It’s been the offense that’s been spectacular for the Gillett High School football team the last few years.
However, it was the defense’s night to shine Friday.
The Tigers used a game-changing 95-yard interception return by linebacker Broden Bennin and two other interceptions against a potent Wausaukee offense to score a 28-22 victory at home.
Gillett led 28-6 mid-third quarter before Wausaukee made its move, but the Tigers hung on for the huge win.
“We bent a couple of times, but didn’t break,” Gillett coach Rick Kamps said. “I think it shows a ton of grit. I like our team. We’re much more balanced than we were last year.”
The win keeps Gillett undefeated and in first place in the Marinette & Oconto Conference at 3-0. Wausaukee also came into the game unbeaten.
Gillett wide receiver/defensive back Leeland Kahler had an amazing night. The senior caught two touchdowns, ran a kickoff back for a score and also made an amazing interception.
On the first drive of the game, Wausaukee was in position to go up 7-0, but the Gillett defense rose up. Wausaukee had a first down at Gillett’s 15, but a holding call and a couple of minimal gains left the Rangers with a fourth-and-7 on the 12. Quarterback Eric Arndt dropped back and threw a pass that was tipped at the line by Ben Taylor and deflected into the air. Bennin picked it off at the 5, darted upfield and shed a couple of tackles before finally diving into the end zone.
“That was a really big game-changer,” Kahler said. “They thought they were going to come out and score on us, but that turned the momentum.”
Kahler was surprised his teammate made it the length of the field.
“He said he was dead after the first 20 yards,” Kahler joked.
With a 7-0 lead, Gillett (5-0, 3-0 M&O) got a nice punt return from Kahler to the Wausaukee 47. Gillett faced a third-and-goal from the 17. Zeitler hit Kahler on a quick hit off the line of scrimmage, and the wide receiver made a move on the defensive back and got in for a touchdown. A botched snap on the extra point forced holder Dylan Sexton to scramble and he found Brett Milhans wide open for the 2-point conversion to make it 15-0.
On the ensuing drive, Wausaukee (4-1, 2-1 M&O) answered with a 2-yard touchdown run by Tony Rollo. The Gillett defense stuffed the 2-point conversion run.
With Wausaukee stealing a little momentum, Gillett snatched it right back in a big way. Kahler took the kickoff at the 16 and raced 84 yards down the right sideline and into the end zone. Another botched 2-point conversion left Gillett up 21-6 with 2:45 remaining in the first half.
The Gillett defense came up big again to start the third quarter. Kahler got an interception across the middle of the field for the Tigers’ second turnover. Gillett got down to the Wausaukee 29 and faced a third-and-12. Zeitler spotted an open Kahler across the middle, threw a touch pass over the linebacker and Kahler did the rest. His third touchdown of the game put Gillett up 28-6.
“I thought Alex (Zeitler) played one heck of a ballgame throwing the ball,” Kamps said. “He threw that one down to Leeland in the end zone and the kid made a great play on defense, but he put that ball right where it needed to be.”
Wausaukee pulled within 28-14 on a 1-yard Russell Smith touchdown run and 2-point conversion late in the third.
The Rangers made it a six-point game in the fourth when they scored with 4:50 remaining on a Rollo 5-yard run and 2-point conversation.
“I think we kind of got big heads, but once they started coming back, we said, ‘Alright, settle down. We need to play good,’” Kahler said.
Gillett tried to get the game-sealing score and drove down to the Wausaukee 5. Three straight run plays to Brett Milhans got the Tigers to the 1. On fourth down, Kamps elected to go for it, and a quarterback keeper by Zeitler was stopped by the Rangers’ defense.
Starting at its own 1 with 1:16 left, Wausaukee had to strike long and fast. With Wausaukee facing a fourth-and-6 at the 5, Zeitler picked off a pass at the 35 and ran it back to the Wausaukee 2 with 19 seconds remaining. A kneel down by Zeitler ended the game as the Gillett players celebrated the win.
“Needed this win,” Kamps said. “Huge win for the kids and our program.”
The win goes a long ways for a return trip to the postseason for Gillett.
“We knew we had to get two out of five to get (into the playoffs),” Kamps said. “Our main goal, of course, win the conference, but get in. No Gillett team has ever gone back-to-back in the playoffs.”
Zeitler was 7-for-10 passing for 105 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 25 yards on the ground and had 10 tackles on defense.
Kahler was the team’s leading receiver with four catches for 80 yards. Milhans finished with 57 yards rushing on 15 touches.
Gillett will next have its biggest game in quite some time. The undefeated Tigers travel to undefeated Coleman (5-0, 3-0 M&O) at 7 p.m. Friday. In the last 13 meetings between the two teams – all Coleman victories, the Cougars are averaging 49.1 points per game. Last season, Coleman scored a resounding 55-22 victory in Gillett.
“I think we have to get over the stigma that we seem to have with those guys,” Kamps said. “Mentally, we’ve got to be ready. That’s what we’ll work on all week. I think a game like this helps us get there.”
Coleman has thrashed its opponents thus far this season, outscoring them 228-12.
“It’s typical Coleman football,” Kamps said. “They’re going to come at you and punch you in the mouth and you’ve got to be ready for it.”
“Everyone needs to do their assignments and get good line play – that’s where it all starts,” Kahler said.
GILLETT 28, WAUSAUKEE 22
Wausaukee 0 6 8 8 — 22
Gillett 7 14 7 0 — 28
Scoring Summary
First quarter
G: Bennin 95-yard INT return (PAT good Myrick) 6:46.
Second quarter
G: Zeitler to Kahler 17-yard pass (2-point pass from Sexton to Milhans) 7:47.
W: Rollo 2-yard run (2-point run go good) 2:58.
G: Kahler 84-yard kickoff return (2-point conversation no good) 2:45.
Third quarter
G: Zeitler to Kahler 29-yard pass (PAT good Myrick) 7:22.
W: Smith 1-yard run (2-point Rollo run good) 3:05.
Fourth quarter
W: Rollo 5-yard run (2-point Smith run good) 4:50.
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