I tell you what, you'll be hard-pressed to have a better opening game of the season than what we witnessed for our first RPAC Rundown Featured Matchup. The Wolves of Maywood-Hayes Center played host to Wilcox-Hildreth. MHC came away with the victory, by a narrow margin, 19-18.
One of the storylines in this game was that Wilcox-Hildreth is now in the 8-man ranks after many years in 6-man.
But back to the game, high, high drama.
In the first quarter, each team found success moving the ball up and down the field but no points were scored.
The Falcons though, got the scoring started early in the second, 10:04 remaining to be exact, as they had a trick play with Graiden Ritner finding Thomas Donley from 41 yards away. the conversion was no good and it was 6-0. The Wolves answered with a 12-play, which was run heavy, but was capped off by a 16-yard pass from Kody Schwenk to Grady Erickson with 3:48 to go before halftime.
The extra point was good and it was 7-6, Wolves.
The Wolves defense stood tall, and the offense took over at their own 30-yard line. Well, it didn't take long as Kody Schwenk ran it in from 50 yards away and MHC led 13-6.
The Falcons took over and fumbled the rock and MHC had it on the Wilcox-Hildreth 32-yard line. The Wolves were looking to increase that lead, but an interception by Brody Patterson gave the Falcons life before the half. It took seven plays, but late in the half they scored as Graiden Ritner punched it in from a yard out.
And that's how we went to the half, 13-12 in favor of MHC.
In the second half, Wilcox-Hildreth started with the ball and moved it to the MHC 31. The Falcons quarter Back, Dagab Ortgisen threw an interception as Charlie Callis made a nice play on the ball. The Wolves put together a nice drive but ended up fumbling deep in Wilcox-Hildreth territory, about the two-yard line, and the Falcons took possession again.
The Falcons again couldn't do anything with it and the Wolves looked to move the ball downfield and score.
MHC took the ball and found success on a seven-play drive as Grady Erickson scored from five yards out. They failed the conversion and it was 19-12 late in the third quarter.
The defense was huge for the Wolves. In the final period, they did allow 59-yard punt return by Graiden Ritner inside two minutes to go and it was 19-18. The Falcons tried to run the halfback pass again, but Jaxson Anders was right there to intercept the pass.
The onside kick didn't travel 10 yards, so the Wolves took the ball and kneeled it a couple of times to close the game.
We caught up with Kody Schwenk after the win. Our postgame interviews are brought to you by Acme Printing Company
The Following Stats Are Unofficial
For the Wolves, they had 232 yards rushing and 55 passing. Wilcox-Hildreth had 68 yards rushing and 109 yards passing.
MHC was led by Kody Schwenk with 112 yards rushing, a score, 55 yards passing and a touchdown. Grady Erickson had 90 yards rushing, 16 yards recieving and two touchdowns.
Graiden Ritner had 60 yards for Wilcox-Hildreth on the ground. He also had 41 yards threw the air with a touchdown and a punt return for a score. Dagan Ortgisen had 68 yards passing and a touchdown.
MHC is now 1-0 and will play Mullen next Friday. Wilcox-Hildreth is 0-1 and will face Deshler next Friday.
Check out the highlights from the game brought to you by Praire Girl Candle Co.
