Mistakes add up in Menominee Indian football team's loss to Kewaunee

Beaulieu-Morgan connects with Smith for lone touchdown
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

The Menominee Indian High School football team put together a better showing than its first alternate fall season game, but still committed too many mistakes that resulted in a 43-6 loss on April 1 to Kewaunee at Calder Stadium in Menasha.

Whenever the Eagles seemed to gain some momentum with a big play on offense or defense, the team was unable to sustain it.

“It’s little mistakes. It’s things that are easily corrected but it’s just little things,” said Menominee Indian coach Chris Clache. “I tell my guys, ‘we take two steps forward, and we take one step back.’ It was like that the whole night.

“We really beat ourselves.”

Kewaunee opened the game with the ball and had a strong drive going before Menominee Indian junior Bryce Dixon broke up a couple of pass attempts to force a turnover on downs.

Menominee Indian’s offense got a first down before stalling near midfield and having to punt.

After another long Kewaunee drive, Menominee Indian’s defense stiffened again in the red zone, with junior Wendell Waukau knocking down a pass at the line of scrimmage to get the ball back for the Eagles.

On the second play of the ensuing drive, junior quarterback Devin Beaulieu-Morgan was sacked and had the ball stripped away. Kewaunee picked up the loose ball and scampered into the end zone for the game’s first score.

The Eagles’ offense got near midfield again on their next drive before stalling again. A high snap on the punt attempt helped give Kewaunee good field position, and the Storm capitalized with a touchdown on the second play of the drive.

Menominee Indian’s next drive started with a first-down pass from Beaulieu-Morgan to junior Allen Smith, but the Eagles fumbled on a rushing attempt the next play.

The Eagles forced a turnover on downs the ensuing possession but gave the ball right back after an interception. Kewaunee responded with a touchdown to make it 20-0.

Another high snap on a Menominee Indian punt attempt the next drive resulted in a safety, and Kewaunee’s offense scored again on the next possession to push the lead to 28-0.

After an Eagles’ punt, Kewaunee put together another touchdown drive to get the running clock going at the start of the second half. The Storm tallied 22 points in the final five minutes of the second quarter.

“I feel like we just got to keep playing our hardest. A couple of us are giving up on the play, and then if one person gives up, the play’s no good,” said Smith. “I feel like that comes with chemistry. So keep playing together, get more experience.”

Menominee Indian had a couple more drives stall in the second half before finishing off a possession about midway through the final quarter.

Dixon made a contested catch to spark the drive before Beaulieu-Morgan and Smith connected on a 24-yard touchdown pass.

Beaulieu-Morgan eluded Kewaunee pressure, scrambling to his left before delivering a pass into the end zone, where Smith worked around multiple bodies to make the catch.

“Well thanks to my big guys up front giving me enough time to escape left, I was able to see Allen and give him a chance,” said Beaulieu-Morgan, who finished with 161 passing yards. “I trust my guys to make those kinds of plays. He really made an awesome catch, it’s great to see his hard work pay off like that.”

Dixon and Smith each finished with 64 receiving yards in the contest. Smith also had nine total tackles, while juniors Peter Husby, Gregory Turney and Tate Zhuckkahosee all had six total tackles. Junior Andre Corn had 13 total tackles in the first half alone before leaving with an injury.

Menominee Indian was bit hard by the injury bug during the contest, with several key pieces getting dinged up. The Eagles will rest up and try to correct its mistakes before a battle with Deerfield on April 10.

Kewaunee 6 30 7 0  — 43

Menominee Indian 0 0 0 6 — 6

First quarter

K: Jack Severin fumble return (kick failed), 2:17

Second quarter

K: Alexander Rohr 39-yard pass from Mitchell Thompson (Severin run), 11:55

K: Severin 4-yard run (kick failed), 4:11

K: Safety, ball snapped out of end zone, 3:32

K: Severin 21-yard run (kick failed), 2:36

K: Rohr 18-yard pass from Thompson (Ayden Stangel run), 0:04

Third quarter

K: Severin 54-yard run (Thompson kick), 6:49

Fourth quarter

MI: Allen Smith 24-yard pass from Devin Beaulieu-Morgan (pass failed), 5:31

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