The Oconto Falls offense could never get going. However, the Freedom offense seemingly couldn’t be stopped.
Freedom scored touchdowns on its first six drives and led 42-0 at halftime of Friday’s high school football game in Freedom. That’s the way the game ended as Oconto Falls (0-3, 0-3 North Eastern Conference) got down to the 3-yard line but couldn’t punch it in before time expired.
The loss was Oconto Falls’ 30th in row dating back to 2011.
“They’ve got a great football team,” Oconto Falls coach Jeff Trochil said about Freedom (3-0, 3-0 NEC). “Their program’s established and that’s what we’re aiming to do, to build our program to be where they’re at.
“I told the guys we were closer than what the game showed, but we’ve got some work to do.”
The Oconto Falls players can learn a lot from Freedom, which was a troubled program just six years ago. In 2009, the Irish finished 0-9. The last three seasons, Freedom has won eight or more games per year and created a winning tradition under coach Clint Kriewaldt.
“Before the game, I was talking to coach (Eugene) Klister, who does the defense with me, and we were talking about numbers,” said Kriewaldt, who played nine seasons in the NFL. “I almost said, man, I’d hate to be in their position. But we were in that position. …
“I think they’re doing the right things. … Winning always helps, but just being consistent with everything, that’s what we try to do.”
Oconto Falls had a tough time slowing down Freedom.
“Very explosive,” Trochil said. “They’ve got some great talent there and they’re well coached. They do a great job with their players.”
Freedom rolled up 326 yards, 203 on the ground. Isaac Gonnering rushed for 181 yards on 16 carries and four touchdowns.
“We just saw some things on film that we thought we could take advantage of,” Kriewaldt said. “All year we’ve known we have a pretty good running back, a good fullback with Brody Bazile. We just wanted to establish a run game and show teams that we can run the ball. But we have enough talent on the outside to throw the ball with Charlie (Jadin). We’re trying to be that two-headed monster right now. If you want to load up and take away one thing, then we’re going to get you with this one.”
On the other side of the ball, Oconto Falls’ offense had a difficult time against Freedom. The Panthers had just 90 total yards and didn’t tally their first first down of the game until there was 3:47 remaining in the opening half.
“I think they had some great linebacker flow,” Trochil said. “Their D-line I think had an edge on our offensive line, just getting some things going. They got to our quarterback early and got him kind of bruised up a little bit. I’m proud of Connor (Scray) coming back. He did really well in the second half and had a couple good drives there.”
The quick-striking Freedom offense didn’t waste any time. The Irish got three rushing touchdowns — 1, 37 and 19 yards — from Gonnering and it was 21-0 just under eight minutes into the game.
Sam Shroyer had a nice runback on the kickoff of about 45 yards that set up Oconto Falls at the Freedom 36. However, on a fourth and 7, Shroyer had a 6-yard run as the Panthers turned the ball over on downs.
Freedom came back with a 33-yard touchdown pass as Charles Jadin — who threw for 123 yards — connected with Carter Helms, and it was a four-score game late in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Jadin hit Seth Doxtater from 8 yards out for another score. Gonnering added his fourth rushing touchdown, from 2 yards out, of the half at the 5:53 mark.
With a running clock the entire second half, the Panthers touched the ball just three times. Oconto Falls’ last drive of the game was its most productive. Freshman quarterback Dakota Carriveau helped work the second-team offense into Freedom’s red zone. The Panthers converted on a fourth-and-2 in the drive and got down to the 3-yard line before the clock expired.
Scray was the Panthers’ leading rusher with 30 yards on eight attempts. He was also 1 for 10 passing for 26 yards, which was a completion to Mac Winkler.
Oconto Falls now looks ahead to its next game Friday when it hosts Green Bay West. The Wildcats (0-3) have been outscored 133-12 this season.
“It’s going to be nice having a similar matchup coming into West and some of the other schools in our league,” Trochil said.
The game is huge for Oconto Falls since it will mark the opening of its new field.
“That’s huge for the community,” Trochil said. “The kids, they don’t know how lucky they are. There have been years and years of failed referendum after failed referendum for kids who dream of having a stadium and a beautiful facility right on campus. … We’re going to work hard to make everyone proud.”
FREEDOM 42, OCONTO FALLS 0
Score by quarter
Oconto Falls 0 0 0 0 — 0
Freedom 28 14 0 0 — 42
Scoring Summary
First quarter
F: Gonnering 1-yard run (PAT good Adam Schommer) 9:33.
F: Gonnering 37-yard run (PAT good Schommer) 7:09.
F: Gonnering 19-yard run (PAT good Schommer) 4:01.
F: Helms 33-yard reception (PAT good Schommer) 0:24.
Second quarter
F: Doxtater 12-yard reception (PAT good Schommer) 8:14.
F: Gonnering 2-yard run (PAT good Schommer) 5:53.
Categories
