Varsity Badgers dig in to beat Bears 14-7
If someone were to ask you five or 10 years from now,”Hey, do you remember that homecoming football game in 2011 against Moscow?”
If you can’t remember, then you weren’t there. That’s too bad, because you missed a game that will surely rank among some of the Badger footballs best.
Coming into the contest reportedly as much as four touchdown underdogs for this game the varsity gridders settled in early with an attitude, and with a statement, not in our house.
With the blue machine firing on all eight cylinders the team moved the ball on offense with steady determination, and defensively throttled the Bears attempts to move the ball. By the end of the first period confusion and frustration could be seen not only in the Moscow players huddle, but on the Bears sidelines as well.
The Badgers struck first with Zachary Wilson carrying the skin the last 12 feet on a drive midway through the first quarter. The try for the two point conversion failed. The score put the Badgers up 6-0.
The Badger D kept the Bears scoreless for the first period and well into the second.
With less than three minutes left before the half the visitors made it over the stripe from eight yards out. The kick for the PAT was good and the Moscow Bears took the lead into the locker room at halftime 7-6.
When the teams returned to do battle in the second half it was the Badgers unified determination not to lose that provided the impetus for the reminder of the contest.
Early into the third period, QB Bradley Clausen took the snap from center, started right, then cut inside and cruised into the zone from nine yards out. Wanting to add some insurance to the lead coach Clint Arthur called Clausen’s number again for the two point conversion.
Clausen answered with a plunge straight ahead behind the formidable frontline of the Badgers. The Badgers had pulled ahead of the Bears by a score of 14-7.
Although the play of the offense was absolutely impressive, and well orchestrated amassing 230 total yards of offense, it was the performance of a determined defense that held the 4-A Bears on their side of the field for most of the second half.
With bone cracking hits, and total team domination the defenders held the Moscow team to 141 total yards while piling up three sacks for losses, and four interceptions. With the clock reminding the Badgers of their impending upset, the team stepped up the level of play and fired the afterburners.
The Bears were intent upon driving the field to steal the win, but the Blue Pride would have nothing to do with it. With 4:30 left in the game, the Bears went into the Badger secondary with a pass that looked as though would be a long gainer, but Christian Trocke slipped in and deftly intercepted the ball breaking the Moscow drive.
The blue pride took over from their own 38 and attempted to grind the rest of the way for another score. After running the ball towards Bear territory the drive stalled and the Badgers were forced to punt with just 1:35 left to play.
It was up to the defense to stop the Moscow team from going down the field and pulling the plug on a Badger victory.
The Bears made three successful pass plays for a first down at the Badgers 47-yard line, and it appeared that they were gaining momentum. On the next play the Moscow QB sat in the pocket and delivered a perfect toss 20 yards deep downfield to an open receiver. The ball hung in the air. The receiver turned to catch the pass; and then, two hands in a No. 14 Badger blue jersey came in from the side and stole the ball for the key interception. Clausen had slammed the door shut on the Moscow comeback.
With 1:53 left to play the Badger offense went to a victory formation and ran the clock out for a hard earned win. Final score was Badgers 14-7 over the Moscow Bears. On offense Wilson ended the game with 34 carries for 143 yards and one touchdown.
Trocke had four attempts with one completion in passing for 63 yards. Defensively, it was Adam Lund frustrating the Bears backfield with five solo tackles, six assisted tackles, and two sacks for loss of yards. Thomas Amoth added three unassisted, and four assists, while Wilson tallied two solos, and four assists. There is one remaining group to applaud in their part of this remarkable homecoming win.
A group that rarely gets the recognition they so surely deserve, the Badger cheerleaders. All throughout the game and especially towards the waning minutes of the victory, this group of girls coached by Tammy Hedrick helped keep the fans fired up and definitely added to the team’s motivation. It was an impressive display of school spirit.
Comments on this article are welcomed by Doc at choctawdoc@gmail.com