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If Wauzeka-Steuben-Seneca had any hope of staying with the team that beat them handily the week before they knew they had to change some things for their Level 1 post season battle with Highland.
WSS did a few things different but the fact they had only 18 players available for the game did not work in their favor. The Cardinals were able to run pretty much what they wanted and cruised to a 40-0 win to advance to host Potosi-Cassville Friday.
Highland veteran coach Mike Aide knows the Level 2 match-up will be a challenge with the P/C co-op Chieftains.
"Potosi/Cassville has a very good team with a ton of depth" Aide said. "They are fast and physical. Levi Groom is a very good quarterback. He runs their offense very well. Their ball carriers Ashton Spitzack and Roman Friederick are very good. They both grind out tough carries and have really good speed. Owen Vogelsberg, Robbie Roe and Ashton Spitzack are their leading receivers. They do a really good job getting open for Groom. Their defense is led by Owen Vogelsberg, Levi Groom, Aston Spitzack and Conner McKillip.
"Potosi/Cassville's defensive line does a really good job getting in the backfield and disrupting the offense," Aide added. "They will bring a ton of energy and we need to be ready to match it."
It was Potosi who Highland beat in the last second of the final culminating experience game last season.
WSS did what they could with their short handed squad.
"They did run some different offensive formations," Aide said. "We did a good job adjusting to it. There was really nothing too different from the week before."
It was almost over as soon as it started. Highland scored 21 first quarter points, added 12 in the second and closed it out with seven in the third frame.
It was Cal Dorota's night to get his number called and he responded with three touchdowns, two by ground and one through the air. Brett McGuire added a pair scores rushing and quarterback Maximus Oleson tossed a second aerial tally to Drew Nankey.
Dorota got the first score one a one yard jaunt and Lucas Welsh kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead. McGuire got the next two scores to close out the first quarter on a one yard plunge and a 57 yard scamper. Welsh hit both conversions.
Next it was Dorota's turn again, this time from 11 yards out. He struck again when Oleson hit him with an 18 yarder and McGuire ran for the conversion.
An Oleson to Nankey 25 yard scoring pass ended the scoring and Welsh kicked the extra point.
Welsh was a new look in the kicking game as he filled in for Oleson in that department.
"Lucas Welsh did a great job filling in for Max Oleson on kickoffs and extra point kicks. I was very happy with his performance Friday night," Aide said.
Eight different Cardinals carried the football and four different players caught passes. Spreading the ball around was in the game plan according to Aide.
"We got good looks at quite a few players Friday night and moved some players around at running back. This was a good way for us to continue to work on our depth and get valuable reps," Aide said. "Cal Dorota was moved around quite a bit Friday night and showed how versatile Cal is. Brett McGuire and Cal Dorota did a majority of the rushing while Colton Frost and Cohen Healy took over from there and kept the offense moving forward. Cohen has done a good job at backing up Max Oleson and has developed into a good quarterback. He is starting to understand the offense and reading the defense a little better. Colton Frost has brought depth to our backfield and allows us to move Cal and Brett around if needed. Colton has been getting better each week and is running with authority."
It was no different when it came to the passing game.
"We have done a good job spreading the ball around," Aide said. "We have never had this much depth where we can use so many different players. It is a credit to our players working hard in practice and taking the drills seriously."
"Weston Frost, Caden Lindner, Drew Nankey, Bryce Bollant and Mason Welsh have taken our passing game to the next level," Aide continued. "They do a good job with their pass routes and getting open. Max Oleson has a lot of weapons around, including himself. Our offensive line has done a good job creating run lanes and pass protection. Sam Talo, Josiah Greene, Blake Dax, Isaac Biba and Lucas Welsh have been very good this season."
The defense came together to shut out WSS and stifle their attempt at an attack.
"Defensively I think our linebackers have done a great job reading the offense. They have a knack for finding their lanes and making tackles. "
"Our Linebackers Cal Dorota, Brett McGuire, Drew Nankey, Colton Frost and Blake Dax are great at reading the "play and reacting," Aide continued. Cal has been a beast! His ability to read and react are pretty incredible. Josiah Greene, Sam Talo, Mason Welsh, Isaac Biba and Lucas Welsh create havoc for the offensive line. Our defensive backfield of Max Oleson, Caden Lindner and Weston Frost have been very good. Their ability to play in coverage and make tackles have been outstanding."
Game time Friday is 7 p.m, at Tyler Field.