Indees no match for DC’s top team
Grant Klimek of Independence/Gilmanton tried to get outside on a run during the first quarter of the team’s game against Cochrane-Fountain City on Friday. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
The Cochrane-Fountain City football team showed why it’s among the top-ranked in Division Seven and undefeated so far this season with a 52-0 win over Independence/Gilmanton on Friday.
The Pirates scored 46 points in the first quarter and never looked back as the Indees weren’t able to get on the board. C-FC is ranked fifth in Division Seven in the most recent Wisconsin Football Coaches Association poll.
The Indees fell to 1-6 overall and 1-5 in Dairyland Conference play. Their season comes to an end this week when they play at Eleva-Strum (5-3, 4-2).
C-FC 52 I/G 0
C-FC scored before its offense even touched the ball and then scored again on its first offensive play.
That’s what kind of night it was for I/G as the Indees received the opening kickoff, but couldn’t move the ball. The team punted to C-FC star Tye Popp, who sprinted through a hole and went nearly untouched for a touchdown. It was Popp’s fourth punt return touchdown of the season on just nine attempts — he’s averaging 50.8 yards per return.
After another I/G three-and-out, the Pirates scored again. This time Parker Kujak threw a deep bomb to Steve Meyer for a score.
The Indees had a chance to stop C-FC’s next possession as the Pirates faced a third-and-four from the I/G 8-yard line, but Aidan Lisowski went up the middle for the touchdown.
The game got out of hand after that.
Another I/G punt led to another long return for Popp. This time, the Indees took the returner down, but it wasn’t until he got inside the I/G 5-yard line. Ethan Smith scored on the next play.
Meyer found the end zone again, this time on an interception returned for a touchdown with 3:39 remaining in the first half.
After the Indees turned it over on downs near midfield, Smith got outside for a long touchdown run that put the Pirates ahead 46-0.
Maverick Arneson added a score for C-FC as the team cruised to the shutout win.
Blake Slaby began the game at quarterback for I/G before being replaced by Chase Back, who missed most of the last two games with an injury. Back completed 10 of 18 passes for 48 yards. Grant Klimek was the team’s leading rusher and receiver, running for 20 yards and catching two passes for 19.
Independence/Gilmanton
Rushing (att./yds.) — Klimek 5/20 Solberg 3/9 Slaby 2/1 Turner 2/1 Back 1/-2
Receiving (rec./yds.) — Klimek 2/19 Solberg 4/12 Hovey 2/11 Lopez 1/4 Turner 1/2
Passing (comp./att./yds.) — Back 10/18/48 Slaby 1/5/2
Tackles (solo/asts) — Hovey 5/6 Carrillo-Taylor 4/4 Back 3/1 Klimek 2/8 Gierok 2/0 Lopez 1/1 McHugh 1/1 Slaby 0/4 Solberg 0/2 Turner 0/2 Kreibich 0/1
