October 24, 2014 at 10:15 a.m.
Pointers hope to cast out the Demons
The Pointer athletes made more plays than the Fennimore athletes.
Now coach Andy Palzkill and the Pointers will be hoping that will carry over in their game at Deerfield Friday that starts the first WIAA post season the Pointers have been in since Palzkill arrived.
The Demons will be a tough opponent as both seek a state tournament berth in Division 6. The Pointers are the fourth seed to Deerfield's fifth but cannot host because of field limitations.
"Deerfield is a team with good size and they are very aggressive," Palzkill said. "It will be another challenge and we need to continue playing well and building momentum as we go through the playoffs. As you know, each game is sudden death and nobody wants to have their season ended at this point. Our goal this week is to play our best football and come out of this game healthy."
Deerfield is 6-3 overall with non-conference loses to Belleville 22-21, Cambridge 35-0 and Cambria-Friesland 27-0.
As Trailways Large champions the Demons ran the table to a 6-0 record. Players to watch include:
-Blake Ehrke, a 6-4, 180 pound junior quarterback who has completed 43% of his passes for 548 yards. He also averages 44 yards as the punter for the Demons.
-Cole Nickerson, a 5-8, 160 pound junior who has carried the football for 1359 yards on 183 carries.
-Matt Jensen, a 5-9, 155 pound senior who is second in yardage with 202 on 63 carries.
-Adam Erickson, a 6-1, 200 pound junior who has caught 14 passes for 230 yards.
-Cole Farnsworth, 5-10, 160 who has caught nine passes for 121 yards.
There are several big linemen on the Deerfield roster with the three biggest being seniors. Kirk Gjermo is 6-3, 266 and is a defensive end. Tyler Aeschlimann is 5-11, 270 and is a tackle. Anthony Lonmiller is 6-3, 261 and is a tackle.
Game time at Deerfield is 7 p.m.
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Last Friday the SWAL finale was a back and forth battle until the Pointers outscored the Golden Eagles 20-13 the second half.
Neither team could gain an advantage by halftime. Fennimore got a touchdown in the first quarter as Brandon Krantz got in from two yards out. The score came with just under two minutes left in the frame.
With two and a half minutes gone in the second quarter Scotty Pittz evened things up with four yard run and the Pointers went ahead 7-6 on a Brant James conversion.
Jeff Needham see-sawed the lead back to Fennimore with a one yard run with 4:33 left in the half and Trevor Hamilton's conversion scamper made it 14-7.
Pittz made it a 14 all tie at halftime with an eight yard toss to Sy Staver and James kicked the conversion.
With the clock running down in the third quarter Pittz got his second touchdown at the 1:39 mark on a 15 yard run. James got his third extra point kick to go through to make it 21-14.
The Pointers scored twice more in the first four minutes of the final quarter. Pittz hit Jordan Kittleson with a 12 yarder for a score and James kicked the extra point.
At 9:28 Staver grabbed a pass and ran the field for a 97 yard score.
Fennimore got two more scores, one on a 38 yard pass to Colton Henkel and the other on a blocked punt that Brett Needham returned 35 yards. Patrick Govier kicked the conversion but the Pointers controlled the final minute and a half.
Pittz passed for 307 yards on an 18 for 34 night and also led the rushing with 48 of Mineral Point's 72 yards on 14 carries.
Staver grabbed seven passes and carried them 198 yards.
Palzkill feels Pittz has taken his game to a level where he can lead the Pointers through the playoffs.
"At this point in the season we expect big things from Scott Pittz," Palzkill said. "He is in control of our offense and he does a great job even under heavy pressure like we have seen the past two weeks. His toughness and ability to stand in the pocket and deliver the football is very impressive. He continues to improve and his decision-making gets better each week. It has been a pleasure to work with Scott throughout his career and we look forward to many more football games with him at the helm."
Palzkill said the Pointers discussed their approach to the game at halftime and it worked for the better the second half.
"At halftime we were able to re-group and our focus was on team play," Palzkill said. "In the second half we got back to having everyone do their job on both sides of the ball. Fennimore was running cover 0 and blitzing two linebackers on almost every play. We missed some big play opportunities in the first half and then we were able to hit them on some big plays in the third quarter. I thought the two big plays to Sy were important to give us a comfortable 34-14 score. We just have to do a better job closing out a game."
"The biggest issue we were having was picking up the blitz in the running and passing game," the coach added. "Once we were able to take our correct first steps and get our head across the blitzer, they were not getting the same penetration that was causing us big problems. We made some simple adjustments to their scheme and were able to run veer and counter successfully in the second half."
The Pointers were without the services of receiver Alec Schmitz who sat out with an injury. He was replaced by Kittleson who contributed a touchdown.
"Jordan did step into the role of Alec Schmitz this week," Palzkill said. "It was nice to see Jordan have the opportunity to be in a starting role and I was not worried about how he would play. Jordan played a very good game and was able to snag a touchdown in the second half. It is great to have kids like Jordan Kittleson on our team. He works hard every day in practice and when his name was called, he was ready."
The challenge by Fennimore helped the Pointers prepare for the post season.
"Fennimore is a balanced team offensively and they were able to run the ball and throw it very well. I think that their versatility makes them difficult to defend. In the end, our athletes made more big plays than their athletes," said Palzkill.
The Pointer defense also had some bright moments in the win.
"We had three interceptions and some great tackling by our secondary," said Palzkill. "Tarek Oellerich had a big night defensively with two interceptions and he made a lot of tackles on run support. Also, Logan Bidlingmaier continues to play very good football for us and played a great game at defensive end."
The Pointers are hopeful that some or all of their injured players will be back for the Deerfield game.
"We should get Alec back this week and hopefully Dylan MacGilvra as well," Palzkill said. "Both of those young men are important players for us. Alec gives us another deep threat and with Nate Cody back in the line-up we have our best offensive line in place if Dylan is ready to go this week."
There are 32 teams playing in the four Division 6 grouping with eight in each pod.
Also competing in the Group D bracket are #8 Racine Lutheran at #1 Darlington at 2 p.m. Saturday; #6 Iowa-Grant at #3 Cuba City; and #7 Pecatonica-Argyle at Kettle Morraine where they will play #2 Lake Country Lutheran.
