Turnovers the difference in G-E-T football playoff exit

After watching one of the top teams in the state return the opening kickoff 85 yards for the score and produce another touchdown on its first offensive drive, the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau football team needed an answer fast.

The Red Hawks began driving the field, turning to their typical run heavy attack as they pushed their way past midfield.

On a second and eight, G-E-T did enough to get the first down, but a fumble was forced by the Colby defense. Colby’s offense turned it into another six points before their defense scooped up a different fumble for an 82-yard touchdown to make it a four-score game in the first half.

The turnovers sealed a 49-16 win for the team that finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the state and ended G-E-T’s season with a 5-5 record.

“That was huge,” G-E-T coach Paul Anderson said of the turnovers. “The first one we were in their territory at about the 40. … and we were trying to extend the play, and the other we were down 21 and driving and the game was still there for us. We got down to about the 18 when we were trying to get more yards, and they picked it up and went all the way.”

Colby worked to a 42-0 lead through three quarters before G-E-T scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Junior Nate Schindler got the Red Hawks on the board with a three-yard touchdown run, and classmate Will Mack doubled G-E-T’s score with another three-yard scamper in the game’s final minute.

The Red Hawks finish 2022 with a 5-5 record including a 5-2 run in the Coulee Conference in the program’s first year under Anderson. It’s a bounce back season from last year’s 1-8 record, and Anderson believes the program can build on this year. A 671-yard rushing attack against Black River Falls on Sept. 9 was just 70 yards short of the state record for most in a game, and Anderson said that sticks out.

He plans to be back next fall for a team that’s losing 18 seniors, including four offensive linemen and three running backs.

“I was really proud of this group and how we played this year. Even though we had some losses, how we came back from last year where we were kind of down–although we did some good things in 2021 in the fall–hopefully the program stays stable, and the JV played really well and were undefeated,” Anderson said. “It’s looking good for the future.”

Seniors played a big part in this year’s success, especially in the running game. Classmates Warren Stoner and Brady Seiling were part of a three-headed attack with Schindler that ran through most of the conference this fall.

Seiling led G-E-T in total yards on Friday with 86, and Stoner added 47. The Red Hawks compiled 248 yards on the ground in one of the few times this season they were out-rushed. Colby finished with 288 rushing yards as a team.

Junior Brandt Robinson led G-E-T with 5.5 tackles on a night that saw eight different Red Hawks recorded at least a pair of tackles.

Colby’s defense was pushing the line of scrimmage with intensity on Friday, and the special teams score along with the turnovers was too much to overcome, Anderson said.

Nonetheless, he is proud of his team’s season.

“We knew the schedule was going to be tough. … but we improved every week I thought, we got healthier and we played pretty good through the middle of the season. I was happy with how the season went and happy for the seniors that they got to experience a playoff game”

G-E-T—

Rushing (att./yds.)—B. Seiling 8/86, Schmitz 13/58, Stoner 10/47, Schindler 11/44, Mack 2/20, K. Seiling 1/-7.

Receiving (rec./yds.)—Sorenson 1/30, Eddy 1/8.

Passing (comp./att./yds.)—Mack 1/5/30, Schmitz 1/5/8.

Tackles (solo/total)—Robinson 2/5.5, B. Seiling 4/4.5, Schindler 1/3, Mack 2/3, Jimenez 2/3, Hilton 2/2.5, Lakey 1/2, Mattison 1/2, Repaal 1/1.5, K. Seiling 1/1.5, Haney 1/1, Eddy 0/1, Schuh 0/0.5.