It appeared that, as the Shawano Community High School football team gained the momentum against New London on Friday night, Mother Nature decided to put a stop to it.
Trailing 19-7 and set up by a Zack Sousek kick return into New London territory, the Hawks (1-0, 0-0 Bay Conference) had third-and-1 from the Bulldog 1-yard line. Just as the players were getting set for the critical play, lightning flashed in the northern sky to force the bleachers to be cleared and a 30-minute delay.
After a 90-minute delay, as lightning continued to flash on the horizon, officials postponed the game, setting up a restart at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
After the Hawks’ first two drives of the night ended in punts, Shawano got on track in a hurry on its third drive.
Quarterback Cole Huntington (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) found Sousek, a 5-10, 170-pound receiver, on a short throw. Sousek turned up field and burst away from a defender for a 55-yard touchdown.
Sousek scored on a 66-yard interception return in the Hawks’ 28-7 win over Lakeland Union last week.
The score cut New London’s lead to 12-7.
Huntington was 3 for 8 for 88 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Hawks in rushing with three runs for 12 yards. Adam Bartz, a 6-1, 175-pound junior, had two catches for 33 yards. Senior Grant Wainio had two rushes for 5 yards, both on the Hawks’ drive before the delay.
New London (0-1, 0-1 Bay) got rushing touchdowns in the first quarter from senior fullback Andrew Clauss and senior tailback Connor Hoell. In the second quarter, senior quarterback Dylan Keehn found receiver Hunter Zaddack for a 24-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 19-7.
Clauss led New London with 11 carries for 82 yards. Keehn was 2 for 3 for 60 yards and a touchdown.
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