August 25, 2016 at 2:32 p.m.
Pointers, Dodgers to meet Friday
The Pointers whipped Necedah 32-6 while the Dodgers disposed of Orfordville Parkview 35-16. Both games were non-conference.
As with most openers both teams found things that worked and things that need work. After spending the week fine tuning the two teams will clash at Mineral Point Friday at 7 p.m.
It will be a special night for the Pointers. Former Mineral Point and UW-Platteville quarterback Michael Murphy will be inducted into the Pointer Football Hall of Fame and the Pointer state championship girls basketball team will receive the WIAA Sportsmanship Award at halftime.
The Pointers spent Friday's win combining the old with the new.
First the old-
Freshman Isaac Lindsey has assumed the quarterback nod and showed the Pointers have little to worry about with the graduation of three year starting signal caller Scotty Pittz. Lindsey threw for 100 yards on a five for 12 accuracy rate with two of his tosses settling in for touchdowns.
Lindsey got his first scoring strike in the third quarter when he nailed Riley Workman with a 19 yarder that he took in for a score.
In the fourth quarter Lindsey spotted Brandon Dolphin in the clear and the duo clicked on a 21 yard touchdown pass play.
Lindsey also accounted for the fifth Pointer touchdown of the night when he rolled in from the 15 late in the fourth quarter.
"It was a good night for Isaac in his first varsity start at quarterback," coach Andy Palzkill said. "I was impressed with his instincts as a quarterback and his overall poise as a freshman. He has proven to be a student of the game at this point and has a good grasp of our offense. He showed the ability to run and pass which makes us more difficult to defend. He will continue to grow at quarterback this season."
The old for the Pointers is senior running back Lucas Sanchez who traveled the turf for 203 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. He got the first two Pointer scores with a pair of three yard dives in the second quarter. Palzkill expects to see the ball in Sanchez's often this season.
"He runs hard and is extremely hard to tackle," Palzkill said. "It was great to see him have a performance like that to start the season and he set the tone for our offense. Our offense will revolve around him this year."
Defensively the Pointers gave up a 75 yard run by junior Miles Saylor in the second quarter then held Necedah to 74 yards the rest of the game. Palzkill credited the defensive line and the linebacking crew for that success.
"Lance Steffes led a great group of linebackers and we got contributions from Grant Sporle, Boone Schmitz, Lucas Sanchez and Riley Workman. We also have a very physical front line which was played by Riley Workman, Joey Dolphin, Eric Heisner and Sawyer Wallace. That front line will anchor us defensively and did a great job last Friday."
Overall Palzkill was satisfied with the first game effort but knows the work to improve is just starting.
"Our season will depend on how much we improve each week," Palzkill said. "We have been cleaning up things this week in practice, hoping to grow together as a unit in all phases of the game. If all 11 do the job on each play we can hit big strides."
Palzkill expects the next test to be difficult.
"The Dodgeville/Mineral Point game is a great rivalry," Palzkill said. "Coach Ryan Bohnsack does a good job and they are coming off a win. It will be a good game and we will have to improve this week in order to have the opportunity to win."
