Sophomore quarterback Connor Scray threw for a season-high 128 yards Friday, but it was not enough as the Oconto Falls High School football team lost 32-8 to visiting Denmark to remain winless on the season.
Scray completed six of 12 passes with two interceptions. He also scored the Panthers’ only points on a quarterback sneak.
Oconto Falls (0-8, 0-7 Bay Conference) has lost 26 straight games, dating back to a win over Shawano on Sept. 30, 2011. It is the longest active losing streak in the state as the Panthers prepare for the regular season finale Friday at Luxemburg-Casco (6-2, 5-2 Bay).
Denmark coach Chris Haese said the Panthers are headed in the right direction, however, with Scray and 10 other sophomores gaining experience on a team led by only three seniors.
“I think they did an excellent job,” Haese said. “We noticed they have improved so much throughout the course of the year. We knew it was not going to be an easy game.”
The Panthers’ highlights included an 18-yard run by senior Jake Yatso, three receptions by junior wide receiver Jack Huberty, including a 34-yard toss from Scray, and three receptions by Yatso for a team-leading 66 yards, including a 22-yard catch in the third quarter.
“Connor (Scray) has been really progressing this year. … He is a hard worker and is really spending extra time with film,” OFHS coach Jeff Trochil said. “We have some great receivers out there that are making some plays.”
Haese also praised Scray’s development.
“He is only a sophomore,” he said. “Obviously he is catching on to the offense, and is a good cutback runner.”
Scray ran for 46 yards on 14 carries during the game, including the fourth-quarter touchdown.
Scray said the development of the offensive line has helped the Panthers’ passing game.
“I am just getting more experience out there, and the line is starting to get better with pass protection, so I am getting a little more confident,” he said.
Senior Sam Konitzer replaced Scray in the closing minutes.
“Sam is a quality young man and was our starter last year, been working hard as our backup all year,” Trochil said. “We had an opportunity to get him out there at the end so that is what we did. We wanted to give him a chance.”
In the final snaps of his career at Memorial Field, Konitzer had seven carries for 22 yards and threw one pass, which fell incomplete.
Trochil credited the team’s three seniors — Yatso, Konitzer and lineman Ross Pumplun — for providing leadership throughout the season.
“These seniors are gladiators and program leaders, and I am looking forward to one last week with them,” he said.
Oconto Falls forced Denmark (4-4, 3-4 Bay) to punt on its first possession and trailed 7-0 after the first period following Matt Vandenheuvel’s 1-yard TD run. The Vikings added two more TDs in the second quarter on a 13-yard scamper by Nicholas Kufalk and 1-yard run by Austin Bieber.
Bieber scored off another 1-yard run on the opening drive of the second half to give Denmark a 26-0 lead. Brandon Zittlow got the Vikings’ final score on an 84-yard touchdown with 3:55 remaining in the game.
Zittlow had 108 yards on two carries. Vandenhuevel gained 50 yards on 10 carries. Kufalk had 47 yards on four carries. Bisbee completed two of three passes for 35 yards.
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