Defending state champ Waukon pulls away from Panthers

     Monticello got off to the kind of start a football team would hope for, made more impressive by the fact the Panthers were playing at the home of defending state champion Waukon.

     The Panthers took the opening possession and marched 71 yards in 14 plays to take a 6-0 lead.

     Waukon took over from there, however, scoring 34 unanswered points and going on to a 40-12 win Friday, Sept. 21. This was the first district game on the Panthers’ schedule as they came out with records of 0-1 in the district and 2-3 overall. Waukon is 1-0 and 4-1.

     “Waukon is a good football team that does so many things offensively,” Monticello coach Wes Wilson said. “They are a very tough team to completely slow down, and they are going to get their yards.”

     The Indians totaled 409 yards Friday night, and got four of their six touchdowns from junior running back Dawson Baures.

     Still, Wilson said he was encouraged by the opening drive, which included a 30-yard pass from Jeff Carlson to Gavin Cooper, and ended on a four-yard touchdown toss, Carlson to Devin Kraus, on which Kraus made an over-the-shoulder catch.

     “We had to be balanced on offense and mix it up. We did that very well on the first drive, and all game, for the most part,” Wilson said. “We were able to move the ball and were in Waukon territory quite a few times, but just couldn’t punch it in.”

     Waukon’s Baures scored the next four touchdowns of the game. He caught a 51-yards scoring pass from Creed Welch, and ran in a two-point conversion to give the Indians an 8-6 lead.

     In the second quarter, Baures scored on a 26-yard run, and eight-yard pass from Welsch, and a 61-yard punt return.

     Late in the first half, Tony Wallerich picked off a Waukon pass and raced 43 yards to the Indians’ 16. But the Panthers had time for just one play after that, and were unable to score. Waukon led 28-6 at the break.

     Waukon had a time-consuming drive to open the second half, scoring on a three-yard pass from Welch to Michael Sweeney to take 34-6 lead, using up almost half the third quarter.

     Three series later, the Panthers answered with a 59-yard drive, scoring when Carlson hit Kraus on a 27-yard touchdown pass in which Kraus outfought a defender for the ball. Waukon led 34-12.

     The Indians scored once more, however, on a 39-yard run by Ethan O’Neill late in the third quarter. Neither team threatened in the final period.

     “The kids played extremely hard and we played as a team,” Wilson said. “We gave ourselves a chance to compete. Some turnovers and penalties kept this from being a close game. These guys are playing the game the right way.”

     Carlson completed 17 of 35 passes for 193 yards. Kraus had six catches for 86, and Cooper had six for 73. Lake Stahlberg rushed 19 times for 72 yards.

     Defensively, Stahlberg led the team in tackles with 10.5, and Chase Luensman had 9.5. Wallerich finished with two interception, and Cade Folken recovered a Waukon fumble.

     “This game will help us a lot,” the coach said. “We know we can compete, and we are continuing to get better.”

     The Panthers will have their homecoming game Friday, Sept. 28, against North Fayette Valley (1-0, 2-3).

Sept. 21

Monti       6    0     6    0  – 12

Waukon   8  20   12    0  – 40

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER

     Monti – Kraus 4 pass from Carlson (run failed), 6:42 remaining.

     Waukon – Baures 51 pass from Welch (Baures run), 1:48.

SECOND QUARTER

     Waukon – Baures 26 run (Welch run), 10:57.

     Waukon – Baures 8 pass from Welch (run failed), 4:33.

     Waukon – Baures 61 punt return (run failed), 2:18.

THIRD QUARTER

     Waukon – Sweeney 3 pass from Welch (run failed), 7:31.

     Monti – Kraus 27 pass from Carlson (kick failed), time unavailable.

     Waukon – O’Neill 39 run (run failed), time unavailable.

FOURTH QUARTER

     No scoring.

TEAM STATISTICS

                              Monti    Wauk

First downs            9            8

Rushing yards      93        228

Passing yards     193         181

Comp.-att.-int. 17-35-2  16-25-2

Total yards          286        409

Penalties              6-55     7-55

Fumbles lost         1            1

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

     Rushing – Stahlberg 19-72, Brokaw 1-9, Cooper 1-7, Carlson 1-4, B. Kramer 1-1.

     Passing – Carlson 17-35-193-2-2.

     Receiving – Kraus 6-86, Cooper 6-73, Recker 3-18, T. Luensman 2-16.

     Interceptions: Wallerich 2.

     Fumble recovery: Folken.

     Tackles – Stahlberg 10.5, C. Luensman 9.5, Cooper 8, Bowser 5.5, Wallerich 5.5, Picray 4, Folken 2, T. Luensman 3, Reuter 3, Weber 2.5, Barnhart 2, Eastburn 1.5, Jordan 1, Oswald 0.5.

     Tackles-for-loss: Picray 0.5, Stahlberg 0.5.