three contests with a spleen-related ailment. However, while Theiler made his way behind the center, senior running back Michael Morse and his 500 plus rushing yards through the first three contests, were in civvies for this one at least, still making his way back to form from a toe injury suffered a week earlier in Mayville. Theiler's first series was one he is likely trying to forget...a couple of short running plays and an interception pass that started the second Trojans' scoring drive. Oh, but he made up for that. Needing some kind of spark in a game that seemed destined to end as a lopsided defeat, the Chiefs got it from its quarterback on the second series. Showing the poise and scrambling ability most figured would be his strength, Theiler turned what at first appeared to be a broken play into a 75-yard touchdown run, eluding several tackles before finally breaking free. That touchdown came with just under five minutes to play in the first quarter and changed the game instantly. Just a couple of minutes later, facing a fourth-and-six, the Trojans attempted to pass its way out of trouble and Matt Snyder picked it off. That started another Chiefs' drive that finished with Jimmy Alvin hauling in a six-yard touchdown pass from Theiler. A 65-yard kickoff return to the end zone before the second quarter was three minutes old saw the Chiefs grab control of the contest, but its opponent showed it had some fight left, a 55-yard pass and touchdown run down the left sideline trimming the Chiefs' lead to 21-19. Theiler's second touchdown of the contest, this time from six yards out gave the Chiefs a 28-19 cushion. The lone second half score was another big one by senior Zach Batchelor with the Chiefs pinned inside of its own red zone. Batchelor busted through a hole opened by the offensive line and never stopped, covering 89-yards and putting the game all but out of reach near the halfway mark of the final quarter. Dennis Navarro was a perfect five for five on extra point converts and has now made eight straight, including the Mayville contest. After moving the ball at will early on, the Trojans were unable to convert several key plays later, the final nail hammered in when the squad turned the ball over on its own four-yard line with two minutes to play. The Chiefs have made a habit of overcoming all obstacles so far this season. In a game that saw it without Morse who has been the team's leading rusher for the past four seasons, the team adapted and ultimately had not one, but two players go over the 100 yard mark. Batcheler, helped obviously by getting 89 yards in one shot, wrapped up a high school career best 167 yard game while Theiler, who until this season was more adept at hauling in passes, was able to scramble for 110 as well. Getting the big play at opportune times has been a key for this team and Batch SCC and Homecoming While important in building the character of the team, the truly important games begin Friday when the Chiefs kickoff South Central Conference play with its Homecoming contest against the Westfield Pioneers. The Chiefs are the lone undefeated SCC team heading into the final five contests, but solid results from all of the other five conference foes show the Chiefs aren't the only team enjoying a strong start to the season. Beginning with the 3-1 Pioneers, the Chiefs face five difficult battles in the next month and three of them will be on enemy territory. WISCONSIN DELLS 35, Mil. Bradley Tech 19 Bradley Tech 13 7 7 7 — 0 Wisconsin Dells 7 3 14 0 — 18 Bradley Tech— Bradley Tech — Wisconsin Dells — Wisconsin Dells — Wisconsin Dells — Bradley Tech — Wisconsin Dells — TEAM STATISTICS First downs — INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Rushing:
elor's has been among the biggest. The running back said the ball started rolling their way after Theiler's first quarter play
"It changed the momentum real big," said Batchelor. He started us off real big. We were let down you know. He brought us back up so, it was a big job on him. Once he got that big run, we stepped right back up and smacked them in the mouth."
It was a big win and settled a year old score for the Chiefs who were on the opposite side last season - getting off to a quick start, but ultimately tamed in Milwaukee.
"I think we were tied last year at half time and they came back and just whipped on us. We were pumped for this game. We were really looking forward to it."
As for Batchelor's touchdown, he said he was a little surprised to get the big opening, but added he knew right away he wasn't going to be stopped.
"I usually take reps in for (Morse) every game and I knew he was out. I knew a week ahead of time I had to step up. I put that on myself. The offensive line did great, they helped me push the line."