Lena/STAA football season comes to an end

Co-op topped by Wabeno/Laona
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

The Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Academy 8-player football co-op was eliminated from the postseason after a 24-10 loss to Wabeno/Laona on Oct. 29 in Lena.

Lena/STAA’s offense moved the ball well all game, but had several long drives end in no points after defensive stops by Wabeno/Laona.

“Well we came out, our linemen were playing a really good game. We found holes and ran it down there but when it came down to it, (Wabeno/Laona) made plays and that’s the difference in this game. We were there, we could have won,” said Lena/STAA senior Logan Shallow.

Lena/STAA opened the game with the ball and put together a time-consuming drive that ended in a 1-yard touchdown run from junior quarterback Sam Marquardt.

Wabeno/Laona answered with a long touchdown drive of its own. By the end of that drive, there was just 37 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The rest of the first half was a struggle for both teams.

Lena/STAA punted on its next drive after going three-and-out. Wabeno/Laona made it down to the Lena/STAA 20-yard line on the ensuing drive before an interception by Marquardt ended the drive.

The hosts then worked the ball down to the Wabeno/Laona 6-yard line before a penalty knocked them back. A couple plays later, Marquardt’s third-down pass was intercepted in the end zone.

Lena/STAA’s defense forced a punt, but then had its offense stuffed on a fourth-down run. The host’s defense made a fourth-down stop of its own to get the ball back before turning the ball over on another interception.

Lena/STAA’s defense forced a punt late in the half, then saw Marquardt break off a long run to give the hosts a shot to score before halftime, but Wabeno/Laona intercepted its third pass of the half.

Wabeno/Laona then broke the long scoreless drought with a touchdown drive on the first possession of the second half. The visitors capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal.

Lena/STAA looked to be on its way to answering the touchdown, only to have a fourth-and-goal run from the 1-yard line stuffed.

“They were a very solid team. They play together and they executed when we didn’t execute,” said Marquardt of Wabeno/Laona. “We didn’t do the little things to get in the end zone every time.”

The host’s defense came up with a safety on the second play of the ensuing drive to get the team back within six, 16-10. Junior Josh Kristof had the tackle for loss resulting in the safety.

Lena/STAA’s offense then moved the ball to the 26-yard line before going backward. On fourth-and-12, a trick play pass was intercepted by Wabeno/Laona.

Lena/STAA’s defense got the ball right back when senior Mason Simonson jumped on a fumble. The host’ offense worked the ball to the 12-yard line before throwing an incomplete pass on fourth down.

Wabeno/Laona then added to its lead with a long touchdown drive.

A couple of negative-yardage plays put Lena/STAA’s offense in third-and-long on the next drive, and a pair of incompletions resulted in a turnover on downs. Wabeno/Laona then picked up a first down to run out the rest of the fourth quarter clock.

While it was a tough way to end the season, the Lena/STAA players were told to not hang their heads from co-coaches Eddie Huberty and Dale Lange.

The team finished 9-1 overall. The co-op won the MONPLC-East Division with a 5-0 mark and then earned a playoff win. According to the WIAA history books, the co-op had not won a playoff game in three previous playoff appearances.

It was quite the turnaround for a program that was winless in 2019, with its senior class at the heart of the recent success.

“It’s amazing. Like, two years ago we were 0-9. We worked hard in the offseason and worked hard every year. We kept putting in the work and then showed off that hard work this year,” said senior Lane Whiting.

“It means a lot to us,” said Shallow. “We turned this program around and we worked our butts off for four years and I hope we inspired the younger kids to come back next year and work their butts off too and succeed.”

Wabeno/Laona 8 0 8 8 — 24

Lena/STAA 8 0 2 0 —10

First quarter

LS: Sam Marquardt 1-yard run (Lane Whiting run), 5:52

WL: Braden Brauer 2-yard run (Frank Shepard pass from Connor Taylor), 0:37

Third quarter

WL: Taylor 4-yard run (Adam Seeber pass from Taylor), 6:22

LS: Safety (Wabeno/Laona player tackled in own end zone), 2:24

Fourth quarter

WL: Taylor 11-yard run (Brauer pass from Taylor), 2:39

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