Colby muzzles Wardogs in opener

Hornets top Wardogs 37-0 in road win

The Colby Hornets football program had waited for months for this moment. After COVID-19 stole much of 2020, the Hornets are eager to prove they’re the best in the Marawood in 2021.

Yes, they had won every game they were allowed to play last year. Yes, they won a share of the Marawood title in their inaugural year of membership.

But there was a nagging sense there was yet more Colby could have accomplished given a full year. A feeling that last year’s team could have made a deep run in the postseason, had they been given that opportunity.

Colby finally got its first chance to display their dazzling array of weapons on Friday with their season opener against the Neillsville/Granton Wardogs in a non-conference road game that resulted in a 37-0 victory over their former Cloverbelt Conference rivals.

“It’s always nice to play a football game after a long and grueling three week practice period, and get a win,” Hornets head coach Jim Hagen stated. “It was a hot and humid night, and I was happy to see that none of our players cramped up, but you could sense the exhaustion on both teams.”

Colby controlled nearly every facet of the game, and wasted little time in establishing momentum as they scored on their opening drive.

Brandon Voelker picked up the first down of the year on a nice flat route on third and six, and a QB keeper from Brent Jeske got the Hornets into the red zone. Mason Voss rumbled for another eight yards before Brent Jeske dove into the endzone with 9:46 to make it 6-0.

Colby missed the two point conversion, and the Wardogs got their chance to prove themselves on offense. The host team started on their own 35-yard line, but the Hornets swarmed the Wardogs time and time again.

Andrew Jeske set the tone early in the non-conference clash, picking up the first of his game leading four sacks. Colby was forced to punt on its next possession, only to have the snap sail over the head of Tristan Stange, who was able to fall on it before the Wardogs could take the ball into the endzone.

Neillsville/Granton took over on the Hornets’ five yard line, but could not take advantage of their excellent field position. The Wardogs picked up a penalty on first down, and two more sacks by Andrew Jeske put the Wardogs in a third and long situation.

“Senior defensive end Andrew Jeske had a huge night as Neillsville had an incredibly difficult time blocking him,” Hagen said, praising Jeske’s defensive efforts. “He had three tackles for loss, four sacks, one of which was a safety, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.”

On the next play, the Hornets ripped the ball out of the hands of a Wardogs’ tailback, forcing a fumble that Colby recovered.

It was a sign of things to come, with the Hornets holding the Wardogs to just 39-yards of total offense, including negative yardage on rushing plays.

“I thought defensively we played really solid all night long, especially in the first half,” Hagen said. “Our defense held Neillsville to -32 yards of total offense in the first half, and only 39 yards for the entire game.”

It was only fitting then that Colby’s second score of the night came on the defensive side of things, with Andrew Jeske picking up a safety with his fourth sack of the night for two points to make it 8-0 with 10:33 to play in the second quarter.

The safety seemed to suck the life out of Neillsville/Granton, and was a momentum changer, providing Colby with a boost as the Hornets scored twice more in the second quarter, both on misdirection runs from junior Caden Healy.

Healy picked up the first of his three touchdowns on a nine-yard run with 9:28 to play in the first half. A two point conversion by Brent Jeske made it 16-0.

Healy’s next run was from 13-yards out with 2:38 remaining in the second quarter. Another two point conversion from Brent Jeske made it 24-0 at the break.

“Offensively, we put together a solid night, amassing 412 yards of total offense,” Hagen stated. “We had a balanced attack, rushing for 298 yards and passing for 114 yards.”

The Hornets continued to hum along in the third quarter, with starting QB Brent Jeske airing out the ball, finding Brody Decker on a nice roll-out. Healy then added a hat-trick of TDs with his third rushing TD from 18-yards out. The two point conversion was no good, but Colby’s lead swelled to 30-0.

The Hornets scored one last time in the third as Brent Jeske found senior receiver Lucas Karl for a 30-yard strike that made it 36-0. An extra point by Tucker Meyer put the game at 37-0.

Meyer supplied one last highlight play, scampering downfield for a 55-yard run with just over two minutes to play. The Wardogs held Colby out of the endzone, but continued to remain scoreless, giving Colby its first shut-out of the season.

It was a good start to the season for the Hornets, but according to Hagen there is still plenty to clean up in time for next week’s contest with Spencer/Columbus Catholic this Friday.

“On the negative side, we had too many penalties. One negated a 75 yard touchdown pass and we allowed a first down on a fake punt. Furthermore, we had a few too many turnovers and we still need to block better on the line of scrimmage and down field so more effort is needed.”

Brent Jeske finished seven of 11 on passing, with 114-yards and one TD. He added 74-yards on the ground and one TD. Healy was Colby’s second leading rusher with 70-yards, and three TDs. Senior Mason Voss added 64 rushing yards.

Voelker had two receptions for 34-yards. Karl and Decker finished with 30-yards apiece through the air. Mateo Lopez had one reception for 24-yards.

“We will have a tough opponent this Friday night with Spencer/Columbus, as they are always so well coached and disciplined,” Hagen stated. “Also, we are looking forward to seeing members of the 2011 State Championship team on their 10th year anniversary of winning the state title.”

A BIG OL’ BEAR HUG -Brekyn Lieders and Levi Dommer (#60) take down a tailback during Colby’s Aug. 13 scrimmage. Lieders had one of eight sacks against Neillsville/Granton in Colby’s 37-0 victory. Pierce Gieger added two more sacks, and Grant Oelrich had another. STAFF PHOTOS/ROSS PATTERMANN