Leader Staff
The Bonduel High School football team got it done through the air, on the ground and on defense in a 49-0 drubbing of Stevens Point Pacelli on the road Friday.
The win got the Bears (6-2, 4-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) to the magical number for playoff eligibility. To qualify for playoff consideration, a team must win at least half of its conference games.
“We just needed to get this win to get into the playoffs,” Bonduel coach James Westrich said. “That was nice to get that done and taken care of.”
Although the Bears scored on their first possession on Hunter VanDerLinden’s 1-yard dive, Bonduel struggled to get going offensively in the first quarter.
Leading 7-0 in the second quarter, and with Pacelli loading the box to stop Bonduel’s rushing attack, the Bears went to the air. Quarterback Colton Dobratz connected with Dan Tauchen on a 44-yard touchdown to put the Bears up 14-0. He later connected with receiver Connor Rosin for a 40-yard touchdown pass.
“If they are going to have that many people in the box, you have to take advantage of it,” Westrich said. “We missed a couple early, and then Colton got on and made some good passes, and we made them pay for loading the box up.”
The rout was on when running back Hunter Berry found daylight on a 44-yard run to the end zone that put Bonduel up 28-0 at halftime.
The Bonduel defense, meanwhile, refused to let Pacelli (1-7, 0-6 CWC-8) do anything offensively, holding the Cardinals to just 53 yards for the game.
“The defense played well,” Westrich said. “I think we got a little bit better. It was a good win for us.”
Dobratz finished 4 for 9 passing for 144 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Tauchen had two catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Rosin finished with three catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns.
VanDerLinden finished with 14 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Berry had five touches for 87 yards.