Hilltoppers’ football edged out by Wolves’ running games

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PLUM CITY — It was the Hilltoppers’ pass attack versus the Wolves’ ground game here last Friday.

In the end, Elmwood/Plum City’s size advantage on the line of scrimmage proved the difference as it cleared the way for the Wolves to gain 260 yards rushing and a tight 24-20 victory over visiting Glenwood City, who netted 256 yards through the air, in the regular season finale played in Plum City last Friday, November 6.

The contrasting styles hit on the opponents’ weaknesses but the Elmwood/Plum City Wolves – who gained all their yardage via the run, prevailed on the strength of two, second half scores and a pair of corresponding two-point conversions, which proved to be the difference – were able to overcome a first-half deficit to post the four-point win.

The loss evened the Toppers’ season mark at 3-3, good for a fifth-place finish in the Dunn-St. Croix, while the Wolves picked up just their second victory of the year to improve to 2-5 for a seventh-place showing in the 8-team conference.

While Glenwood City found success passing the football, something it has done much of the season, they were unable to gain any traction on the ground as the Wolves’ size and defense caused the Toppers to lose 35 yards on its rushing attempts.

After moving the ball to the Wolves’ two-yard line on its first possession, the Hilltoppers turned the ball over on downs.

But Glenwood City’s defense surrendered just four yards in three plays to force an E/PC punt.

A short kick would put the Toppers back on the  offensive at the Wolves’ 30, where it took them just two plays to find the end zone. A 20-yard pass play from quarterback Bryce Wickman to senior wideout Brandyn Hallquist on first down, set Glenwood City up with a first and goal from the ten. On the ensuing play, Wickman once again went airborne and found Will Eggert for the 10-yard pitch-and-catch for six points. Although Marcis DeSmith’s kick sailed just outside the right upright, Glenwood City led 6-0 with 5:55 to go in the first quarter.

The squads would exchange punts before Elmwood/Plum City would embark on a 16-play, 80-yard drive that began late in the first quarter and ended with a fumble recovery in the end zone for a Wolves’ touchdown at the 6:30 of the second stanza. GC stuffed the two-point conversion run to keep the game knotted at six all.

On the scoring drive, sophomore running back Trevor Asher, who lead the Wolves’ running game with 133 yards on 40 hauls including 11 on that series, covered most of the final seven yards before coughing up the football at the goal line. The pigskin ended up in the end zone where the Wolves’ Ryan Carson pounced on it for the score. 6’ 5” junior quarterback Luke Webb also played a key role in the drive. Webb, who also eclipsed the century mark with 108 yards rushing and a score on 20 carries, had a half dozen runs during the Wolves’ first scoring drive.

The Wolves would take the lead a minute and a half later when the Toppers, who had trouble with its long snapping all evening, saw their fourth-down punt snap sail over the head of Brandyn Hallquist and into the end zone for a safety.

Now trailing Elmwood/Plum City 8-6, the Toppers had to use their free kick to send the ball back to the Wolves where they took control at their own 46.

Fortunately, the Hilltoppers’ defense aided by a first-down false start by Elmwood/Plum City forced the Wolves to punt.

Glenwood City took over at its  own eight-yard line with just 3:21 remaining in the half. The Toppers would move the ball quickly with some big plays including the first one of the series – a 24-yard pass completion from Wickman to Brady McCarthy that gave the locals some breathing room at their own 32. On the very next play, Wickman found Will Eggert open for another big gain, this one for 19 yards to the Wolves’ 49.

Wickman would find McCarthy for another completion of 15 yards and followed it with a throw to Hallquist to gain another nine. Eggert hauled in a 10-yard pass but the Hilltoppers’ were flagged for a hold negating the catch and pushing them back ten yards to the 35. A six-yard toss from Wickman to Drew Olson gained six on a second and 11 but an incompletion on the next play left Glenwood City facing a fourth down and five yards. But a confident Wickman passed to Hallquist for ten yards and a fresh set of down at the Wolves 19.

Wickman went right back to Hallquist as the throw netted nine yards before he launched a 10-yard throw to Drew Olson that went for six with 16 ticks left in the half. Wickman completed a throw to Hallquist for the two-point conversion and a 14-6 Toppers’ lead which they took into the intermission.

Glenwood City received the second-half kickoff and drove from its own 20 to the Wolves’ 36 where a fourth-down Wickman pass fell to the ground and the Toppers gave the ball over to their hosts on downs.

It would take Elmwood/Plum City just a minute and a half and four plays to regain an advantage that it would not surrender.

After short gains by Trevor Asher, the Wolves handed the football to Ethan Rupakus on a counter and he ran 23 yards down to the Glenwood City 37. On the very next play, E/PC quarterback Luke Webb called his own number and ran wide around the end of the Toppers’ defensive line and cut up field to score the go-ahead touchdown on a 37-yard scamper. Webb then ran in the two-point conversion to give the Wolves a 16-14 lead at 6:24 of the third.

Glenwood City made it to midfield on its ensuing drive but eventually turned the ball over when a fourth and 20 pass from Wickman went incomplete.

The Wolves pounced on the opportunity to begin its next offensive foray at its own 49. With 3:43 left in the third, Elmwood/Plum City methodically ran the football gaining positive yardage with each play and had it to the GC 29 as the third quarter came to a close.

Asher picked up three yards on a first-down run to start the final stanza and Webb followed with a 14-yard gain to the Toppers’ 12 yard line. Asher would take over from there, carrying the ball four straight times including a two-yard plunge toward the goal line. But like his first attempt at scoring, Asher lost his hold on the football and it tumbled into the end zone. The Toppers’ chance at the recovery went for naught as Webb was there to scoop up his teammates’ miscue for the touchdown. Webb then used his feet to race wide left and score the two-point conversion to give the Wolves a ten-point, 24-14 advantage with 9:10 left in the game.

Two ensuing Hilltopper drives would end with a punt and a failed fourth down try.

But with just 2:18 remaining, Glenwood City took over at it own 22 and moved the ball quickly down the field. The Hilltoppers needed just five plays, all passes, and 42 seconds to score. Hallquist started the drive with a 17-yard reception. Two plays later, Gavin Janson corralled back-to-back catches for 13 and 12 yards which set up Wickman’s 36-yard touchdown strike to Drew Olson, who reached for the goal line as he was hit by a pair of Wolves’ defenders. Gavin Janson ran in the two-point try to pull the Hilltoppers to within four points of the Wolves at 24-20 with 1:36 still on the game clock.

Glenwood City would not get the ball back. Elmwood/Plum City drained the Hilltoppers of their final time out and ran out the remaining seconds for the victory.

Wickman finished the game 19-of-38 for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Brandyn Hallquist led the receiving corps with seven catches for 100 yards, Drew Olson added 55 yards on just four receptions including two for touchdowns, Brady McCarthy also had four catches for 47 yards and Will Eggert had a pair of receptions for 29 yards and the other Toppers’ TD.

The Toppers rushing game never materialized and just Gavin Janson, one run of 11 yards, and Will Eggert, two tries for three yards, had positive gains. Wickman was sacked five times for 28 yards in losses.

Glenwood City drew a number two seed in the WIAA Division 6 playoffs and will host three seed Augusta this Friday, November 13. The winner will take on top-seeded Clear Lake, who advanced after Flambeau forfeited, in the playoff finale on November 19.