Homecoming brings GC first win in 2019
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OFF TO THE END ZONE — Glenwood City running back Brandyn Hallquist broke free for this 32-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give the Toppers a 10-7 lead, one they would never relinquish and went on for their first win of the season, a 31-20 homecoming triumph over Fall Creek last Friday, October 4. Hallquist finished with 122 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 15 carries. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
By Laura Giammattei
Sports Correspondent
GLENWOOD CITY — It couldn’t have come at a better moment.
In the wake of six consecutive losses and fresh from a shutout loss to Mondovi the previous Friday, the Glenwood City Hilltopper football team used the fuel from a high-energy Homecoming week to come away with a 30-21 non-conference victory over the Fall Creek Crickets last Friday, October 4 at Glenwood City High School.
It marked the team’s first win of the 2019 season.
“I’m excited for these kids to get this win,” Glenwood City head coach Shane Strong said. “I’m even more excited about the experience our young guys are gaining for the future. We are a young team and still learning.”
Despite some turnovers, the Hilltoppers did manage to outgain the visiting Crickets 289 to 236 with much of Glenwood City’s yardage, 239, coming on the ground where they scored three of their four touchdowns.
The scoring, however, opened with a 32-yard field goal by Glenwood City’s Marcis DeSmith that put the Hilltoppers (1-6, 0-4) up 3-0 late in the first quarter.
The Crickets (0-7) responded with a touchdown and extra point early in the second quarter to take a 7-3 lead as lineman turned full back Tegan Yoder used all of his 280-plus pound frame to plow into the end zone from a yard away at the 9:09 mark.
The Crickets only lead of the game would be brief, however, as the Hilltoppers answered with their first touchdown of the game, a 32-yard run by Brandyn Hallquist and extra point by DeSmith at 7:45, that capped a four-play, 60-yard drive putting Glenwood City up 10-7.
The Hilltoppers used that momentum to widen their lead to 17-7 before halftime with another Hallquist touchdown run, this one from six yards, and an extra point by DeSmith.
Things heated up in the second half, as the Crickets closed in on the Hilltoppers’ lead, driving forward with a 10-yard run to cross into the end zone to bring the contest back to a one-possession game at 17-14 with 8:56 in the third quarter.
Just over four minutes later, Glenwood City quarterback Bryce Wickman took to the air, finding the hands of Drew Olson for a 15-yard touchdown pass on a third down and 14. DeSmith tacked on yet another extra point to extend their lead to 24-14 as the final quarter approached.
The Crickets threatened once more, just 40 seconds into the fourth quarter, on a substantial pass, good for a 77-yard touchdown from Brock Laube to Sebastian Maher. An unsuccessful two-point conversion try made it a four-point game with Glenwood City still on top at 24-20 with 11:20 to go.
NICE GRAB — Glenwood City’s Owen Swenby hauled in this over-the-shoulder catch for a 27-yard gain against the Fall Creek defense. The Hilltoppers downed the Crickets 31-20 in their homecoming contest to secure their first victory this season. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
With less than two minutes left on the clock, Glenwood City’s Ethan Hanson intercepted a Fall Creek pass and returned it to the Crickets’ 4-yard line with 1:24 remaining. On the next play following a Toppers’ timeout, Wickman found a gap and took it up the middle untouched for the game’s final touchdown at 1:21.
Wickman, who started at quarterback for the injured Gavin Janson, finished the night with a 75 percent completion rate, going 6-for-8 for 50 yards and one touchdown. He also added 23 rushing yards, including the final 4-yard touchdown up the middle.
“Bryce took over the quarterback spot and showed he can lead our team,” Strong said of Wickman. “That is very important since he is only a sophomore…he has a bright future ahead of him.”
Hallquist led both teams in rushing yards with 122 and two touchdowns. Max Janson and Justin Moe followed with 47 and 35 yards, respectively. DeSmith, a sophomore, had a perfect night kicking the ball, completing one field goal and went 4-for-4 on point afters.
“Brandyn ran the ball well and showed he has another gear when he gets into the open field,” Strong said of the running back.
On the defensive end, Andrew Berends had two sacks and two solo tackles, while Brady McCarthy and Daniel Loring had one interception a piece.
All in all, both teams had three turnovers with Glenwood City losing three of seven fumbles while Fall Creek had one fumble in addition to the two interceptions.
“Andrew and Harrison [Chouinard] played good games on the defensive line for us, and Dan was able to make some big plays for us in key situations to seal the win,” Strong remarked of his defensive unit.
Glenwood City looks for a win streak, and their first Dunn-St. Croix Conference win, as they travel to take on the Vikings (1-6, 1-3) this Friday at Colfax High School.