A good running team fell to a better running team Friday in a battle of the two teams atop the Marinette & Oconto Conference football standings.
Gillett, led by senior running back’s Monte Noffke’s 137 yards and three touchdowns, fell 55-22 to visiting Coleman, which carved up the Tigers’ defense for 392 rushing yards to take sole possession of first place in the M&O.
“We just couldn’t get into a rhythm all night,” Gillett coach Rick Kamps said.
Coleman (5-1, 4-0 M&O) averaged more than 10 yards per rush and threw only one pass in the game. Gillett (5-1, 3-1 M&O) averaged a respectable 5.3 yards per rush, rolling up 203 yards on the ground, but could not keep pace with the Cougars, who outgained Gillett 399-252.
Gillett junior quarterback Alex Zeitler, meanwhile, was held to a season-low 48 yards on five completions on 18 attempts and threw one interception — his first of the season.
The Cougars scored first on a 4-yard touchdown run by Austin Tachik with 1:05 remaining in the first quarter and increased the lead to 14-0 on a Blake Margis 3-yard run five seconds into the second quarter.
Noffke put the Tigers on the board with a 1-yard push into the end zone, cutting the Coleman lead to six. Jody Stycznski pushed the margin back to 14 with a 17-yard TD run, but Noffke added a 2-yard touchdown with two minutes remaining in the half. Gillett pulled within six after junior quarterback Zeitler connected with Brett Milhans on the two-point conversion.
“I still felt we were still in the game at that point,” Kamps said.
However, Stycznski scored again with 24 seconds left in the half, making it 28-14, and Coleman outscored the Tigers 20-0 in the third quarter.
“They really took control of the line of scrimmage in the second half,” Kamps said. “They deserved that win on Friday.”
Noffke provided the final TD with a 2-yard scamper into the end zone with 46 seconds remaining. Noffke’s three touchdowns brought his season total to 20.
Senior halfback Matt Peterson was the Tigers’ leading receiver with two catches for 32 yards.
Marc Lansin led Coleman’s rushing attack with two touchdowns and 109 yards on nine carries. Margis ran for two TDs and threw for another on his only pass attempt of the game.
Kamps said the team remains positive and, with three games remaining, still controls its playoff destiny. If the Tigers defeat Crivitz (4-2, 3-1 M&O) Friday, they qualify for the postseason and remain in the conference title race.
“I think we need to go back and do what we do best and that is regaining control of the line of scrimmage,” Kamps said. “You never know. Coleman could fall down along the line. They still got Peshtigo (3-3, 3-1 M&O) and Wausaukee (4-2, 3-1 M&O).”
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