Reedsburg holds off Eagles

Sauk Prairie’s football team had not trailed in a game this season and was undefeated after three weeks. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. The Eagles were unable to overcome their first deficit of the season and lost their first game in 2019, falling to Reedsburg, 22-14, in a Badger North Conference showdown last Friday in Reedsburg. Sauk Prairie fell to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Badger North. Reedsburg improved to 3-1, 1-1 in the league. “First of all, Reedsburg is a good team,” said Sauk Prairie head coach Clay Iverson. “They have done a great job with about everyone they have played and we knew it would be a tough, physical game.” Sauk Prairie quarterback Parker Breunig felt the Eagles could have done better. “Offensively and defensively, we just had a lot of mental mistakes,” Breunig said. “Those mistakes really hurt us in the long run.” Reedsburg runs a triple option offense and entered the game averaging 240.6 yards per game on the ground. They surpassed their season average against the Eagles, rushing for 259 yards on 49 carries (5.3 average). Reedsburg built a 22-8 halftime lead, then was able to bleed a lot of the clock with the run and limit Sauk Prairie’s chances on offense. The Beavers ran 59 plays to just 39 for Sauk Prairie and also held a sharp advantage in first downs, picking up 16 to just seven for the Eagles. “They are very well coached in the triple option, and the adjustments that are made within that are not something we see very often,” Iverson said. “I was proud of our guys in their ability to make adjustments and hold them scoreless in the second half.” Breunig started at quarterback for the second consecutive game for the injured Ethan Gibbs. Breunig had a rough night passing the ball against Reedsburg, going 0-for-6 with an interception. Breunig had success running the ball, though, carrying 10 times for 61 yards (6.1). “I’ve been taking a lot more reps at quarterback,” Breunig said. “I am getting more comfortable (at quarterback) and strive to improve every week.” Sauk Prairie had not faced the adversity of having to comeback from a deficit this season. The closest the Eagles came to trailing was when they faced Edgewood on August 30 and were tied for a mere 14 minutes, 45 seconds of the game. The game was scoreless through the first quarter, then Reedsburg struck first on a one-yard run by running back Casey Campbell early in the second quarter. The touchdown was set up by a 56-yard burst on the previous play by Reedsburg running back Robert Losic. Quarterback Ethan Lee ran in the two-point conversion and the Beavers led, 8-0, with 11:06 left in the second quarter. That lead didn’t last for long, as Sauk Prairie responded on its next offensive play. Reedsburg’s kickoff went out-of-bounds and Sauk Prairie began at its 35-yard line. Running back Tyler Uselman then went 65 yards for a touchdown over the right side on the first play of the drive. Breunig ran for a successful two-point conversion, and the game was tied, 8-8, with 10:54 left in the half. Uselman was a bright spot for the Eagles, rushing for 96 yards on six carries for the game. “Tyler is a great player and he would tell you that to break any big run against a good defense is a total team effort,” Iverson said. “(His touchdown) was a great response after we fell behind for the first time all year.” Reedsburg answered on its next possession, when Lee ran for a 54-yard touchdown on the fifth play of the drive. Lee finished with 88 yards on 15 carries. The extra point was blocked and Reedsburg led, 14-8, with 8:25 to go in the first half. Reedsburg forced a turnover on downs, then the Beavers scored again when Lee hit receiver Danny Kast for a 20-yard score. Lee ran in the two-point conversion and Reedsburg led, 22-8, with two seconds left in the half. The touchdown capped a 12-play, 72-yard drive that ate nearly 6 ½ minutes of clock. Sauk Prairie struck back in the third quarter on a Brooks Leister 3-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion attempt failed, and Sauk Prairie trailed 22-14 with 5:17 left in the third. Sauk Prairie forced a punt on Reedsburg’s ensuing drive, then manufactured an eight-play march. Unfortunately, the Eagles only made it to their 37-yard line and were forced to punt. Reedsburg then ran out what was left of the clock and hung on for the win. Sauk Prairie will look to get back on track Friday, but the schedule doesn’t get any easier. The Eagles host DeForest — ranked seventh in Division 2 — at 7 p.m. Sauk Prairie then hosts powerhouse Waunakee — ranked No. 1 in Division 2 — the following Friday. “It was a good game with two good football teams going at it,” Iverson said. “Both teams will benefit from that experience.” Sept. 13 Sauk Prairie 14, Reedsburg 22 Sauk Prairie…......…..0 8 6 0---14 Reedsburg…….........0 22 0 0----22 Second Quarter R — Campbell 1 run (Lee run) 11:06 SP — Uselman 65 run (Breunig run) 10:54 R — Lee 54 run (Kick failed) 8:25 R — Kast 20 pass from Lee (Lee run) :02 Third Quarter SP — Leister 3 run (Two-point failed) 5:17 TEAM STATS Total yards--SP 191, R 309. Rushing(att-yd)--SP 30-191, R-49-259. Passing(att-comp-yd-int-td)--SP 0-6-0-1-0, R 2-4-41-0-1. Penalties--SP 3-10, R 7-64. First downs--SP 7, R 16. INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Rushing(att-yd-td): SP--Uselman 6-96-1, Breunig 10-61-0, R--Lee 14-88-1. Passing(att-comp-yd-int-td): SP--Breunig 0-6-0-1-0, R--Lee 2-4-41-0-1. Receiving(rec-yd-td): R--Kast 1-20-1