Elk Mound snaps two-game slide with 27-0 whitewashing of Neillsville/Granton
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TOUGH YARDS — With a Neillsville/Granton defender draped on him, Elk Mound running back Nate Lew carried the football to the end zone on this 11-yard, first-quarter run to put the Mounders in front 6-0. The Mounders went on to blank the Warriors 27-0 as Lew carried a dozen times for 109 yards and the above TD. —photo by Joel DeWitt
By Joel DeWitt
Sports Correspondent
ELK MOUND — Coming into their game on October 23 against Neillsville/Granton, the Elk Mound Mounders were riding a two-game losing streak and only scored a combined 13 points in those two games, while giving up a combined 44 points. On this Friday night, they would flip the script on that narrative.
The Mounders would rack up almost 300 yards in total offense while limiting the Warriors of Neillsville/Granton to just 30 yards. That difference in yardage would translate to a 27-0 home victory for Elk Mound.
The Mounders posted all their points on the scoreboard in the first quarter of play.
With such a disparately in yardage, a lot of the credit goes to the big guys in the trenches.
“All week we worked with these guys on technique and will continue to work on technique,” Coach Dave Lew commented on his offensive and defensive lines performance. “Was really proud of their effort.”
That effort and technique would be evident from the start.
The Mounders would find themselves in great field position to start the game as the opening kickoff was returned to their own 47-yard line. It would only take Elk Mound five plays to move 53 yards for the early lead. The drive was highlighted by consecutive first down carries by running back Ethan Levra and capped by an 11-yard scamper by backfield mate Nate Lew. The ensuring PAT was good to give the Mounders a 7-0 lead with just a minute and 54 seconds gone off the game clock.
The Mounder defense would stuff the Warriors on their first possession, forcing a punt that the Mounders would return to the Neillsville/Granton 44-yard line. Once again, the offensive line would pave the way.
Facing a fourth and one at the Warrior 35-yard line, the Mounders would push the ball ahead for a five-yard gain and a first down. A few plays later, running back Avery Kaanta would break loose for a 26-yard touchdown run and a 13-0 lead with 4:50 remaining in the first quarter.
After another three and out by the Warriors, Elk Mound would once again start with great position on the Warriors’ 46-yard line. Elk Mound would find themselves with a fourth and three, and once again coach Lew would keep his offense on the field. The fourth-down attempt would prove successful as Nate Lew would take the ball 39 yards for the score. Quarterback Ryan Bohl would run the ball in for the two-point conversion and put the Mounders up 21-0 with just under two minutes remaining in the first.
Neillsville/Granton would start its next possession on their 24. On their first play, Warriors’ QB Braden Trunkel would fumble the football and Mounder defender Levra would scoop up the ball and sprint 23 yards to the end zone for his second touchdown of the game. The score would give Elk Mound a commanding lead at 27-0 with 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
WIDE OPEN SPACES — Elk Mound running back Avery Kaanta (#27) headed up field after catching this pass from his quarterback Ryan Bohl. Kaanta made a nice gain on the play and finished with a pari of catches for 24 yards and led the Mounders in rushing with 109 yards on 18 hauls and a pair of touchdowns in a 27-0 home win over Neillsville/Granton on Friday, October 23. —photo by Joel DeWitt
The second quarter started much like the first ended. On the first play of the quarter, Trunkel would fumble the snap which was recovered by Elk Mound. However, unlike the first quarter, Elk Mound would be stopped on fourth down at the Warrior 31-yard line.
The Mounder defense would control the game the rest of the way. Over the course of the Warriors next seven possessions, the tough Mounder defense would force five punts, a turnover on downs, and a late interception by Aiden Bartholomew. That hardnosed defensive effort would salt the game away and give the festive Mounders a much-needed victory to improve to 2-3 on the season.
“They’re really happy; you saw us, you saw what we went against the last few weeks,” commented coach Lew. “This is the Cloverbelt, our kids are starting to figure it out. When you go against Stanley, Mondovi, and Regis you gotta sink or swim and our kids are figuring it out, and we are really proud of them.”
Leading the way offensively for the Mounders was the running back combo of Kaanta and Lew. Kaanta had 109 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries while teammate Lew finished with 12 rushes for 106 yards and two scores.
Bohl was just 3-for-9 passing for 28 yards.
Elk Mound will once again be tested this week as they host another undefeated Cloverbelt juggernaut in 5-0 Durand this Friday. Game time is at 7:00 p.m. on October 30th.