By Kevin Damask
DAILY NEWS SPORTS REPORTER

Email a friend  feed   Printer friendly  Comments

The Clintonville football team proved to be a challenging opponent for the Lakeland Thunderbirds on Tuesday night. However, Lakeland’s big-play offense, highlighted by star running back Billy Kuchler, was too much for the Truckers to handle.

Kuchler led the T-Birds’ offensive charge with three touchdowns, as No. 3 seeded Lakeland rolled to a 35-6 victory over unseeded Clintonville in a WIAA Division 3 Level 1 playoff game in Minocqua.

“The game was 14-6 in the third quarter, but I give credit to our kids for not giving this game away,” Lakeland coach Don Scharbarth said. “We had great stops defensively, we got turnovers, and Billy Kuchler had another excellent game. Our kids just were not going to be denied tonight.”

The T-Birds scored first on a 36-yard run up the middle by Kuchler. Senior kicker Brandon Kennedy added the extra-point to give Lakeland an early 7-0 lead with 11:07 left in the opening quarter.

Lakeland’s defense held the Truckers scoreless on their first drive and the T-Birds looked to capitalize on the stop. However, Clintonville’s Austin Jarvis recovered a T-Bird fumble and the Truckers’ offense went to work. The Truckers began a drive at their 39-yard line and moved the ball to the T-Birds 27. The Truckers tried to convert on fourth-and-three, but a Colton Pugh pass fell incomplete.

On the T-Birds’ ensuing drive, Kuchler showed Clintonville his receiving skills. Quarterback Nathan Roy avoided pressure and hit Kuchler on fly route. The nimble halfback hauled in an over-the-shoulder pass and scampered to the end zone for a 72-yard score. Kennedy’s kick was good and it gave Lakeland a 14-0 lead with 5:06 remaining in the first.

Clintonville coach Brian Dunlavy tried to prepare his defense to stop Kuchler, but the senior still found a way to make plays.

“Oh, he’s just an amazing athlete,” Dunlavy said. “He’s a great back it’s just very hard to put in a defense to stop him.”

The Truckers strung together another long drive in the opening minutes of the second, but the T-Birds’ defense produced two big stops. On second-and-eight from the Lakeland 15, Truckers tight end Jesse Wiley received a pass from Pugh. He was met by Kuchler, who looked like he was trying to put Wiley in a fireman’s carry, before planting him to the turf.

Kuchler was determined to beat Clintonville and move on to the next round.

“Our goal is just to keep playing and we knew we needed to do whatever it took to beat Clintonville and keep playing,” Kuchler said.

The Truckers tried to convert on fourth-and-three from the 10, but Pugh was sacked by a tandem of T-Birds.

Clintonville’s pounding ground attack finally paid off with 5:03 left in the third. Clintonville pieced together a 13-play 72-yard drive, culminated by a 10-yard TD run by fullback Matt Hendricks. An extra-point attempt by Chase Stenson failed, but Clintonville cut Lakeland’s lead to 14-6.

Hendrick’s score breathed life into Clintonville’s stagnate offense, but its defense just couldn’t contain Kuchler. The senior return the kickoff to the Trucker 20. However, the T-Birds failed to use Kuchler inside the red zone. On fourth-and-two, the T-Birds tried a field goal, but Kennedy missed from 28 yards out with 2:45 left in the third.

As the fourth quarter began, Lakeland moved the ball inside the Clintonville 10-yard line. Roy hit receiver Alex Passow on a perfect fade route to the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard TD. Kennedy drilled the extra point to extend Lakeland’s lead to 21-6 with 10:17 remaining.

Kuchler scored his third touchdown on a beautiful 38-yard cutback run.

“I just followed my blockers for awhile and then I saw a hole up the middle so I just cut back and there it was,” Kuchler said.

Kennedy’s kick gave Lakeland a commanding 28-6 lead with 7:58 left in the game. On Clintonville’s next drive, Pugh was intercepted by Passow and the defensive back returned the ball to the Trucker 21-yard line.

The T-Birds scored their final TD on a 15-yard pass to halfback Matt Schommer. Kennedy hit another extra point to put Lakeland ahead 35-6.

The T-Birds’ offensive efficiency impressed Scharbarth. Lakeland scored five times on just four first downs. Kuchler was Lakeland’s leading receiver and rusher. He grabbed three passes for 98 yards and registered seven carries for 83 yards. Passow had two receptions for 26 yards. Schommer caught two passes for 20 yards. Roy finished the game 7-of-9 for 144 yards and three touchdowns.

The T-Birds (8-2) will battle Medford, which downed Hayward 15-7, in a Level 2 playoff game on Friday at a site yet to be determined.

The Truckers collected 17 first downs, proving they could move the ball efficiently, but just couldn’t score. On the ground, Clintonville amassed 219 yards on 56 carries. Pugh completed 10 passes for 83 yards.

The Truckers end a successful season at 6-4.

“This was a good season for our seniors,” Dunlavy said. “They made it to the playoffs every year and that’s something that they can take with them when they leave Clintonville.”

Tell us what you think...

Comments »

Danielle Smit wrote on Nov 24, 2008 1:13 PM: " Go thunder birds. U rock my socks!!!!!!!!!! " The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.

Post a comment (150 word limit) »

We will not post reader comments containing racial, religious or personal attacks, slander, profanity, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers or Web site addresses that are for personal or promotional gain.

Name: Email: (optional) Comments: Image Verification: (Case sensitive)

Thank you for your comments! Once your comments are approved, they will appear on the site.