Today's News - September 5, 2010

 

Waterloo Defeats Columbia With Fourth Quarter Surge

When Waterloo and Columbia do battle, in any sport, you can usually throw out the records and sit back for a spirited game. Friday night’s football game in Columbia was no exception. Waterloo may have been the favorite coming into the game after a convincing win last week over Freeburg, but Columbia would have none of that and came out fast. The previous week, the Eagles had held on for a one-point victory over Sparta. Waterloo’s 21-14 victory was secured thanks to the running of Fullback of Zach Laidley behind the blocking of the Bulldogs linemen.

After the Bulldogs received the opening kick-off, they went three and out. Columbia took over on the Waterloo 45 and powered the ball down the field. Their efforts were in vain as a field goal went wide and the first quarter ended scoreless. The second quarter belonged to the Eagles and their running game. CHS running back Mark Sellers scored on the ground with runs of two and 69 yards. The first half ended with Columbia in control, 14-0.

The tide seemed to change going into the third quarter. "After halftime, we figured some things out, and really got after it. We really wanted to win this game" said Waterloo fullback Zack Laidley. On their first play from scrimmage to start the second half, the Laidley busted through the line, rumbling 49 yards for a touchdown that signaled a momentum change in the game. Waterloo trailed 14-7 at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Waterloo again called on Laidley. After the Bulldogs offence powered their way downfield, Laidley took the handoff and got into the end zone on a one yard TD run. After an Aaron Aycock extra point, the game was tied at 14-14 with just over four minutes to play.  After Columbia went three and out, Waterloo quickly got the ball back with just under four minutes remaining. Again, WHS Head Coach Dan Rose called on Laidley - this time for a 19 yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs the lead, 21-14. With the clock winding down, the Eagles began their march down the field in an attempt for a tying touchdown. But Waterloo defensive back Brian Schaab intercepted a pass from Eagles’ quarterback Alex Schlemmer. The Waterloo offense then returned to the field one more time as WHS quarterback Schaab was called on to take a knee and let the clock run out. The Waterloo Bulldogs came away with a hard fought win, 21-14.

Rose said he was proud of his team’s victory, but said the Bulldogs have a lot to improve on if they are going to make a run for the playoffs. "We played about only about five minutes of good football. We played a horrible first half, we didn't tackle and didn't run some pass routes correctly,” Rose said. Rose added that his team were able to take the game over only in the four minutes of the fourth quarter. “But we're not celebrating,” he said. “We were getting on our kids during the game, they stuck with the coaches and no one panicked.” Rose gave a pat on the back to the Columbia team. “They had a good game plan and they took care of business early,” said Rose.

Columbia Coach Scott Horner said that Waterloo shut down the Eagles’ running game in the second half. “We needed to throw the ball more in the second half and when we tried, we didn't do that well,” said Horner. “We weren't pass-protecting well. The kids fought their butts off and didn't quit, but give some credit to Waterloo. They fought to the last minute and capitalized on our mistakes."

For Waterloo, quarterback Brian Schaab went 5-19 for 77 yards. Leading receivers were Dalton Kaufmann, 25 yards, and Jacob Frank, 24 yards. Laidley led the team in rushing with 115 yards on the ground. Kaufmann led the Bulldogs with four tackles. The Bulldogs kept pressure on the Eagles, teaming up for four sacks. In addition, Schaab snared two interceptions. Mark Sellers led the Eagles offence with 181 rushing yards. Quarterback Alex Schlemmer went 13-28 for 115 yards and two interceptions. His top receiving was Eric Radake with five receptions for 49 yards.

Next Friday, Waterloo travels to Carbondale (2-0), while Columbia heads to Dupo (0-2).

Waterloo quarterback Brian Schaab, 18, cuts up field during first quarter action in the Bulldogs’ Friday night game at Columbia. Looking to make a block is Waterloo’s Nate Bedwell, 51.

Columbia receiver Brendan Schumacher jumps high but just can’t make the catch on a ball thrown by Alex Schlemmer.

 

Red Bud’s football team continues to dominate their opponents this season. They defeated Wesclin on Friday night by a score of 47-15. The Musketeers are currently undefeated at 2-0. Tyler Hubert led the Musketeers with four touchdowns. Quarterback Jake Hoffman scored twice and running back Tyler Magruder got the ball into the end zone once. Next Friday, the Musketeers are on the road to take on Carlyle.

Red Bud quarterback Jake Hoffman dives into the end zone for a Musketeer touchdown.    – photo by North County News

 

The Gibault Catholic High School girls’ tennis team completed a two-match sweep Saturday to improve their overall record to 3-2. The Lady Hawks dominated Herrin High School by a score of 9-0 in their first match Saturday morning. The win gave the team’s new head coach, Laila Schu, her first shutout since taking leadership of the program this season. Leading the way for Gibault in singles were wins from Hannah Lundy, Katie Lamack, Maria Lesko, Macy Wierschem, Natalie Loless and Amber Laurent. Doubles victories were earned by Lundy/Lesko, Lamack/Wierschem and Loless/ Allie Farr.

Saturday afternoon, the Lady Hawks continued their winning ways by besting Benton High School by a score of 7-2. Seniors led the way again with singles victories from Lundy and Wierschem. Other singles wins came from Loless and Farr. Then the senior doubles combination of Lundy/Wierschem sparked a doubles rally that included wins from Lamack/Loless and Laurent/Alycia Hollinshead.

At the end of the day, the Lady Hawks won 16 of 18 matches and took home two match victories for their hard work. Next up for the Lady Hawks is an away match Tuesday, Sept 7, at Alton Marquette. They will face local rival Waterloo High School on Thursday, Sept. 9.

The Gibault Catholic High School tennis team is, left to right, first row, Ellie Wessel, Lizzy Raisch, Maria Lesko, Katie Lamack and Olivia Hart; second row, Amber Laurent, Natalie Loless, Alexis Schrieber, Gabby Schmitz and Rachel Hayes; and third row, Coach Laia Schu, Macy Wierschem, Hannah Lundy, Allie Farr, Logan McBride and Alycia Hollinshead.

 

In high school soccer on Saturday, Waterloo traveled to Civic Memorial and won 3-1. Scoring goals for the Bulldogs were Eric Brueggemann, John Huelsman and Lance Kohler. Valmeyer shutout Tower Grove 3-0. The Pirates’ next game is Tuesday, Sept. 7 at Afton, Mo.

 

Mark Vogt of Waterloo was treated to a surprise 50^th birthday Saturday at J.V.’s Downtown Bar and Grill in downtown Waterloo. Vogt is the owner of Vogt Builders and is president of both the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce and the Homebuilders Association of Greater Southwest Illinois.