Football: Panthers come up short in road loss

SHAWANO — The Oconto Falls High School football team fell just short of earning a nonconference road win over Shawano on Friday. The Panthers turned the ball over five times in the 21-14 loss.

“Most football games come down to just five, six plays, and when you turn the ball over, it just magnifies what happens,” said Oconto Falls coach Nick Bohl. “When we make mistakes like that, we leave 21 points off (the scoreboard). We were inside the 30 (yard line) a bunch, and we left a lot of points on the field, enough to lose the football game.”

Oconto Falls got off to a shaky start in its first nonconference matchup of the year, allowing Shawano to score on its first possession. But the team buckled down after that.

After the Panthers’ defense forced a punt on the Hawks’ second possession, highlighted by a third-down sack from junior Tucker Moynihan, the visitors tied the game on the ensuing drive.

After senior quarterback Joey Walters kept the series alive with a third-down scramble, senior Mitchell Manns broke several tackles on his way to a 52-yard touchdown run.

“That’s what this team does. We don’t stop until the game is completely over and the clock shows zeroes,” said Manns, on the team’s ability to battle back.

The Panthers’ defense bent but didn’t break on the next Hawks’ offensive possession. Shawano got inside the Oconto Falls’ 20-yard line, but a sack on fourth down helped the visitors end the drive.

The first of the Panthers’ five turnovers came on the next drive, with an interception giving the Hawks the ball back.

Oconto Falls forced punts on the next two drives, but Oconto Falls fumbled on the punt return, setting up Shawano’s second touchdown just before halftime.

Oconto Falls answered on its second possession of the second half, a 79-yard drive.

Sophomore Dylan Thomson sparked the drive with several first-down runs, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run from senior Wyatt Borkovec.

“One good run gets the energy up and going, and then you get on the ball again and the intensity keeps rising, and you get a lot of momentum moving down the field. You get excited and want to get in the end zone,” said Borkovec on the Panthers getting into an offensive groove.

Shawano had an answer of its own, with a long kickoff return setting up a touchdown run on the next play to regain the lead.

Oconto Falls had several promising drives over the remainder of the game, but turnovers kept the visitors from capitalizing.

After Shawano took a 21-14 lead, Oconto Falls’ offense took the ball inside the host’s 25, but an interception ended the drive.

Oconto Falls’ next drive got to the Shawano 18, but another interception ended the threat.

The Panthers’ final drive of the game also looked promising, getting to midfield before a fumble.

“We had a couple mistakes where we shot ourselves in the foot. We have to bounce back from that going into next week,” said Manns.

The loss dropped Oconto Falls to 0-7 on the season, but Bohl has liked what he’s seen against a schedule full of soon-to-be playoff teams so far.

The Panthers return to North Eastern Conference play this week, hosting Marinette on Friday. Oconto Falls is set to travel to Clintonville for the final week of the season.

Oconto Falls 7 0 7 0

Shawano 7 7 7 0

First quarter

S: Brayden Dickelman 21-yard run (Ethan Schwitzer kick), 10:04

OF: Mitchell Manns 52-yard run (Manns kick), 2:59

Second quarter

S: Dickelman 4-yard run (Schwitzer kick), 0:32

Third quarter

OF: Wyatt Borkovec 1-yard run (Manns kick), 1:53

S: Dickelman 45-yard run (Schwitzer kick), 1:35

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