It’s on to the section finals

Most of the season, the offense provided the majority of the highlights for the Waseca High School football team, punctuated by a record 81-36 triumph at New Ulm a few weeks ago.

Since then, however, the defense sure has stepped up.

The Bluejays almost posted their third straight shutout after the New Ulm game, defeating fourth-seeded Tri-City United 33-7 in the Section 3AA semifinals at Waseca Saturday, Oct. 29.

The victory produced a rematch with No. 2 seed Fairmont for the top-seeded Jays, who improved to 8-1 with the TCU win. Waseca, advancing to the section finals for the fifth year in a row, face Fairmont at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 at New Ulm High School. The last time the teams met, the Bluejays won 37-21 at Waseca.

But coach Brad Wendland and the Bluejays know they won't face the same Fairmont team they met earlier, as was the case with TCU, which the Bluejays trounced in their first meeting. A concern Friday will be with New Ulm's artificial turf, on which the Bluejays tend to play better on offense than defense. And Fairmont is a pass-oriented crew.

“It’s high school football,” said Wendland. “Anything can happen.”

Wendland declined comment on his team’s defensive improvement, other than to say it was X’s and O’s and that his squad is healthy.

It's an old cliche, but Saturday's TCU game was genuinely closer than the score would indicate.

The Jays asserted themselves early, forcing a three-and-out and scoring on 70-yard touchdown run by Kyle Ahlschlager on their first play. Max Neaves kicked the PAT and it looked like the Bluejays were off running.

But, Waseca fumbled on its own 5-yard line and needed a goal-line stand to keep the Titans off the scoreboard. The first quarter ended 7-0 Waseca.

The Jays didn't need much time on their opening drive of the second period, covering 39 yards in five plays, the final two by quarterback Oliver O'Brien. Again, it looked like the Bluejays could turn it into a blowout.

But TCU then went on the longest drive of the night, consuming more than 8 minutes off the clock by going 65 yards in 15 plays, scoring just before halftime to cut the Jays' lead to 14-7.

The Bluejays couldn't capitalize on a fumble recovery deep in TCU territory as O'Brien's fourth-down pass bounced off a receiver's fingertips.

The teams traded punts before the days scored on a 22-yard touchdown pass from O'Brien to Carson Ohnstad. A missed PAT kick left it 20-7.

The defense came up big in the fourth quarter, when Neaves recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. A two-point conversion try failed  and it was 26-7 with 5:22 remaining.

An interception gave the Jays the ball on the TCU 9-yard line, and two plays later Christian Rodriguez scored on a 4-yard run. Laird Keeton kicked the PAT to make it 33-7, and that's the way it ended.

The Bluejay defense held TCU to five first downs, 21 yards passing and 46 yards rushing on 37 carries.

Ahlschlager led Waseca in rushing with 87 yards on eight tries. O'Brien rushed for 39 yards, Rodriguez 34. O'Brien completed nine of 14 passes for 91 yards. The Jays totaled 248 yards to TCU's 67.

“The opening-play touchdown was great for momentum, setting the tone early,” said Coach Wendland.

So what did Wendland tell his players?

“Feel proud about yourself today, but know you have to play better next week,” said Wendland. “Ask yourself how I can help get us to a state tournament. We got a shot, baby. You’ll never forget it, so never waste an opportunity to prepare for it.

 

TCU                             0    7    0     0 -   7

WAS                            7    7    6    13 - 33

 

First Quarter

WAS - Ahlschlager 70 run (Neaves Kick)

Second Quarter

WAS - O'Brien 2 run (Neaves kick)

TCU - Schendel 2 run (Balcazar kick)

Third Quarter

WAS - Ohnstad 22 pass from O'Brien (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

WAS - Neaves fumble recovery in end zone (run failed)

WAS - Rodriguez 4 run (Keeton kick)

 

                                    TCU         WAS

First downs                          5               8

Rushing                           37-46    30-157

Passing                           4-7-21   9-14-91

Total yards                          67          248

Penalties                             3-16      2-10

 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - WAS: Ahlschlager 7-87; O'Brien 12-39; Rodriguez 9-34; Neaves 3 -2; TCU: Franek 15-38; O'Malley 3-6; Schendel 8-1; Flintrop 5-1

Passing - WAS: O'Brien 9-14-91; TCU: Schendel 4-6, 14; Johnson 1-1, 7

Receiving - Da.Russell 2-42; Ohnstad 2-30; Ahlschlager 2-30; Rodriguez 1-10; No. 81 2-9; TCU: Hollum 1-7; Schendel 1-7; O'Malley 1-6; Holicky 1-1

Defense - WAS: Da.Russell 2 solo tackles, 1 assist; Neaves 5 tackles, 4 assists, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks; Ahlschlager 4 tackles, 2 assists,1 sack; O'Brien 1 tackle, 1 assist; Baldaras 1 assist; Ohnstad 1 tackle, 1 assist; De.Russell 2 tackles, 1 assist; Wirtz 1 tackle; N.Engel-Mueller 1 assist; Johnston 4 tackles, 6 assists, 1 interception; Thompson 3 tackles, 3 assists, 1 interception; Hager 1 tackle, 1 assist; Ellis 1 tackle; Robran 2 assists; Droog 3 tackle, 1 assist; Stenzel 5 tackles, 2 assists; Brown 2 tackles, 4 assists; S.Engel-Mueller 2 tackles; Karsten 1 tackle; No. 87 2 tackles