Krueger powers Gillett over Menominee Indian

Stopping Gillett junior running back Bo Krueger is no easy feat for opposing defenses. Menominee Indian learned that lesson Thursday night.

Krueger recorded over 300 total yards and scored eight touchdowns to lift Gillett to a 70-12 win over Menominee Indian.

Gillett received the opening kickoff, and in just over a minute, scored its first touchdown. Anthony Carroll broke free for a 61-yard rushing score.

Menominee Indian’s first possession did not go as well, as the team fumbled on the first play of the game before a penalty left the Eagles with a third-and-long. After an incomplete pass, Menominee Indian punted the ball back to Gillett.

After stuffing Krueger on the first play of the drive, the Tigers called a passing play and quarterback Brock Herzog found Krueger open in the flat. Krueger turned upfield and rumbled 35 yards to the end zone.

A penalty on third down left Menominee Indian with a third-and-long again on its second drive of the contest. A pass was undercut by Gillett’s Sam Lemens, who picked off the pass and set the Tigers up in plus-territory.

After a first down run by Krueger, Herzog connected with Lemens for another passing score.

Menominee Indian was forced into three-and-outs in its next two possessions, and Gillett turned short fields into a pair of Krueger rushing TDs.

Trailing 36-0, Menominee Indian’s Pasen Waupoose willed the team to a first down on a couple of tough runs. The Eagles eventually would need to punt, but a booming kick left the Tigers with a long field.

Krueger took a handoff on the first play of the drive and scampered 73 yards to bring Gillett’s lead to 42.

Gillett forced Menominee Indian to punt on its next possession but the Eagles’ defense rose to the challenge when it got back on the field.

Menominee Indian forced a fumble that was recovered by Adrien Waupoose, setting the Eagles up with great field position. The hosts were not able to cash in the turnover, as the Tigers aggressive defense forced a sack on fourth down to end the drive.

Menominee Indian’s defense responded by forcing its second turnover in as many drives, as James Waupoose recovered a fumble.

This time, the Eagles’ offense cashed in. After Pasen Waupoose led the team down the field on rushing attempts, he hit Adrien Waupoose on a 14-yard touchdown pass for the team’s first points of the season.

“Being short-handed on the offensive side of the ball, with no true quarterback right now, it’s tough to move the ball,” Clache said. “Pasen did a really good job and led the offense pretty well, he’s a gutsy player.”

Gillett had an answer to cap its strong first half though, as Krueger burst through the line before racing 55 yards for his fifth touchdown.

Krueger scored the first touchdown of the second half before Bryce Dixon took the ensuing kickoff back 84 yards for Menominee Indian’s second touchdown.

Krueger added touchdown runs of 10- and 30-yards to cap the scoring.

“There’s not a whole lot we can take away from a loss that big, but we did get some of our younger guys experience tonight,” Menominee Indian coach Chris Clache said. “We had our moments where we did alright, and we even stopped five (Krueger) a few times in the first couple series. But when you got a guy like that that gets better as the game goes on and we are wearing down, that doesn’t add up.”

Pasen Waupoose rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries to lead the Eagles on the ground. Adrien Waupoose carried the ball 10 times for 36 yards while leading the defense with 12 tackles. Dixon accumulated over 200 yards on kickoff returns.

After the lopsided loss, Menominee Indian is focused on moving forward.

“We practice hard, we get focused and keep working on the things we need to fix,” Dixon said. “We have a really good coach here that can help us do that.”

Gillett 28 20 16 6

Menominee Indian 0 6 6 0

First quarter

G: Anthony Carroll 61-yard run (run failed), 10:58

G: Bo Krueger 35-yard pass from Brock Herzog (Krueger run), 8:36

G: Sam Lemens 24-yard pass from Herzog (Krueger run), 6:15

G: Krueger 38-yard run (pass failed), 4:16

Second quarter

G: Krueger 3-yard run (Logan Block pass from Krueger), 11:44

G: Krueger 73-yard run (run failed), 7:38

MI: Adrien Waupoose 14-yard pass from Pasen Waupoose (pass failed), 1:07

G: Krueger 55-yard run (run failed), 54.1

Third quarter

G: Krueger 67-yard run (Lemens run), 8:30

MI: Bryce Dixon 84-yard kickoff return (run failed), 5:50

G: Krueger 10-yard run (Carroll run), 10.3

Fourth quarter

G: Krueger 30-yard run (run failed), 6:28

Records: Gillett 2-0 ; Menominee Indian 0-2.