For the Tomahawk Leader
TOMAHAWK – The Tomahawk Hatchet middle school football teams started off their seasons on the losing end, both falling to Northland Pines at Hatchet Field.
The 7th grade team lost 8-0, giving up a touchdown and a two-point conversation in the fourth quarter.
The 8th grade team also fell by the score of 8-0. The Hatchets’ 8th grade gave up a long return on the second half kickoff, which set up Pines in good field position for their only score. Pines also successfully converted their two-point try.
Both grades struggled to move the ball offensively. Stacking successful plays early in the season and avoiding turnovers proved to be a challenge.
For the 8th grade, players that showed great effort and energy on the offensive side of the ball included Henry Nieman, Breck Stromberg, Kaj Maki and also the interior blocking of Dean Greil and Dean Hackle. Defensively, players who were consistently around the ball included Nieman, Stromberg, and also Ayden Herbst and Cooper Dick.
The Hatchet 8th graders dropped their second contest of the season with a heart-pounding 16-14 loss to the Antigo Red Robins at Schoefield Stadium.
Antigo got the scoring started early in the second quarter when quarterback Breck Stromberg was sacked for a safety, which proved to be the deciding points. The Hatchets got near the end zone before the half when tight end Henry Nieman took an out route up field for a long gain to set up first and goal with under a minute left. Tomahawk appeared to score just as the first half expired, but an illegal procedure penalty negated the score.
The Hatchets didn’t waste much time, as Nieman took the second-half kickoff 66 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. A successful two point try by fullback Dean Hackle put Tomahawk up 8-2. Antigo had trouble running the ball all game between the tackles due to the stout defense by Dean Greil and Ayden Herbst. The Red Robins eventually regained the lead with a long pass play to a wide open receiver, but failed on the conversion. With the score tied 8-8 and just over two minutes left, the Hatchets elected to go for it on 4th down in their own territory, but the pass fell incomplete. Antigo took advantage of the momentum. A long touchdown run and successful conversation put Antigo up 16-8 with just under 1:30 left.
The Hatchets showed no signs of quit and put together their most successful drive of the season. Long runs by Stromberg and hard running by Maki put the Hatchets in position to score with just under 10 seconds left. A desperation heave to the end zone from Stromberg was snatched from the air in heavy traffic by Nieman with about six seconds left. Antigo’s front line got great penetration on the tying two-point attempt to stop Stromberg a yard short to end the Hatchet comeback.
The 7th grade team came away from Antigo with their first victory of the season 6-0.
Ryan Gebauer scored the Hatchets’ lone touchdown by recovering and returning a muffed punt for the score. According to the coaches, offensive standouts included Brayden Nowak and Ben Cerny. On the defensive side of the ball, Kaeden Bethel and Chase Ristau came up to make big plays.