Pirates cruise to third straight lopsided non-conference win

The Gilman Pirates had no trouble improving to 3-0 Friday, scoring four first-quarter touchdowns on their way to a 56-8 blowout win over host Bowler-Gresham.

In the last of three Central Wisconsin Conference crossover games to start the season, the Pirates’ run defense was dominant, limiting the Cats to minus-43 rushing yards, almost all of which was at the expense of Bowler-Gresham quarterback Emmit Kietlinski. When he had time, Kietlinski did have a nice night throwing the ball with 11 completions on 17 attempts for 109 yards. Most of that damage came on short passes to wingbacks, but the Cats (0-3) did hit two long gains during the contest.

With senior Julian Krizan back at quarterback, the Pirates continued to find the end zone with relative ease, building a 42-0 halftime lead and a 56-0 bulge after three quarters.

“Grady Kroeplin did a great job the last two weeks for us, but things are just a little more smooth with Julian in there. The biggest thing is we get everyone back to where we like them to be at the running back and tight end positions.”

Against overmatched CWC-East opponents Tri-County, Port Edwards and Bowler-Gresham, Gilman combined for a 127-16 first-half scoring advantage and a 155-32 scoring advantage overall.

Gilman opens its five-game CWC-West schedule Friday by hosting New Auburn in a 7 p.m. Parents Night contest.

Gilman needed just 1:41 to grab the lead in its latest win and turned great field position into 42 first-half points.

Troy Duellman, who had a big night returning kicks, set up Gilman’s first

score by returning Bowler-Gresham’s first punt inside the 10. A holding penalty knocked the Pirates back to the 19, but Kroeplin, who returned to his normal running back position, scored on the first play. Krizan ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Quick stops by the Gilman defense produced short fields and quick scores for the offense through the first three quarters. The team’s second possession also lasted just one play, a 21-yard touchdown pass from Krizan to Bryson Keepers with 8:03 still left in the opening quarter.

Drive three was capped by Krizan’s 10-yard touchdown run. Krizan scored again, this time from 27 yards out with 1:01 left in the quarter.

The lead grew to 36-0 with 8:47 left in the second quarter when Krizan connected again with Keepers on a 15-yard scoring toss and Duellman ran in the two-point try. Krizan’s third touchdown run of the night was a short 2-yard run with 3:14 left in the half.

Krizan finished with 70 yards on just five carries and he completed all four of his passes for 100 yards. Keepers caught three of those passes for 66 yards.

“Our kickoff coverage was good,” Rosemeyer said. “Every time we kicked, we kept them inside their 30, which was a good start to each defensive series. We had a pretty good defensive night.”

With the running clock in effect, Gilman scored twice in the third. Duellman’s 61-yard kickoff return set up his 12-yard touchdown run that stretched the lead to 49-0 with 10:50 left in the quarter. Wayne McAlpine’s second touchdown run of the

Troy Duellman season, a 1-yard run, put the final touch on Gilman’s scoring with 1:57 left in the quarter.

Kietlinski’s 1-yard touchdown run put the Cats on the board midway through the fourth quarter and came right after his longest completion of the night, which went for 39 yards.

Gilman ran for 206 yards on just 27 attempts. Kroeplin averaged 12.1 yards per carry with 61 yards on five attempts, while Duellman had 43 yards on eight at- tempts.

Branden Ustianowski caught a 34-yard pass to add to Gilman’s totals through the air.

Defensively, Krizan was credited with 13 total tackles and a sack. Keepers had two sacks and Braeden Person was credited with six tackles. Those three sacks alone led to a combined loss of 45 yards.

The Pirates, who still sit atop the state’s eight-player rankings, expect to see a much more physical team than they’ve seen in the first three weeks with New Auburn’s visit on Friday. The Trojans had three running backs gain at least 151 yards each in a 42-32 win over Marion-Tigerton this past Friday.

Gilman is hoping the Bruce Red Raiders, who had to cancel last week’s game with Tri-County and this coming Saturday’s game with McDonell Central, will be able to return to the field for their Sept. 24 matchup with the Pirates.