Hornets barrel past Eagles

Colby will play Durand for a state title berth

There was a special significance surrounding the Colby Hornets football team and their Level Three playoff game with the Auburndale Eagles on Friday. It represented the last ever home game for the Class of 2022.

This year’s seniors certainly gave their home stadium an excellent goodbye as they ran over, through and away from the Eagles for a 45-19 victory that catapults Colby into Level Four for the first time in nearly a decade.

“We are excited about advancing to Level Four for the first time since 2012,” Hornets head coach Jim Hagen stated afterwards. “We will play an outstanding opponent in Durand, who will showcase the state’s leading rusher.”

Hagen is referencing Durand’s Simon Bauer, a 5’8”, 160 pound speedster who splits time playing both running back and quarterback for the highly regarded Panthers.

Bauer’s 2,678 yards leads all rushers in the state, but Durand isn’t the only team with a tremendous ground game. Colby proved that last week after the Hornets dropped 423 rushing yards on the Eagles.

It wasn’t smooth sailing from start to finish. In fact, the waters looked pretty rough and choppy in the first half, especially after giving up three interceptions.

Colby received the opening kick-off, and senior QB Brent Jeske got into Eagle territory on a big run. But just one play later Jeske was flushed out of the pocket and his errant pass was intercepted by Auburndale’s Alex Willfahrt, and taken back to Colby’s 45-yard line.

Brody Decker almost returned the favor, nearly picking off Auburndale’s Trayton Weber. Colby’s defense brought up a third and long situation, but the Eagles gained ten yards on a quick catch and run. The Eagles continued to try and run the ball, but it was all in vain as the Hornets held Auburndale to just 37-yards on 40 carries.

Auburndale was forced to go to the air to move the ball, but Mateo Lopez swatted down a ball, and the Eagles turned the ball over on downs on the Colby 20yard line after posting negative yardage on all their run plays during the drive.

Colby went on a methodical nine-play 78 yard drive as they established their run game. The drive was capped off by an 11-yard run from Mason Voss that made it 6-0 with 5:10 to play. The extra point attempt was no good, but Colby was just getting started flexing its muscles.

The Hornets forced a quick three and out, and Colby needed just two plays to find paydirt once more. Brent Jeske took the ball and put Eagle defenders on skates, weaving in and out downfield for a 72-yard scoring run that made it 12-0 with 1:28 left in the first.

“I think the difference in the game was our physical play on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” Hagen remarked.

“Our offensive line of Derek Jeske, Tristen Stange, Brayden Boyer, Andrew Jeske and Corey Steen, along with backups Cristo Lopez and Logan Stuttgen, don’t get enough press, but they have done an outstanding job all year long as we average 307 yards rushing per game.”

The Eagles found a spark on offense with their passing attack, and made it a one score game with a 68-yard scoring drive. Weber connected with Willfhart on a 33-yard in the closing moments of the first half, and the Eagles carried that momentum into the second quarter.

Weber found his all-conference tight end Tim Schmitt for a 25-yard pass on the first play of the second quarter, and two plays later Weber found Schmitt again for a 17-yard touchdown that went over the hands of Colby’s secondary to make it a 12-7 game with 10:54 to go before the break.

The Hornets took over at the 50-yard line, and runs from Brent Jeske and Mason Voss carried Colby across into Eagle territory. Colby looked to make it a two score lead again, but Jeske was intercepted on the 13-yard line after trying to connect with Kaden Wiese.

The Hornets defense came up with another stop, and Colby’s offense returned to its punishing ground game, going 41-yards that culminated in a three yard score from Brent Jeske that made it 18-7. Jeske scored one more before the half was through, diving in on a one yard pick up that made it 25-7 at the half.

“I thought our players came out with good focus and intensity, but give Auburndale credit, they played well for most of the game, and kept it a tight score up until just about half-time,” Hagen stated. “In the end, our athleticism and depth were the big keys in the game.”

The Hornets heaped more misery on Auburndale in the second half. Jeske added his fourth TD of the night after he bounded into the endzone from five yards out with 8:59 to play to make it 31-7.

The Eagles passing game led to another score to make it 31-13, but Lucas Karl scored on a great reverse from five yards out to make it 37-13. A PAT by Tucker Brost put the game at 38-13 just before the fourth quarter.

Junior Caden Healy became the fourth and final Hornet to score after he got loose for a 12-yard gain just seconds into the fourth quarter, That scored proved to be the final nail in Auburandale’s coffi n. The Eagles scored one last time with less than thirty seconds to go, but after the clock struck zero, it was Colby whose season continues.

Brent Jeske led all players on offense, with the senior QB finishing with a season high 211 yards and four TDs on 18 carries. Healy added 99 yards and one score on eight carries, and Mason Voss compiled 79-yards and one score on 10 touches.

Brody Decker had one interception, and Mateo Lopez recorded a team high five tackles. Tanner Halopka, Erik Martinez and Brekyn Lieders all had four tackles apiece as the Eagles were held to under just 184 yards of total offense.

Colby must now prepare for Durand and Bauer, with the two facing off on Friday at Dorais Field in Chippewa Falls at 7 p.m. Bauer stands as the greatest challenge to Colby’s season, but the Hornets defense is stout, and their offensive explosive, and Colby is eager to prove their game is as good as any team in the state.

Colby will look to continues to execute their game plan against the Panthers as they did with the Eagles. If they can, they’ll make even more history as the fifth Hornets squad to play in a state title, and the first to appear in Camp Randall since 2011.

HE’S GOT SPRINGS IN HIS LEGS -Brody Decker swats away a pass intended for Auburndale’s Alex Willfahrt during Friday’s Division 5 playoff game. Decker recorded an interception in the 45-19 victory. Colby will take on the Durand Panthers this Friday at Dorais Field in Chippewa Falls.

SUFFOCATING DEFENSE -Caden Healy takes down Auburndale QB Trayton Weber. Colby held the Eagles to under 200-yards of offense.STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN O’BRIEN