Westfield Turning Point
(09.25.09)-- Entering South Central Conference league play, the Wisconsin Dells Chiefs sat at 0-4. Better than their record, the Chiefs had lost to three playoff caliber teams from Wisconsin and to a D1 out-of-state powerhouse to open the season.
Clearly Wisconsin Dells passing game was off to a horrible start to 2009. Interceptions, inexperience receivers, dropped balls and bad play calling had the Chiefs sitting winless as SCC play rolled around.
Against Westfield, the Chiefs started first on offense. With tailback Alex Yacko racking up negative rushing yards to start SCC play, the Chiefs first offensive series lasted just three plays.
The Chiefs defense, loaded with the team's best athletes was off to a solid start in 2009. Despite being 0-4 the defense looked good, especially against the run.
Against the SCC's top defense, Westfield went backwards 10 yards on their first offensive series. A horrible punt by the Pioneers gave the Chiefs the ball inside of Westfield's 30-yard line. The Chiefs reached the nine-yard line for a first-and-goal on a 15-yard pass play to senior tight end Josh Elftmann.
After reaching the six on back-to-back Yacko runs, the Chiefs then ran wide on third down. Yacko was tackled for a five-yard loss and the Chiefs sat at the 11-yard line.
On fourth-and-goal from the 11, the Chiefs looked to pass. Bringing in senior Bobby Blaschke as an extra wide out (the team's leading receiver from 2008) Liebzeit dropped back to pass. Rolling to his left and on the run, the right-handed quarterback's throw into the end zone pass well short of a diving Blaschke and into the grass.
The Chiefs had again come up empty from inside of the red zone. The Pioneers took over on downs at their own 11-yard line.
With the Chiefs' defense limiting Westfield's big Nic Grant to minus five rushing yards on the Pioneers' first possession, they again stopped him cold on Westfield's second possession. Facing a third-and-long, Westfield looked to pass. With 6'10" Nate Gibson recording the first sack of his Wisconsin Dells career, Westfield now had to punt from their own five-yard line.
Junior Ryan Theiler's 20-yard return set the Chiefs up inside of the Pioneer's red zone at the 15-yard line. With a pair of Yacko runs moving the Chiefs inside of the five-yard line, the Chiefs again faced first-and-goal.
Adverting disaster, Yacko was ruled down so his fumble recovered out near the 20, never happened. On third-and-goal, Liebzeit hit senior Josh Elftmann for the two-yard touchdown throw and the Chiefs scored first. Holzem's PAT kick was no good so the Chiefs had to settle for the 6-0 advantage.
Westfield's third possession was like their first two. The Chiefs defense dominated and forced another three-and-out.
Following the Pioneer punt, the Chiefs got seven yards out of Yacko's first two carries. Facing third-and-three, Wisconsin Dells looked to pass. Throwing into heavy coverage to Ryan Stroede, Liebzeit's pass was picked off by KC Houslet at the Chiefs' own 43-yard line.
A first down completion picked up 14 yards as the Pioneers now approached the Chiefs red zone. Looking to again pass on second down Trevor Jackson's throw over the middle was picked off by Blaschke. Just two days earlier, the senior linebacker learned that his shoulder, that the team trainer feared had been broken in the Chiefs' week-four game against Prairie du Chien, was not fractured.
Wearing a special harness inside of his shoulder pads and a forearm bandage on his right arm from a severe cut he received in practice on Thursday, Blaschke returned the pick 23 yards out towards midfield.
Trailing just 6-0 after one quarter, Houslet's interception of Liebzeit's forced throw had given Westfield a window to climb back into the game. The Chiefs' defense quickly slammed that window shut, making Blaschke's pick and return the turning point of the game.
Five plays later the Chiefs were facing a 4th-and-one at the Pioneer 31-yard line. Reaching into their bag of tricks the Chiefs used the flea-flicker to give Skylar a cushion to find a wide-open Ryan Theiler on the 31-yard touchdown play. Holzem's kick was again no good as the Chiefs now led 12-0 and looked for their first win of 2009.
With the Chiefs defense again handling Grant and the Pioneers, Westfield only gained four positive yards before again punting. On their final possession of the first half, Theiler scored again with eight seconds left, to put the Chiefs up 18-0. Holzem added the PAT and the Chiefs led 19-0 at the half.
Blaschke added the lone score of the second half as Wisconsin Dells opened South Central Conference play with a convincing 26-0 win over Westfield.
To view this game for FREE online, visit www.dellstv.com