Jays whip Worthington

How did the Waseca High School football team respond to allowing an improbable 36 points a week earlier at New Ulm?

With a shutout.

The Bluejays continued their impressive offensive outpouring while stepping up the defense in a 47-0 whitewashing of winless Worthington on Waseca's Senior Night Thursday, Oct. 13.

“It was great to see our defense get back on track,” said Waseca coach Brad Wendland. “We made some corrections and the kids really responded.”

Waseca, 6-1, ended the regular season Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Luverne. Playoffs start Oct. 25, though the Jays are expected to earn the top seed and a first-round bye and host a game Saturday, Oct. 29.

On the opening kickoff against Worthington, sophomore Damarius Russell showed what kind of game to expect. Fielding the ball at the 18, he broke outside and left defenders in the dust on his way to an 82-yard touchdown return.

After the Trojans went three-and-out, the Jays covered 62 yards in four plays, with Christian Rodriguez waltzing in from the 6-yard line. The drive included a 33-yard run by Rodriguez. Max Neaves' PAT made it 14-0, still early in the first quarter.

Carter Ellis looked to end Worthington's next drive, scooping up a fumble and taking it 44 yards for an apparent touchdown. It was, however, ruled an incomplete pass and the Trojans punted.

With Rodriguez and Oliver O'Brien running the ball, Waseca went 71 yards in seven plays, the final 6 on a Rodriguez rush. Neaves added the PAT and the Bluejays led 21-0 after one quarter.

But they were far from finished. After forcing another three-and-out, O'Brien broke loose on the first play, breaking several tackles en route to a 26-yard scoring run.

The Jays led 28-0 after dominating the first half.

It continued in the third quarter. Ellis picked off a pass on Worthington's third play and O'Brien proceeded to race 36 yards for a touchdown, but a penalty nullified it. No matter. O'Brien ran 15 yards for a score on the next play.

A long pass on Worthington's first play was intercepted by Russell, who took it 47 yards for his second touchdown interception of the season. It gave Waseca a 41-0 led with 10:15 left in the third quarter.

Waseca's second-string players drove 47 yards in nine plays, Jose Mixteco scoring on a 6-yard run late in the third period. Neither team scored in the fourth.

“Damrius Russel made two incredible interceptions,” said Coach Wendland. “He just keeps getting better and better. His kickoff return to start the game really gave us lots of energy. We have to be better and keeping our composure at key times, but overall it was a great night. We got to play lots of guys and send our seniors out with a big win on their last regular-season home game.”

 

Waseca 47, Worthington 0

 

WOR                      0     0      0       0 — 0

WAS                      21    7     19     0 — 47

 

First Quarter

WAS - Da. Russell 87 kickoff return (Neaves kick)

WAS - Rodriguez 6 run (Neaves kick)

WAS - Rodriguez 6 run (Neaves kick)

Second Quarter

WAS – O’Brien 27 run (Neaves kick)

Third Quarter

WAS - O’Brien 15 run (kick failed)

WAS - Da. Russell 45 interception return (Neaves kick)

WAS - Mixteco 6 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

No scoring

 

                                     WOR       WAS

First downs                             4          15

Rushing                              29-2     39-371

Passing                               7-17        1-3

Passing Yds.                           81         4

Total offense                         83        375

Penalties                               5-35      6-65

 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – WAS: Rodriguez 13-142; O’Brien 8-108; Mixteco 7-46; No. 87 2-35; Da. Russell 2-24; Rupe 1-5; Balderas 4-4; Ludwig 1 —1; WOR: A.Opiew 2-9; Swinea 11-4; Dorcey 4-1; Jimenez 3-0; Stugelmeyer 1-0;  Lia 1 —1; Bradner 4 —3; Neuberger 3 —8

Passing – WAS: O’Brien 1-3, 4; WOR: Bradner 6-14, 75; A.Opiew 1-2, 6; Stugelmeyer 0-1, 0

Receiving – WAS: Harguth 1-4; WOR: M. Opiew 1-35; A.Opiew 2-31; Bradner 1-6; Swinea 2-5; Lais 1-4

Defense – WAS: Neaves 4 solo tackles, 5 assists; Ahlschlager 4 solo, 1 assist; Keeton 2 solo; Ohnstad 1 assist; De. Russell 1 tackle, 2 interceptions; N.Engel-Mueller 1 solo, 2 assists; Johnston 4 tackles, 2 assists, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception; Thompson 3 tackles, 1 assist; Hagen 5 tackles, 1 assist; Robran 1 tackle, 1 assist; Droog 1 tackle, 1 assist; Stenzel 4 tackles, 1 assist; Brown 5 tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack; S.Engel-Mueller 1 tackle, 1 assist; Torres 1 assist; Schumacher 1 tackle, 1 assist