Witt-Birn football team playoff bound after blowout win

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School football team locked up a spot in the postseason with a convincing 51-19 homecoming victory over Shiocton in a Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Division matchup on Oct. 1 in Wittenberg.

Witt-Birn scored on all six of its offensive possessions in the first half to build a 42-0 lead at halftime. The Chargers were then content to run clock in the final half before pulling most of the starters from the contest.

The win bumped Witt-Birn’s record to 6-2 on the season and 4-1 in the CWC-Large. That record includes a forfeit conference win over Manawa.

The Chargers will be participating in the postseason for the 21st time in school history.

“It means a lot to all of us,” said senior Ben Wesolowski on the team qualifying for the playoffs. “We came out here knowing that was on the line and so we all gave it our best and we came out on top.”

Wesolowski, the team’s starting quarterback, had a huge game to power the Chargers’ offense. He threw three touchdowns, ran for another score and also caught a touchdown pass.

On the team’s second offensive play of the game, Wesolowski evaded a sack and found junior David Gauderman for a 53-yard passing score to put the hosts up less than three minutes into the game.

Gauderman rushed for a 35-yard score on Witt-Birn’s second possession.

It was then senior Kaden Schmidt’s turn to score. The receiver made a highlight reel catch in the back of the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown reception. On the first play of the next possession, Schmidt hauled in a screen pass, made a few defenders miss and sprinted for a 68-yard score.

Senior Jack Fraaza got in on the fun the next drive. The running back busted free for a 71-yard rushing score.

Wesolowski capped the dominant first half with another highlight reel play, breaking away from several defenders, including a couple inside the 10-yard line, for a 68-yard score as the second quarter clock expired.

“It was a lot of teamwork and a lot of watching film,” said Schmidt. “We knew what their defense was and we just set up a good gameplan to be able to attack them and score when we wanted and do what we wanted. That’s what helped us score every time we had the ball.”

With a running clock to start the third quarter, Witt-Birn chewed up the entire third quarter clock with one possession. Sophomore Nathan Waupekenay knocked in a 21-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter to make it 45-0.

Witt-Birn recovered a loose ball on the ensuing kickoff, so the offense got the ball right back. The Chargers determined it was a perfect time to have injured senior Luke Muscha take the field for a few snaps.

Muscha tore his ACL and meniscus against Amherst earlier this season, but pleaded to get a few more snaps for the team. After getting the OK from his parents, coach Bernard Holsey just had to find the right time to put in Muscha.

With as much offensive line help as possible, Muscha set up as the quarterback in shotgun. His first pass fell incomplete before he hit Wesolowski in stride for a 30-yard passing score, putting an exclamation point on the win.

“It helped that we came in with confidence that we we’re gonna play good and do good,” said Fraaza. “Everyone had their energy and everyone did their jobs.”

Witt-Birn’s defense continued its impressive season with a dominant first three quarters.

Senior Ben Flak, Schmidt and Gauderman were among the Chargers racking up tackles for losses in the early going.

Senior Jordan Landowski made an acrobatic leaping interception to end Shiocton’s best scoring threat in the first half. Flak recovered a fumbled snap on the next defensive possession.

“We just kind of pulled together as a unit,” said Gauderman of the team’s defense. “Do what we do best, just play as a team.”

After clinching a postseason spot in week seven, the Chargers now have two conference games remaining before they learn their postseason fate.

Witt-Birn is scheduled to visit Weyauwega-Fremont on Oct. 8 before hosting Nekoosa in the final game of the regular season on Oct. 15.

The Chargers also still have a chance at a conference title, but would need Amherst (5-0) to lose once over the next two weeks. Stratford (4-1) and Amherst meet in the final week of the season.

Shiocton 0 0 0 19 — 19

Witt-Birn 13 29 0 9 — 51

First quarter

WB: David Gauderman 53-yard pass from Ben Wesolowski (Nathan Waupekenay kick), 9:24

WB: Gauderman 35-yard run (kick failed), 0:20

Second quarter

WB: Schmidt 28-yard pass from Wesolowski (pass failed), 5:53

WB: Schmidt 68-yard pass from Wesolowski (Jordan Landowski pass from Wesolowski), 3:35

WB: Jack Fraaza 71-yard run (Gauderman run), 2:14

WB: Wesolowski 68-yard run (Waupekenay kick), 0:00

Fourth quarter

WB: Waupekenay 21-yard field goal, 11:55

WB: Wesolowski 30-yard pass from Luke Muscha (kick blocked), 8:55

S: Cade Stingle 68-yard run (Dylan Larsen kick), 7:08

S: Stingle 84-yard run (kick failed), 3:03

S: Stingle 7-yard run (kick blocked), 0:02

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