The Oconto Falls High School football team was unable to rebound from a tough first half Friday in a 35-8 loss to Marinette.
Senior Jake Yatso, who rushed for 100 yards in the game, scored on a 25-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout for the Panthers (0-3, 0-2 Bay Conference).
“We have to stay positive. … In the second half I pulled myself together,” said Yatso, who gained 70 of his yards in the second half, including a 33-yard run in the fourth quarter.
“The offensive line made some blocks and we had a good lead by our wingback, and there was a lot of heart by Jake Yatso on that play,” Oconto Falls coach Jeff Trochil said.
The touchdown was the Panthers’ first score of the season.
“I credit the offensive line for the touchdown,” Yatso said. “… We have come a long way.”
Yatso and offensive lineman Ross Pumplun are the Panthers’ only two seniors. There are 24 freshmen on the varsity.
“We are in a building phase in the program,” Trochil said. “We had a good learning experience.”
Trochil noted the Panthers had a turnover in a loss to Ashland the previous week, but none against Marinette.
“We cleaned that up. We had a really good week of practice,” Trochil said. “Obviously we are not where we want to be, but we are making progress in that second half and that was a great effort by our players.”
Trochil also acknowledged the Panthers for shutting down Marinette (1-2, 1-1 Bay Conference) in the second half.
“I give a lot of credit to our defense. … We made some tackles out there,” Trochil said.
It won’t get any easier for the Panthers this week, as they host undefeated Menasha Friday.
“We are going to continue to work on the fundamentals and getting better, focusing on the little things against Menasha,” Trochil said. “If we can stay together and be positive for the common goal, that will be an opportunity for us to have success down the line.”
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