Eagles’ dream season dies

STOUGHTON — After the final whistle had blown, many of the Sauk Prairie seniors remained on the field. There were some smiles, some tears, and a few pictures taken with friends who had ventured onto the field. Unfortunately, this was the last time they would don the black and red for Sauk Prairie, and they were trying to relish their final moments under the Friday night lights. The football season ended for sixth-seeded Sauk Prairie last Friday, as third-seeded and host Stoughton upended the Eagles, 26-13, in a WIAA Division 3 Level 1 playoff game. Sauk Prairie finished its season 6-4 overall. Stoughton improved to 8-2. “These are the guys that people doubted. They had a lot of people that left the program, but they stuck with it. I couldn’t be prouder of a group,” Sauk Prairie head coach Clay Iverson said emphatically. “I can’t remember a time when I was more proud of a group for giving everything they have. There’s not a sideline in the world I’d rather be on than with these guys.” Sauk Prairie senior Garrett Hertzfeldt echoed his coach. “It’s been huge having (Coach Iverson) teaching us how to be a family and all working together,” Hertzfeldt said. “Everyone is one unit and not doing their own thing.” Hertzfeldt is one of 14 seniors that stuck with the program through some hard times and this year helped Sauk Prairie to its best record since 2007. The 2019 season rejuvenated the Eagle fan base and things are looking up for the future of the program. “We’ve re-lit the fire for everyone — the team, the fan base,” Hertzfeldt said. “Everyone is pumped for next season. Before, it was kind of like ‘we’re probably going to lose this,’ but now we think we can take on anyone, so it’s huge.” Stoughton entered the game averaging just more than 37 points per game. The Vikings featured eight players more than 250 pounds on their offensive and defensive lines, including University of Wisconsin recruit Jack Nelson, who checks in at 6-feet, 7-inches, and 283 pounds. The Eagles ran for 128 yards on 36 attempts (3.5 avg) — their second-lowest total of the season — against a tough Stoughton front. Sauk Prairie entered the game averaging nearly 215 yards per game on the ground. “Credit to Stoughton, they’re a good football team,” Iverson said. “I thought we battled them really well. “We had a couple too many penalties, can’t turn the ball over. I thought it was an even, tough football game. At the end of the day, I’m proud of how our kids battled.” Penalties were abundant for both teams. Sauk Prairie was flagged 10 times for 88 yards, while Stoughton had 13 for 140 yards. Turnovers also hurt Sauk Prairie, as it committed four (one interception, three fumbles), and had two turnover-on-downs. One of the fumbles and one of the turnover-on-downs led to touchdowns for Stoughton. The Eagles started their third drive at the Vikings’ 34-yard line after Stoughton running back Brooks Empey fumbled. On the fifth play of the drive, quarterback Parker Breunig connected with a leaping Dayton Goette for a 24-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone, and Sauk Prairie took a 7-0 lead with 45 seconds left in the first quarter. Stoughton answered on its next drive, when Empey barreled in from 1-yard out on fourth down. The extra point was blocked and the Eagles led, 7-6, with 9:17 left in the second quarter. Sauk Prairie turned the ball over on downs on its next drive and Stoughton marched 85 yards in 12 plays. The drive was capped off when quarterback Adam Hobson found Jack Rilling for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The two-point attempt failed and Stoughton led, 12-7, with 1:21 left in the second quarter. Stoughton received the second half kickoff and Hobson quickly connected with Rilling for a second touchdown, this time from 22 yards out. A two-point conversion gave the Vikings a 20-7 lead with 7:45 remaining in the third quarter. Hobson threw his third touchdown pass of the game two drives later, connecting with Konner Knauf on a 49-yard rainbow down the sideline. The drive was set-up by a Sauk Prairie fumble one play earlier. The two-point try failed and Stoughton led, 26-7, with 26 seconds to go in the third quarter. Hertzfeldt scored on a 26-yard run with 4:11 left in the fourth quarter to make it 26-13. Sauk Prairie attempted an onside kick that bounced off of a Stoughton player and was loose, but the Vikings recovered. The Eagles got the ball once more, but with 3:03 left, they lost their third fumble of the game. Stoughton then ran out the clock and ended Sauk Prairie’s special season. “Means a lot to us to be here in the playoffs for the first time in a long time,” Hertzfeldt said. “Wish we could have gone farther.” Iverson emphasized how proud he was of the team, and how the pride was reflected on the field by the players. “There were times the average person would have taken their foot off the gas. These guys never did,” Iverson said. “They battled every practice, they battled every game. They made our town excited about football, and that has everything to do with these young men. “I had a blast, and that’s a credit to these kids. You can see how emotional they are, and that’s because they care. As far as my first season, it has nothing to do with me. It’s fun to be around these guys. I’ll miss our seniors, but these seniors can come back anytime as we continue to build this program and say they started this.” Hertzfeldt left with a final message, one that best summed up his time while a member of the Eagles. “It’s been a long ride,” he said. “But it’s been fun.” October 25 SAUK PRAIRIE 13, STOUGHTON 26 Sauk Prairie … 7 0 0 6 — 13 Stoughton …… 0 12 14 0 — 26 First Quarter SP- Goette 24 pass from Breunig (Vasquez kick), 0:45 Second Quarter ST - Empey 1 run (kick fail), 9:17 ST - Rilling 14 pass from Hobson (two-point fail), 1:21 Third Quarter ST - Rilling 22 pass from Hobson (Hobson to Hutcherson), 7:45 ST - Knauf 49 pass from Hobson (two-point fail), 0:26 Fourth Quarter SP - Hertzfeldt 26 run (kick fail), 4:11 Team Stats Total yards - SP 189 ST 368. Rushes-yards - SP 36-128 ST 39-117. Passing(comp-att-yd-int) - SP 7-20-61-1 ST 16-25-251-1. Fumbles-lost - SP 3-3 ST 2-1. Penalties-yards - SP 10-88, ST 13-140. Individual Stats Rushing(att-yd-td) - SP Hertzfeldt 14-116-1, Uselman 6-28-0, Leister 1-4-0, Breunig 15-(-20)-0; ST Empey 32-115-1. Passing(comp-att-yd-td-int) - SP Breunig 7-19-61-1-1, Hertzfeldt 0-1-0-0-0; ST Hobson 16-25-251-3-1. Receiving(rec-yed-td) - SP German 4-26-0, Goette 1-24-1, Hertzfeldt 1-8-0, Uselman 1-0-0, Leister 1-4-0; ST Knauf 3-74-1, Rilling 7-109-2, Hutcherson 4-49-0.