Warhawks score in final seconds to down Hornets, 35-34
By Nathaniel Underwood
The Colby Hornets football team clashed with Weyauwega-Fremont in their final CWC-Large game of the season last Friday. While the visiting Hornets managed to mount a second half comeback, they were not able to hold on in the game’s final moments, falling 35-34 on the Warhawks final drive.
After falling behind 28-14 at halftime after two consecutive scores from Weyauwega-Fremont allowed them to pull ahead, Colby came back onto the field and strung together several strong drives in the second half.
The Hornets clawed themselves back into the game, getting stops on defense and then scoring near the end of the third quarter on a seven-yard run by Chase Heeg that brought them within a touchdown. The Colby defense once again held and Brody Viegut was able to get in on the action, scoring from 12yards out to knot things up with just over eight minutes left in the game. The Hornets could not convert on the following two-point conversion, however, so the game remained tied and the Warhawks were given an opportunity to respond.
Despite Weyauwega-Fremont’s offensive success in the first half, Colby was pitching a shutout thus far in the third and fourth quarters. Once again, they held stalwart and were able to give the ball back to an offense that had rediscovered its stride. While much of that had come via the ground game, with the Hornets amassing over 300 yards rushing over the course of the contest, it was through the air that they were able to take their first lead of the game.
Quarterback Luke Hannula connected with Viegut on a 19-yard touchdown throw with a little over six minutes left. It was a third straight unanswered touchdown for the Hornets and it looked like momentum had fully swung over to the visitors in the second half. Once again, however, the Hornets were denied on the two-point attempt that followed the touchdown, a play that would prove to be extremely important.
While the Hornets’ defense had been extremely resilient in the final two quarters, Weyauwega-Fremont finally managed to break them down and get inside the red zone as the clock ran under the minute mark. After a solid 23 minutes of defense in the second half, Colby could not hold back the Warhawks for the full time as quarterback Kameron Zielke found his favorite target, Carter Birdyshaw, for a four-yard touchdown reception with just 10 seconds left. With the game tied at 34-34, Warhawks’ kicker Charles Mueller sank what would be the game-winning extra point. Colby could not respond in what little time remained and found themselves on the wrong side of a 3534 final.
Though the Hornets nearly doubled Weyauwega-Fremont’s output on the ground, collecting 302 rushing yards to the Warhawks’ 155, the home team found much more success through the air. Weyauwega-Fremont outgained Colby 240 yards to 75 yards passing, throwing for three touchdowns and no interceptions to the Hornets’ one touchdown and one interception. They were also more successful on extra point attempts, with Mueller making three of his four extra point kicks and the Warhawks converting on their one two-point conversion at the end of the first half. Meanwhile, Colby went 2-for-5 on two-point conversion attempts.
Viegut led the squad with 157 yards on the ground on 21 carries, scoring one touchdown rushing and adding another receiving touchdown on one of his two catches for 58 yards. Gavin Voss added 84 yards rushing and scored both of the Hornets’ first half touchdowns. Heeg ended the evening with eight carries for 58 yards and a touchdown as
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Colby’s third option on the ground. Hannula was 3-for-9 passing for 75 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Hayden Kaiser had the other catch for 17 yards.
On defense Hannula and Jacob Hoppe led the team with six tackles each. Brennan Geiger was in on five tackles and also forced two fumbles.
Following the loss, Colby finished the regular season with a 3-6 overall record and a 34 record in the CWC-Large. While they could not secure a playoff berth with a win over the Warhawks on Friday, they still were able to draw a seven-seed in the Division 5 bracket. They will have to travel to secondseeded Northwestern on Friday, Oct. 26 for their first round contest. The Tigers hold a 72 record this season and are coming off a 5814 dismantling of Hayward. A run first team, Northwestern has racked up 2,783 yards and 40 touchdowns rushing this season. Kickoff for the first round matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m.
