Hornets shut out Rockets, 38-0

It might have taken two days, but not even Mother Nature could delay the inevitable as the Colby Hornets recorded their second straight shut-out, thumping the Spencer/Columbus Catholic Rockets 38-0 at home Saturday afternoon.

Swirling storms and heavy rains from the night before forced the game to be moved from Friday to Saturday, and Colby’s field was a sodden mess as both teams played in the muck and mud.

“I guess Mother Nature was dictating what was going to happen,” head coach Jim Hagen said. “Nevertheless, we showed up early Saturday morning to play, and I thought our focus during warm-ups was excellent and it showed throughout the majority of the game.”

The Hornets began their opening drive on their own 22-yard line, and senior signal caller Brent Jeske called his own number on the first play of the drive, sprinting downfield for a 40-yard pick up.

Jeske supplied another highlight when he took the ball on another keeper two plays later, lowering his shoulder and leveling a Rocket defender before being stopped at the 15-yard line.

Caden Healy punched the ball into the end-zone that capped the five play, ninety second drive. Mason Voss plowed in for the two point conversion, giving Colby a 8-0 lead with 10:26 to play in the first.

It was a taste of things to come.

The Rockets went three and out on their first series that was ended by a Brent Jeske sack. The Hornets next drive would begin on their own 40-yard line.

Colby got off to a promising start on the drive, with Voss and Healy carrying the ball to the Rockets’ 25-yard line, but a bad snap from Colby resulted in a 20yard loss, and a holding penalty forced the Hornets to punt for the first time.

Colby’s defense was relentless in the first half, and a fumbled snap led to another sack for Andrew Jeske. A dropped pass on third and long followed, and with 3:38 to go in the first, Colby regained the ball and went back to work.

This time there would be no Colby miscues, and with the Rockets punting from their own endzone, Healy fielded the punt on Colby’s 35-yardline. Healy got great blocks from Kaden Wiese and Brody Decker to spring him loose, and he sprinted and evaded would be Rocket tacklers, taking the ball to the five yard line before being stopped.

A minute later, and Healy picked up his second score of the game, breaking the plane on a one-yard carry. A successful two-point conversion from Brent Jeske made it 16-0 with 2:13 to play in the first.

The Rockets’ offensive woes continued as Colby swarmed their non-conference opponent. Tristan Stange recorded another Colby tackle for loss, and another incomplete pass on third and long forced another punt.

Brock Bennington boomed the punt, pinning Colby on its own 25-yard line. The Hornets got one last play in before the start of the second quarter, a three yard pick-up by Healy. Voss began the second quarter with a four yard gain, but Colby was stopped on third and short, and Stange punted for the second time.

Once again, the Rockets offense sputtered and failed to catch fire. The Rockets fumble the ball, and Healy recovered the ball deep in Rocket’s territory.

Brent Jeske found senior receiver Brandon Voelker over the middle for a 20-yard catch and run that put Colby in the red zone for the third time. Jeske had another QB keeper, scrambling down to the nine-yard line, but the Rockets held firm, forcing the Hornets to turn the ball over on downs.

The stop prevented Colby from adding to their lead, but it also had a doubleedged effect of pinning Spencer/Columbus Catholic in their own endzone.

Another three and out by the Rockets followed, and a wobbly punt from Bennington was scooped up by Lopez, who stprinted to the 15-yard line on a 28-yard punt return before being driven out of bounds.

Brent Jeske took the ball, and got a great block by Voss, for a 15-yard score with 4:56 remaining in the first half. Voss then punched his way through the Rocket’s defensive line for a two point conversion that made it 24-0.

Colby’s defense remained impenetrable, forcing another third and out, and another Rockets’ punt. The Hornets took over with just over two minutes remaining in the second quarter, and after being deliberate and methodical through the chose to go up-tempo on offense.

Brent Jeske picked up several first downs, and capped the drive with a 10yard reception to Brody Decker that made it 30-0 with 18 seconds remaining in the half. Voss dove in for the two point conversion, and Colby held a comfortable 32-0 advantage at the break.

“I thought our defense played exceptionally well again on Saturday against Spencer/Columbus,” Hagen said. “The Rockets normally have a strong running game but we limited them to only 18 yards rushing and only 51 total yards.” The Hornets turned to Mason Voss in the second half, who chewed up the yards and the clock. Voss added the final nail to the Rockets’ coffin with a one-yard TD run. The Rockets stopped the two point conversion, but with the game now 38-0, a running clock was instituted for the duration of the game.

The Hornets coaching staff subbed in several of their junior varsity players, and the Rockets finally rattled off several positive yardage plays, but could not so much as sniff the red zone.

The Hornets ended Saturday with just over 250 yards of total offense. Brent Jeske led Colby with 107-yards on the ground and one TD on 14 carries. Voss added 55 yards and a score. Healey had 26 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Jeske finished three of six through the air for 35 yards. Decker and Voelker leading Colby with 10 and 20 passing yards.

Andrew Jeske recorded two sacks, giving him six on the season, which leads the entire state of Wisconsin. Healy and Stange each added five tackles.

The Hornets will face a sterner test this Friday as they take on Southern Door to battle the 2-0 Eagles and their passing game. Kick-off will be at 7 p.m.

“We are looking forward to heading to Brussels, WI to play a very good Southern Door team,” Hagen stated. “They will throw a lot of formations at us. We will need to be sharp once again, and shut down their passing game.”

GOING SOMEWHERE? -Spencer/Columbus Catholic’s Brock Bennington attempts to pick up a first down in the first half of the Hornets non-conference clash with the Rockets, but Brody Decker (#11) is there to meet him. Decker finished with two tackles, and Colby recorded its second straight shut-out.

TRENCH WARFARE -Colby senior Derek Jeske battles with Spencer/Columbus Catholic’s Carson Schmidt as he opens a hole for the Hornet’s ground game.