Dragons ride rushing attack into state quarters
By MATT KING\Daily Journal Sports Writer
Nov 11, 2004 - 10:47:49 CST
STE. GENEVIEVE - Year in and year out, district and post-season play always seems to bring out the best in the Ste. Genevieve football team.
The Dragons stuck to the basics during their Class 3 state sectional contest on Wednesday night against Perryville. A prolific rushing attack and a stifling defense were the right combination for a 20-7 win over the Pirates.
Ste. Genevieve (7-4) earned its fifth consecutive win, and the second this season over Perryville. The Dragons controlled the time of possession and the pace of the action with their dominance on the ground, outrushing the Pirates 335-65.
Dragons coach Bob Stolzer applauded his team's effort which has also keyed its recent success since starting the season 2-4.
"I can't really single any one player out," said Stolzer. "There are 11 kids out there on each play who are playing their hearts out. It was a big overall team effort."
The opening drives from each team combined to consume much of the first quarter. Each team worked its way into opposition territory by running the ball, but both defenses intensified to force successive punts. The scoreless stalemate continued deep into the first half, but a shaky punt from Perryville allowed Ste. Genevieve to begin its fourth drive of the night at midfield.
An 11-yard run by quarterback Tanner Wolk, and a 16-yard scamper by running back Taylor Huck helped the Dragons advance inside the Perryville 10-yard line. On third-and-goal from the 13 following a sack, Wolk used his quickness to elude two tacklers and scramble into the end zone, giving the Dragons a 7-0 lead with 2:09 to play before halftime.
Ste. Genevieve forced a Perryville punt during the opening possession of the second half, then proceeded to march down the field with possibly its most impressive scoring drive of the season.
Facing a fourth down with inches to go at their own 29, the Dragons successfully gambled, barely earning the first down on a quarterback sneak. Ste. Genevieve followed by stringing together a long series of positive running plays as the Pirates appeared deflated on defense.
Wolk crashed across the goal line from one yard out to cap the 19-play, 81-yard drive which lasted 8:47, increasing the margin to 14-0 with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter. Huck was the workhorse during the drive with 10 carries.
Perryville (5-6) tried to mount a comeback through the air on its next drive and did complete a pair of short passes for a first down. However, two consecutive incompletions resulted in another punt.
The Dragons needed just four plays to find the end zone again. Wolk broke through the left side of the Pirates' defense on an option keeper, and raced 54 yards down the sideline for his third rushing touchdown of the game. Ste. Genevieve led 20-0 after the missed extra-point with 9:01 to play.
After making a huge stop on a fourth-down run by the Pirates, Ste. Genevieve threatened to add another score. However, Perryville's Matt Unterreiner made a juggling interception in the end zone to keep his team in the game.
The Pirates gave their fans more hope when quarterback Cory Buerck connected on a deep pass to receiver Clinton Rice for an 83-yard gain to the 2-yard line. Buerck barreled in on the next play to break the shutout with 3:51 left.
The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Ste. Genevieve's Jake Donze, and the Dragons managed to run out the clock.
"This was a matter of execution tonight," added Stolzer. "We weren't doing anything fancy. It was knock-down, drag-out in the first half, and the kids just stayed after it."
Ste. Genevieve had a pair of 100-yard rushers by the end of the night. Wolk racked up 152 yards on 18 carries, and completed 3-7 passes for 23 yards. Huck gained 107 yards on 26 carries.
Kellen Stolzer added 54 rushing yards on nine carries, and also kicked two extra-points for the Dragons. Tyler Thompson made two receptions for 18 yards.
Buerck finished with 142 yards on 7-15 passing for Perryville, while Unterreiner ran for 44 yards on 12 carries. Rice and Kirk Luckey made two catches apiece, and David Ochs led all players with nine tackles.
Ste. Genevieve must now prepare for a daunting task on Monday night in state quarter-final round action. The Dragons will travel to St. Louis University High School for a 7 p.m. battle with MICDS (Country Day), the No. 1 ranked Class 3 team in the state.
Last year, the Dragons knocked out top-ranked Duchesne in the quarter-finals on their way to the state title game.
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The Dragons stuck to the basics during their Class 3 state sectional contest on Wednesday night against Perryville. A prolific rushing attack and a stifling defense were the right combination for a 20-7 win over the Pirates.
Ste. Genevieve (7-4) earned its fifth consecutive win, and the second this season over Perryville. The Dragons controlled the time of possession and the pace of the action with their dominance on the ground, outrushing the Pirates 335-65.
Dragons coach Bob Stolzer applauded his team's effort which has also keyed its recent success since starting the season 2-4.
"I can't really single any one player out," said Stolzer. "There are 11 kids out there on each play who are playing their hearts out. It was a big overall team effort."
The opening drives from each team combined to consume much of the first quarter. Each team worked its way into opposition territory by running the ball, but both defenses intensified to force successive punts. The scoreless stalemate continued deep into the first half, but a shaky punt from Perryville allowed Ste. Genevieve to begin its fourth drive of the night at midfield.
An 11-yard run by quarterback Tanner Wolk, and a 16-yard scamper by running back Taylor Huck helped the Dragons advance inside the Perryville 10-yard line. On third-and-goal from the 13 following a sack, Wolk used his quickness to elude two tacklers and scramble into the end zone, giving the Dragons a 7-0 lead with 2:09 to play before halftime.
Ste. Genevieve forced a Perryville punt during the opening possession of the second half, then proceeded to march down the field with possibly its most impressive scoring drive of the season.
Facing a fourth down with inches to go at their own 29, the Dragons successfully gambled, barely earning the first down on a quarterback sneak. Ste. Genevieve followed by stringing together a long series of positive running plays as the Pirates appeared deflated on defense.
Wolk crashed across the goal line from one yard out to cap the 19-play, 81-yard drive which lasted 8:47, increasing the margin to 14-0 with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter. Huck was the workhorse during the drive with 10 carries.
Perryville (5-6) tried to mount a comeback through the air on its next drive and did complete a pair of short passes for a first down. However, two consecutive incompletions resulted in another punt.
The Dragons needed just four plays to find the end zone again. Wolk broke through the left side of the Pirates' defense on an option keeper, and raced 54 yards down the sideline for his third rushing touchdown of the game. Ste. Genevieve led 20-0 after the missed extra-point with 9:01 to play.
After making a huge stop on a fourth-down run by the Pirates, Ste. Genevieve threatened to add another score. However, Perryville's Matt Unterreiner made a juggling interception in the end zone to keep his team in the game.
The Pirates gave their fans more hope when quarterback Cory Buerck connected on a deep pass to receiver Clinton Rice for an 83-yard gain to the 2-yard line. Buerck barreled in on the next play to break the shutout with 3:51 left.
The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Ste. Genevieve's Jake Donze, and the Dragons managed to run out the clock.
"This was a matter of execution tonight," added Stolzer. "We weren't doing anything fancy. It was knock-down, drag-out in the first half, and the kids just stayed after it."
Ste. Genevieve had a pair of 100-yard rushers by the end of the night. Wolk racked up 152 yards on 18 carries, and completed 3-7 passes for 23 yards. Huck gained 107 yards on 26 carries.
Kellen Stolzer added 54 rushing yards on nine carries, and also kicked two extra-points for the Dragons. Tyler Thompson made two receptions for 18 yards.
Buerck finished with 142 yards on 7-15 passing for Perryville, while Unterreiner ran for 44 yards on 12 carries. Rice and Kirk Luckey made two catches apiece, and David Ochs led all players with nine tackles.
Ste. Genevieve must now prepare for a daunting task on Monday night in state quarter-final round action. The Dragons will travel to St. Louis University High School for a 7 p.m. battle with MICDS (Country Day), the No. 1 ranked Class 3 team in the state.
Last year, the Dragons knocked out top-ranked Duchesne in the quarter-finals on their way to the state title game.