Prairie du Chien Turning Point
(09.18.09)-- Entering their week four non-conference tilt with the Prairie du Chien Blackhawks, the Wisconsin Dells Chiefs' offense was marred in a three-game slump that saw them only score one touchdown in their first 12 quarters of 2009. That score came late against many of Poynette's JV players as the Indians began to substitute leading 16-0 with just a few minutes remaining.
On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs defense was off to a very respectable start to 2009. They had not given up a 100-yard game to any rusher. Against Kingsford they held the Michigan rushing powerhouse to just 174 team rushing yards.
Facing an explosive Prairie du Chien offense that had just blown Mauston off the field, the Chiefs were going to be facing a dual threat as the Blackhawks possessed both an outstanding passing quarterback (Chandler White) and a running back (Kyle McCoy) averaging almost a first down (8.9 yards per carry) on every touch of the ball.
With the Chiefs defense setting the tone and their offense finally reaching the end zone, the game that no one who follows football in Wisconsin gave the Chiefs a chance to win, stood at 7-7 with four minutes to play in the first half.
Prairie du Chien's passing game quickly made it a 13-7 game, as the Blackhawks picked apart an inexperienced Chiefs' secondary for an easy score late in the half.
Without senior speedster Jimmy Steinhorst back to return kicks, the Chiefs still looked rattled as neither junior Alex Yacko or junior Ryan Theiler called for the ensuing Blackhawk kick. The Chiefs' deep men failed to cover the ensuing Prairie du Chien kickoff, but luckily for Wisconsin Dells the ball rolled into the end zone to give the Chiefs a first-and-10 at their own 20-yard line.
With two minutes to play in the first half, the Chiefs needed to regroup and move the chains once or twice to restore their confidence and get set to duke it out with Prairie du Chien in the second half.
As the jaws of Chiefs fans dropped, the Chiefs came out looking to pass on first down. A good spot on the sack put the Chiefs back only to their own 14-yard line. The second-down run got back most of the yards lost on the sack.
Now sniffing a chance to get the ball back, Prairie du Chien called a timeout. Offensive Coordinator Jeff Buss now faced a crucial third down call, his biggest so far in 2009.
After a lengthy discussion, Buss took out the Chiefs' top receiver from 2008 and called sophomore Cody Buss' number for the key third-down play.
With Skylar Liebzeit looking nowhere but to the Chiefs' shortest receiver, the pass went through Buss' hands and hit the facemask of the Blackhawk defender. With the Blackhawk defender failing to come up with the interception at the Chiefs' 28-yard line it looked like Wisconsin Dells dodged a bullet as they lined up to punt on fourth down from their own 17-yard line.
The short punt took a terrific Chiefs' bounce and the Blackhawks offense took over at their own 46-yard line with 1:17 left in the opening half.
A lightning-quick 33 seconds and three pass plays later, Prairie du Chien led 19-7. Senior Bobby Blaschke knocked down their two-point conversion pass and the Blackhawks had to settle to a 13-point lead.
Following the ensuing Blackhawk kick, the Chiefs again came out throwing. Liebzeit hit Cody Buss in the left flat, but the team's go-to receiver could not handle the ball. With Liebzeit avoiding the second-down sack Prairie du Chien took their final timeout with 24 seconds on the clock.
Coming out of the timeout, Coach Buss wanted to again go to the air. Luckily for the Chiefs, Liebzeit was sacked and Wisconsin Dells avoided any further disaster as they headed off to the locker room wondering what just happened.
With the Chiefs offense having only scored two touchdowns in their first 14 quarters, the 13-point halftime margin for the Blackhawks was too big of a hole for Wisconsin Dells to overcome as they fell to 0-4 on the season.
With the Chiefs young and inexperienced team obviously rattled, the decision to come out passing from deep on their own end of the field, prove to be a disastrous call. Throwing to Wisconsin Dells' youngest, smallest, and least experienced receiver proved to be a fatal decision.
One that again cost Wisconsin Dells, thus becoming the turning point of the game as the Chiefs fell to 0-4 to start their 2009 season.
To view this game for FREE online, visit www.dellstv.com