G.B. Southwest uses quick strikes to top Pulaski
PULASKI – The Green Bay Southwest football team endured body blow after body blow from Pulaski Thursday in a season-opening game.
The Trojans quick strikes made a bigger impact, though.
Nick Howard threw three touchdown passes to rally Southwest to a 21-20 overtime victory over the Red Raiders in a Fox River Classic Conference game.
The junior quarterback’s three TD throws were hauled in by three different targets, including senior Noah Schmidt, who made a diving catch for a 28-yard TD in overtime to set up the game-winning extra point by sophomore Camden Czarnecki.
“Credit to our kids,” Southwest co-head coach Pat Wallace said. “That’s a physical football team. They grind and pound you. I looked up at one point when we were down and got a little nervous but somehow our (offensive coordinator) found the play to strike again.”
Follow PrepsAgenda.com on Facebook
The Trojans combined for only four plays on their three touchdown drives.
Howard found junior Will Pytleski for a 71-yard TD on the first play from scrimmage of the game before finding senior Kaleb Keener for a 66-yard TD midway through the fourth quarter on another one-play drive to force overtime.
Spending more time on the field was not what Southwest wanted against a punishing Pulaski team, which is known for producing long drives with its ground game.
The Red Raiders dominated Thursday’s game for the most part, totaling 436 yards on 90 plays. They rushed for 380 yards and held the football for 30 of the 48 minutes in regulation.
Pulaski’s lone completed pass by senior Dustin Graf to sophomore Brock Egnarski for 56 yards led to a 16-yard TD run by junior Dylan Hendricks two plays later to give Pulaski a 14-7 lead at halftime.
The Red Raiders just couldn’t close the door in the second half.
WFRV Channel 5’s FRCC Football Roundup
“They made more plays than us,” Pulaski coach Jerad Marsh said. “They made the big play and we didn’t.”
The Red Raiders had the first possession in overtime and promptly got a 3-yard TD run by Hendricks, who finished with 178 yards on 31 carries. A swirling wind and confusion regarding not having enough players on the field for the protection factored in to not being able to convert on the extra point.
Meanwhile, Czarnecki was 3-for-3 on extra-point attempts. He is one of three soccer players Southwest is happy to have on its roster this season after the program struggled to find consistency with its kicking game last year.
“It’s a big difference,” Wallace said. “Compared to last year, when we were kicking the ball out of bounds and giving them the ball at the 40. We pinned them inside the 20 numerous times on our kickoff. That was huge.
“All in all, these guys came through for never playing a game of football in their life. They have to be thrilled because they helped this team win. It’s a credit to them and a credit to the school for allowing it because not every school will allow kids to do both.”
The Trojans had about eight to nine players who saw significant time on both sides of the field. Howard, for example, also recorded 14 tackles at safety.
“I give credit to our defensive kids,” Wallace said. “They kept fighting because that stuff wears you down and you could see it against that offense. Our staff did some tweaks at halftime to help adjust and get more numbers to the ball and that seemed to help.”
The Pulaski defense limited Southwest senior Josh Komis to 57 yards on 13 carries. Komis, who was the second-leading rusher in the FRCC last season, accounted for most of his yards on a 34-yard run on the last play of the third quarter.
Junior Logan Lukasik made an interception to set up the Red Raiders’ first touchdown early in the second quarter. Lukasik also made a pass breakup to save a touchdown in the second half.
“We have kids that are going to grow a lot out of it,” Marsh said. “They have to. They have an experience that not a lot of teams get this early. You’re tested and get an overtime opportunity. You have a lead and you didn’t hold onto and that stings.”
Scoring summary
G.B. Southwest 7 0 0 7 7 – 21
Pulaski 0 14 0 0 6 – 20
First quarter
SW – Will Pytleski 71 pass from Nick Howard (Camden Czarnecki kick)
Second quarter
PUL – Dustin Graf 1 run (Alec Jonet kick)
PUL – Dylan Hendricks 16 run (Jonet kick)
Fourth quarter
SW – Kaleb Keener 66 pass from Howard (Czarnecki kick)
Overtime
PUL – Hendricks 3 run (Kick failed)
SW – Noah Schmidt 28 pass from Howard (Czarnecki kick)
Individual statistics
Rushing – SW: Josh Komis 13-57; Nick Howard 13-34; Noah Schmidt 4-17. PUL: Dylan Hendricks 31-178; Dustin Graf 27-139; Brock Egnarski 12-35; Lucas Gracyalny 5-17; Alec Jonet 8-11.
Passing – SW: Howard 8-22-1-221; Komis 1-1-0-22. PUL: Graf 1-6-0-56; Hendricks 0-1-0-0.
Receiving – SW: Will Pytleski 3-123; Kaleb Keener 1-66; Schmidt 3-32; Howard 1-22; Joe Statz 1-0. PUL: Egnarski 1-56.