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You can call them the Cardiac Rockets, and with a win next week you can also call them Fox Valley Association champions.
That's the position the Neenah football team has put itself in after a thrilling 31-29 victory over Fond du Lac on Oct. 10 at Rocket Stadium.
The win improves Neenah to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in the Fox Valley Association and ensures at least a share of the conference title. It was the fourth consecutive one-score victory by Neenah and sixth of the season.
"There's no question about it, our boys are tough and they believe in themselves," Neenah coach Steve Jung said. "They put the time in the weight room and put the preparation in practice and when opportunity meets preparation, that's our luck. We've really been strong in the fourth quarter finishing out these games."
Neenah led 14-8 at the half, but the teams combined to score five touchdowns in an explosive third quarter.
The Rockets' Ashton VanBeek had a 31-yard touchdown run and then hit Cooper Sieck on a 64-yard touchdown pass. The latter score gave Neenah a 28-22 advantage with 3:03 left in the quarter.
Fond du Lac was up to the challenge and answered on its ensuing possession when Eli Michalkiewicz connected with tight end Adrian Johnson on a 33-yard touchdown strike to move ahead 29-28 with 1:01 left in the quarter.
Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior, gave Neenah trouble all night and finished with seven catches for 164 yards.
Fond du Lac (4-4 overall, 2-4 FVA) dominated the fourth quarter in time of possession, running 24 plays to Neenah's six. But the Rockets defense got two key interceptions in the quarter to thwart the Cardinals' scoring opportunities.
Sophomore cornerback Owen Fox had one and junior linebacker Connor Stuckel had another on the Cardinals' next possession. A 34-yard field goal by Harry Gerdin early in the quarter proved to be the decisive score.
"I think that was the momentum we needed to take this (win)," Stuckel said. "Those are always momentum changers. I think we've had a lot of sophomores step up. Owen Fox has done amazing. He got that pick. I'm just proud of the guys."
Neenah plays at Hortonville (1-7, 1-5 FVA) in the regular-season finale.
"We're going right back to work," Jung said. "It was definitely a hard win and I think our boys are showing that they're hungry and that they're thirsty for it. The games that happened tonight in the FVA, there's a little more parity than you think. We have some work to do for next week."
Alex Thompson’s 3-yard run with 8:15 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Patriots a 13-7 lead and that was the final score in their victory over the Lightning at Pickett Field.
It was Appleton East’s first victory over Appleton North since 2014. The Patriots are 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the FVA.
"What a huge win over an incredible Appleton North team," Appleton East coach Jarrius James said. "I'm absolutely fired up and couldn't be prouder of our players, coaches and fans. This one was a battle from start to finish, a true fourth-quarter fight and we never backed down."
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Ayden Kruse scored on a 4-yard run for Appleton East in the third quarter to tie the game at 7-7. He finished with 201 yards on 30 carries.
The victory wasn't sealed until Appleton East recovered a North fumble near midfield with 45.8 seconds remaining.
"This night was about more than just football. This was our East Tackles Cancer game and to see our community show up the way they did was something special," James said. "The support, the love, the unity, it was powerful. It reminded all of us why we do this. This win was for something bigger and it meant more because of it."
The Lightning (5-3, 4-2 FVA) took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a screen pass from Grant Hardy to Brock Struensee that went for a 37-yard touchdown.
Darcel Wilson rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries for the Lightning.
The Papermakers (6-2, 5-1 FVA) stopped the Ghosts on a two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds of the game to hold on for an 8-6 win.
Kaukauna (3-5, 3-3 FVA) scored with 1 second remaining on a 5-yard run by quarterback Quentin Gustman to pull within 8-6. The Ghosts went for the two-point conversion and Kimberly was called for pass interference on an incomplete pass, moving the ball just inside the 2-yard line and giving Kaukauna a second chance.
Gustman ran left but was tackled short of the end zone with 1 second remaining. Kimberly then recovered the onside kick to end the game.
Kimberly took an 8-0 lead in the third quarter when Ryan Buchanan caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Cam Wong. The Papermakers were going to kick the extra point, but Kaukauna jumped offsides twice and the ball was moved to the 1-yard line. Kimberly then opted to go for the two-point conversion and Brady Bell ran in for the successful conversion to make it 8-0.
Menasha (5-3, 4-2 FRCC-South) got big rushing performances from Keonte Thigpen and Carter Rateau in its 42-0 victory over Sheboygan South. Thigpen ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns and Rateau added 135 yards on 13 carries and a score. ... Brillion raced to a big halftime lead en route to a 24-10 victory over St. Mary Catholic. Brillion lifts its overall record to 6-2 and 5-1 in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference, tied for first place with New Holstein and Roncalli. Heath Cousin had a pair of touchdown runs in the first half, including a 76-yard scamper in the second quarter. Tarver Trinkner had a 5-yard touchdown run for SMC (4-4, 3-3 EWC). ... De Pere beat Appleton West 43-6. The Terrors committed four turnovers and allowed 214 yards rushing to the Redbirds. ... Hilbert (6-2, 4-2 Big East) turned the ball over three times in its 54-13 loss to undefeated Manitowoc Lutheran (8-0, 6-0).
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Week 8 high school football highlights from the Appleton area
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That's the position the Neenah football team has put itself in after a thrilling 31-29 victory over Fond du Lac on Oct. 10 at Rocket Stadium.
The win improves Neenah to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in the Fox Valley Association and ensures at least a share of the conference title. It was the fourth consecutive one-score victory by Neenah and sixth of the season.
"There's no question about it, our boys are tough and they believe in themselves," Neenah coach Steve Jung said. "They put the time in the weight room and put the preparation in practice and when opportunity meets preparation, that's our luck. We've really been strong in the fourth quarter finishing out these games."
Neenah led 14-8 at the half, but the teams combined to score five touchdowns in an explosive third quarter.
The Rockets' Ashton VanBeek had a 31-yard touchdown run and then hit Cooper Sieck on a 64-yard touchdown pass. The latter score gave Neenah a 28-22 advantage with 3:03 left in the quarter.
Fond du Lac was up to the challenge and answered on its ensuing possession when Eli Michalkiewicz connected with tight end Adrian Johnson on a 33-yard touchdown strike to move ahead 29-28 with 1:01 left in the quarter.
Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior, gave Neenah trouble all night and finished with seven catches for 164 yards.
Fond du Lac (4-4 overall, 2-4 FVA) dominated the fourth quarter in time of possession, running 24 plays to Neenah's six. But the Rockets defense got two key interceptions in the quarter to thwart the Cardinals' scoring opportunities.
Sophomore cornerback Owen Fox had one and junior linebacker Connor Stuckel had another on the Cardinals' next possession. A 34-yard field goal by Harry Gerdin early in the quarter proved to be the decisive score.
"I think that was the momentum we needed to take this (win)," Stuckel said. "Those are always momentum changers. I think we've had a lot of sophomores step up. Owen Fox has done amazing. He got that pick. I'm just proud of the guys."
Neenah plays at Hortonville (1-7, 1-5 FVA) in the regular-season finale.
"We're going right back to work," Jung said. "It was definitely a hard win and I think our boys are showing that they're hungry and that they're thirsty for it. The games that happened tonight in the FVA, there's a little more parity than you think. We have some work to do for next week."
Appleton East pulls huge upset over Appleton North
Alex Thompson’s 3-yard run with 8:15 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Patriots a 13-7 lead and that was the final score in their victory over the Lightning at Pickett Field.
It was Appleton East’s first victory over Appleton North since 2014. The Patriots are 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the FVA.
"What a huge win over an incredible Appleton North team," Appleton East coach Jarrius James said. "I'm absolutely fired up and couldn't be prouder of our players, coaches and fans. This one was a battle from start to finish, a true fourth-quarter fight and we never backed down."
VOTE NOW: Who should be the Post-Crescent's girls volleyball player of the year? Choose from these 20 candidates
VOTE NOW: Which team was the best in September? Vote for the Piggly Wiggly Post-Crescent high school team of the month
Ayden Kruse scored on a 4-yard run for Appleton East in the third quarter to tie the game at 7-7. He finished with 201 yards on 30 carries.
The victory wasn't sealed until Appleton East recovered a North fumble near midfield with 45.8 seconds remaining.
"This night was about more than just football. This was our East Tackles Cancer game and to see our community show up the way they did was something special," James said. "The support, the love, the unity, it was powerful. It reminded all of us why we do this. This win was for something bigger and it meant more because of it."
The Lightning (5-3, 4-2 FVA) took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a screen pass from Grant Hardy to Brock Struensee that went for a 37-yard touchdown.
Darcel Wilson rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries for the Lightning.
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Kimberly holds off Kaukauna
The Papermakers (6-2, 5-1 FVA) stopped the Ghosts on a two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds of the game to hold on for an 8-6 win.
Kaukauna (3-5, 3-3 FVA) scored with 1 second remaining on a 5-yard run by quarterback Quentin Gustman to pull within 8-6. The Ghosts went for the two-point conversion and Kimberly was called for pass interference on an incomplete pass, moving the ball just inside the 2-yard line and giving Kaukauna a second chance.
Gustman ran left but was tackled short of the end zone with 1 second remaining. Kimberly then recovered the onside kick to end the game.
Kimberly took an 8-0 lead in the third quarter when Ryan Buchanan caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Cam Wong. The Papermakers were going to kick the extra point, but Kaukauna jumped offsides twice and the ball was moved to the 1-yard line. Kimberly then opted to go for the two-point conversion and Brady Bell ran in for the successful conversion to make it 8-0.
Around the Fox Valley
Menasha (5-3, 4-2 FRCC-South) got big rushing performances from Keonte Thigpen and Carter Rateau in its 42-0 victory over Sheboygan South. Thigpen ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns and Rateau added 135 yards on 13 carries and a score. ... Brillion raced to a big halftime lead en route to a 24-10 victory over St. Mary Catholic. Brillion lifts its overall record to 6-2 and 5-1 in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference, tied for first place with New Holstein and Roncalli. Heath Cousin had a pair of touchdown runs in the first half, including a 76-yard scamper in the second quarter. Tarver Trinkner had a 5-yard touchdown run for SMC (4-4, 3-3 EWC). ... De Pere beat Appleton West 43-6. The Terrors committed four turnovers and allowed 214 yards rushing to the Redbirds. ... Hilbert (6-2, 4-2 Big East) turned the ball over three times in its 54-13 loss to undefeated Manitowoc Lutheran (8-0, 6-0).
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Week 8 high school football highlights from the Appleton area
Continue reading...
