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If 2007 playoff teams Onalaska and Tomah will indeed be two of the top teams in the Mississippi Valley Conference again this fall, the Hilltoppers will have to contain bruising back Joel Sweeney when they meet. Onalaska got to see a similar back Friday in Lodi’s Keith McBride.
The Hilltoppers struggled tremendously containing McBride in the first half, with the senior running for 219 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. But Onalaska was outstanding against McBride in the second half, allowing 29 yards on 14 carries on their way to a come-from-behind 29-22 win.
The biggest stop was a Sam Green tackle for loss of McBride on a fourth down in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jordan Guth took an option keeper 73 yards for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage to put the Hilltoppers ahead to stay.
“We were overpenetrating in the first half,” Onalaska coach Dieter Antoni said. “We also did a better job not arm tackling in the second half.”
Guth had two touchdowns, with the first a 15-yard pass to Tyler Adams in the second quarter. Guth played four games at the end of last season after an injury to starter A.J. Mick.
“The reads on the option are coming a lot easier for me this year,” Guth said. “I’m able to make quicker reads. You make a big step with that every year in this offense.
“If the end takes me, I have to pitch the ball. And you’re always trying to read who on the defense has to take the fullback.”
Onalaska ran more true option on offense in the second half, after attempting to use more of their fullbacks in the first half. The change proved to be effective.
“When we go out of the shotgun, the option is hard to defend,” Antoni said. “The defense isn’t able to adjust both sides and one side is usually wide open.”
The Hilltoppers were able to convert two potentially risky plays in the second half. Onalaska executed a fake punt prior to an Elwin West 21-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, with running back-turned-linebacker Chris Cayler taking the play for 10 yards and a first down. The Hilltoppers also executed a fourth-and-1 from their own 15-yard line in the fourth quarter.
“That was my decision,” Antoni said. “I was afraid they were going to get the ball back and drive right down the field on us.
“But I’ve also got to give a lot of the credit to Jordan to go on first sound. He thought to do that and I said Go for it.’ We got a great surge from our offensive line on that play.”
In addition to Green’s late tackle for loss, he had two other second-half tackles for loss. Matt Buehler and Ben Harring also made big defensive plays with interceptions. Green moved from defensive end a year ago to linebacker.
“The transition has gone pretty smoothly so far for him,” Antoni said. “He could be something special if he makes that decision.”
Onalaska’s defense will face a different challenge tonight at 7 p.m. at West Salem. The Panthers (1-0) feature quarterback/defensive back Dan Schneider, along with linebacker Kyle Holzhausen and defensive tackle Austin Jones.
“We’ll probably have to use some different coverages on him because he’s such an accurate passer,” Antoni said of Schneider. “We were able to get more pass rush in the second half tonight. We can’t give time to pick us apart.”
ONALASKA 29, LODI 22
First quarter
Lod Richie Hamann FG 29, 4:08
Ona Jake Rick 82 run (Tyler Adams kick blocked), 9:26
Second quarter
Lod Lucas Stronach 6 run (Hamann kick off right upright), :49
Ona Adams 15 pass from Jordan Guth (Adams kick), 3:49
Lod Jameson Adler 9 run (Hamann kick wide right), 7:05
Lod Keith McBride 4 run (Hamman kick), 10:52
Third quarter
Ona Elwin West 21 run (Guth run), 8:39
Fourth quarter
Ona Guth 73 run (Nate Trannel run), 1:09
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Lod McBride 35-248-1, Kyle McKearn 6-31, Adler 1-9-1, Stronach 3-1-1; Ona Rick 14-146-1, Guth 3-72-1, West 8-58-1, Trannel 8-53, Chris Cayler 1-10, Eric Lavery 1-3
Passing: Lod Stronach 10-21-0-2-103; Ona Guth 3-14-1-1-38
Receiving: Lod Matt Klos 3-43, McKearn 4-28, Sam Paque 1-18, Jordan Robertson 2-14; Ona Adams 2-26-1, Trannel 1-12
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