Trio of Trojans getting a kick out of football
Photo courtesy of Duke Dutkowski
Every football team is looking to get a leg up on the competition.
For Green Bay Southwest, it’s actually been more like getting a few legs this season.
Brian Dutkowski, Noah Stiles and Camden Czarnecki have given the Trojans a consistent presence in their kicking game this year as the trio has pulled double duty in playing both football and soccer.
“They’ve melted right in with us,” Southwest co-head coach Tim Birr said.
“We used to cross our fingers and hope that we would make an extra point. Especially now, when you get into these playoff games, that’s been huge to have those guys.”
Southwest is 39-for-40 on extra points this season, including a game-winning one by Czarnecki, a sophomore, in overtime at Pulaski in a season-opening game.
The Trojans have also benefited from getting solid field position on kickoffs, which have seen Stiles and Dutkowski regularly run down on and be willing to make a tackle when called upon.
“We were blessed with three amazing guys to come up from the soccer team,” Southwest senior Nathan Steinbrecker said.
“I remember in the Preble game, it was tied and Brian Dutkowski hit a 40-yard field goal and that just brought a lot of momentum going into the half. So, that kind of pushed us over the edge there.”
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Dutkowski, Stiles and Czarnecki decided to come out for football after being encouraged by assistant football coach Tony Seidel to try to kick some extra points during summer workouts.
They didn’t have instant success to say the least in learning that kicking on the gridiron compared to kicking on the pitch was different.
But they got the hang of things by the start of the season.
“Our goal has been to boot it up as far as we can,” Dutkowski said. “That kind of helps out here.”
Southwest knows its trio of kickers could be a big help in the playoffs.
“Their role has been very important,” Green Bay Southwest co-head coach Tim Birr said. “It has been really neat to have them around.
A closer look
Matchup: No. 7 Ashwaubenon (4-5) at No. 2 Green Bay Southwest (8-1)
What: WIAA Division 2 first-round game
Recent meetings: Green Bay Southwest won 38-26 on Sept. 15 in a Fox River Classic Conference game. The Trojans also won 34-10 in a D2 first-round playoff game last year.
About the Jaguars: Going 4-5 and sneaking into the playoffs isn’t exactly how Ashwaubenon envisioned extending its postseason streak to 20 straight years. Following a 1-4 start that featured a rash of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars have won three of their last four games. Senior Anthony Guarascio led the FRCC by throwing for 2,044 yards and 22 touchdowns. Senior Will Adair has caught 43 passes for 647 yards and six touchdowns. If that connection can get hot, it could open some holes for senior Alex Stanko (804 rushing yards, 5.9 yards per carry) to make some big plays on the ground.
About the Trojans: Southwest doesn’t have a lot of depth, but it’s about as balanced of a team that you’re going to find in the Green Bay area. Junior Nick Howard threw for 1,714 yards and 19 touchdowns, senior Josh Komis rushed for 1,042 yards and 13 touchdowns, and senior Kaleb Keener has caught 28 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, senior Nathan Steinbrecker has tallied 100 tackles, while junior Josh Yasha led the FRCC with six interceptions. Senior Joe Statz has helped with field position, compiling a FRCC-high 293 yards on punt returns.
Bottom line: The Southwest defense has been tough to crack this season, allowing only 13.7 points per game. But Ashwaubenon did put up 26 points against the Trojans in Week 5 and possess enough offensive firepower to make this contest a shootout, which may be the Jaguars’ best scenario to pull the upset.