It might have been the last time the seniors on the Bonduel High School football team step foot on Rush Niles Memorial Field as players.
It was also homecoming.
If that wasn’t enough, the Bears were fighting for a playoff spot.
With all that was on the line, Central Wisconsin Conference-8 foe Stevens Point Pacelli (2-6, 1-5 CWC-8) never had much of a chance Friday night. Bonduel (4-3, 3-3 CWC-8), led by a defense that bent but wouldn’t break, won 49-13.
“It feels phenomenal, especially with the stakes so high,” said Jacob Wudtke, a senior linebacker/offensive lineman and team captain. “It just makes the win so much better.”
The Bonduel defense, which had a shutout going deep into the third quarter, held Pacelli to a punt, three turnovers on downs and an interception on its first five drives.
“We gave some yards in the passing game, but we bent and didn’t break down in the red zone area,” Bonduel coach James Westrich said. “I’m really proud of the way they played tonight.”
The Bonduel offense, meanwhile, led by running backs Hunter VanderLinden and Danny Tauchen, carried the Bears to a 27-0 lead by half time.
“That was a good game for our offense,” Westrich said. “We needed that; it’s been a while.”
Tauchen, who rushed nine times for 123 yards, got the scoring started on a 8-yard run in the first quarter.
Quarterback Colton Dobratz, who finished five of 12 passing for 86 yards, scored the next touchdown on a 8-yard keeper. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound junior would score again just before halftime on a third-and-inches on the Pacelli goal line.
Dobratz also found Tauchen on a 19-yard touchdown throw and catch in the fourth quarter to put the Bears up 42-6.
VanderLinden, who rushed 27 times for 173 yards, scored touchdowns on runs of 4 and 1 yards.
Mitch Sokolski wrapped up the scoring on a 9-yard run with 2:45 left in the game.
Bonduel rushed for 325 yards, eclipsing the goal Westrich set for the team before the game.
“Before the game I was talking to the running backs and I said we need over 300 yards rushing,” Westrich said. “I don’t care how we get it. It’s nice to see Danny get over 100 yards. Hunter did a nice job. That was a goal.”
Pacelli quarterback Isaac Elliott had a busy night, with 44 passes. He completed 29 for 278 yards. His favorite target was Jacob Feltz, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound senior who caught nine passes for 125 yards, including touchdown grabs of 1 yard and 7 yards.
“The fact that our d-backs and linebackers stepped up in pass coverage,” Wudtke said, “the way everyone synced together, I could not be more proud of them.”
Bonduel will likely have to win Friday in Manawa to make the WIAA playoffs.
“This game next week will probably be the most important game many of us have played in our lives,” Wudtke said. “We win that, we make playoffs, that’s the biggest goal we’ve had all season.”
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