Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Menominee Indian High School running back Alphonso Smith powers through Milwaukee HOPE Christian defenders Thursday game in Keshena. Menominee Indian lost, 20-14.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Menominee Indian High School tight end Dominic Caldwell catches a pass during Thursday’s game against Milwaukee HOPE Christian.
It was a rough start to the season opener for the Eagles.
The Menominee Indian High School football team fell behind 14-0 early against Milwaukee HOPE Christian Thursday in Keshena, rallied to tie the game at 14 midway through the third quarter and gave up a late touchdown in a 20-14 loss.
“We were on our heels pretty much from the beginning of the game,” Menominee Indian coach Chris Clache said. “Obviously, our offense is not designed to battle back and play from behind. We had some good individual efforts, but in the end we kind of gave this game to them.”
After giving up two early scores, it was the Eagles’ defense that erased the goose egg on the scoreboard. With HOPE Christian backed up on its own 5-yard line, Menominee Indian senior outside linebacker Dominic Caldwell, 6-foot-5, 219 pounds, managed to strip the ball from junior quarterback John Bell.
Caldwell, who would lead the defense with seven tackles, three for loss, fell on the rock in the end zone for the touchdown.
Menominee Indian flashed what Clache hopes will be a potent offense to open the second half. The Eagles engineered a methodical 80-yard drive that featured senior Alphonso Smith running through tackles.
“Everybody was connecting with their blocks and maintaining it,” Clache said. “We had preached it, we said at halftime, ‘Stay with your blocks until the play is over.’ That’s what happened.”
Smith, 6-2, 210 pounds, capped the 5-minute, 44-second drive with a 4-yard plunge through the heart of the HOPE Christian defense.
“Alphonso ran really good tonight,” Clache said. “I knew he was fast, but there were times he was just a bull today. I think we’ll use him a little bit more.”
The Eagles got the game-tying 2-point conversion on a swing pass from freshman quarterback Avery Corn to senior receiver Michael Pecore, who spun out of a tackle to find the end zone.
The defenses clamped down from there. Menominee Indian forced a turnover on downs and then a punt after junior nose tackle Anthony Allery, 6-2, 340 pounds, sacked Bell to force fourth-and-30 on the Eagles’ side of the field.
“For a big guy he can move,” Clache said. “He caught that kid from behind. He can move when he wants to.”
The Eagles’ offense couldn’t capitalize, though, turning the ball over twice. The second time was a fumble by Smith with 6:14 left in the fourth quarter that set HOPE Christian up for a 20-yard throw from Bell to sophomore receiver Nicolas Love for the go-ahead touchdown.
Smith finished the game with 19 carries for 148 yards. Brian Madosh added 44 yards on five carries. Corn was 6 of 20 for 41 yards. Pecore caught three balls for 29 yards.
HOPE Christian took the opening drive 68 yards for a touchdown. After snagging an interception on the Eagles’ first drive, the Hawks scored again. Both touchdowns were scored by running back Nick Walters. HOPE Christian scored on a 2-point conversion after the first touchdown, but failed to convert the second one.
Walters finished with 11 carries for 109 yards. Javontae Davis had 15 carries for 108 yards.
Clache couldn’t hide his disappointment in the outcome.
“We battled, even when we were behind, we came back and made it a game,” Clache said. “I think we should have won this game, easily.”