Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Sam Griesbach and the Bonduel High School defense swarms Shiocton’s Brandon Spencer to tackle him for a loss during Bonduel’s 33-30 victory Friday.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bonduel High School senior Trevor Pedersen looks for an opening before scoring the game-winning touchdown in the Bears’ 33-30 victory over Shiocton on Friday.
Bonduel High School senior quarterback Trevor Pedersen rolled to his right and found a hole in the defense for a 3-yard rushing touchdown, the game-winning score in a 33-30 overtime victory at Shiocton on Friday.
Shiocton took a 30-27 lead on the first possession of overtime as junior Jake Godin kicked a 23-yard field goal. On Bonduel’s first offense play in OT, Preston Robaidek took a handoff for 22 yards, to the 3-yard line. Pedersen scored the game-ending touchdown on the next play.
“You just have to try to play your best for four quarters, sometimes five, and it was fun,” Bonduel head coach James Westrich said. “I’m happy for these seniors. It was a big win for them, and I am really proud of the way they finished the game.”
The win ensured a WIAA Division 5 playoff spot for the Bears (6-2, 4-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8). Teams with a .500 conference record or above make the playoffs.
Bonduel managed just 212 yards of offense on the night, including 120 rushing yards on 33 carries, but came up with big plays on special teams.
Sophomore Jordan Boldt returned a second-quarter kickoff to the Shiocton 7-yard line, setting up junior Brandon Olsen’s score to pull the Bears within 6 at half.
After the Chiefs (3-5, 3-3 CWC-8) had driven down the field and extended their lead to 12, Boldt took the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to the house to shift the momentum in the Bears’ favor.
The impactful special teams play did not end there.
Shiocton, punting from its end of the field in the final quarter, misplayed the snap on a punt, and the Bears took over just outside the red zone. Riley Allen then caught a pass on a slant route to put the Bears inside the 10-yard line. Senior Blake Stoss finished the drive with a 2-yard score to put the Bears ahead 20-19.
Shiocton’s running back, Henry Fielding, fumbled the ball on the Chiefs’ next possession, and Stoss returned the ball 47 yards for a touchdown. His two scores came within 20 seconds of each other.
“Football is a lot about momentum,” Westrich said. “With high school kids, it can switch like that, so you are never out, as long as you can keep fighting. You never know when that momentum shift is going to happen,
Shiocton was then able to sustain a possession, driving down the field before Fielding scored on a 10-yard run. Shiocton quarterback Brandon Spencer then evaded the Bears’ defense to complete the two-point conversion to tie the game at 27 with 3:37 remaining.
Stoss led Bonduel with 50 rushing yards. Preston Robaidek tallied 48.
Fielding finished with 152 yards on the ground with three scores.
“It’s nice to know we locked up playoffs, but we are going to try to finish this out right,” Westrich said. “We are going to try to get a win next week (against Pacelli). We’ve got a distraction with homecoming and stuff, so we have to make sure we focus and hopefully take care of business next week, and we will see what happens with our seeding.”
Scoring summary
Bonduel 0 7 6 14 6 — 33
Shiocton 7 6 6 8 3 — 30
First quarter
S: Austin Duenas 79-yard catch from Spencer (PAT good) 4:23.
Second quarter
S: Fielding 13-yard run (PAT missed) 7:52.
B: Olsen 7-yard catch from Pedersen (PAT good) 7:28.
Third quarter
S: Fielding 15-yard run (conversion missed) 8:15.
B: Boldt 75-yard kickoff return (PAT missed) 8:03.
Fourth quarter
B: Stoss 2-yard run (PAT good) 9:38.
B: Stoss 47-yard fumble recovery (PAT good) 9:18.
S: Fielding 10-yard run (conversion good) 3:37.
Overtime
S: Godin 23-yard field goal.
B: Pedersen 3-yard run.