Glenwood City uses ground and pound for WIAA football playoff win over Blair-Taylor
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STIFF ARMED — Glenwood City senior running back Mitchell McGee (right) gave a stiff arm to a Wildcat defender during a Division 7, level one football playoff game at Blair-Taylor High School Friday, October 25. McGee rushed 34 times for 288 yards and four touchdowns to help lift the Hilltoppers to a 40-25 win. —photo by Joel DeWitt
by Joel DeWitt
Sports Correspondent
BLAIR – The Glenwood City football team opened up WIAA Division 7 playoff action on the road against Dairyland conference co-champion Blair-Taylor.
Instead of the normal mix of passing and rushing displayed by the Hilltopper offense, coach Shane Strong decided to roll out a game plan that primarily featured the rushing attack.
“We felt we needed to control the ball on the ground with physical football,” commented Strong. “We wanted to wear on their offensive line by hammering them with our offensive line on offense.”
The game plan worked to perfection as the rushing attack pummeled the Wildcats. The Hilltoppers scored on six of eight possessions, with only a fumble into the end zone and the end of game kneel stopping them on the night, as Glenwood City left town with the 40-25 level one playoff victory.
The ground game heavily featured back Mitchell McGee and quarterback Brody Olson. The duo combined for 441 of the Hilltoppers 448 yards on the night with 429 on the ground and accounted for all six of the Hilltopper touchdowns.
McGee got the scoring started when he rushed from one yard out. The opening drive chewed 6:18 off the clock and gave the Hilltoppers the early 7-0 advantage.
The Wildcats immediately struck back. Blair-Taylor’s four-play drive was capped by Collin Johnson’s four-yard rush. The failed two-point attempt kept Glenwood on top 7-6 with 3:04 left in the first quarter.
Much like the first drive, the Hilltoppers second possession featured McGee. The senior back had three long rushes to pick up first downs for the Toppers as they pushed the ball deep into Wildcat territory. McGee finished the drive with a five-yard touchdown rush to extend Glenwood’s lead to 13-6 with 10:30 left in the second quarter.
Once again, Blair-Taylor quickly countered the Topper touchdown as Tavian Shramek scored on a five-yard rush with 8:18 left in the half to pull the Wildcats to within one at 13-12.
A failed Blair-Taylor onside kick gave Glenwood City great field possession on their own 48-yard line. Four plays later it appeared the Toppers extended their lead on an Olson 28-yard rush, however, a Wildcat defender knocked the ball from the quarterback’s arm and into the end zone where it was recovered by Blair-Taylor for a touchback.
Olson redeemed himself on the Hilltopper next possession. Getting the ball back near midfield the
ON THE RUN — Hilltopper quarterback Brody Olson ran in the open field during Glenwood City’s level one playoff game at Blair-Taylor October 25. Olson ran 18 times for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Toppers’ 40-25 win. —photo by Joel DeWitt
junior ran for a long first down, completed his first of two passes on the night to McGee for a 12-yard gain, and scored a one-yard rushing touchdown with 44 seconds left in the half to extend their lead to 19-12.
The Hilltopper defense stymied the Wildcats on the opening possession of the second half, resulting in the Hilltoppers starting on their 44-yard line with 10:37 left in the third quarter. Two long rushes of 14 yards by Olson and McGee put the Hilltoppers deep into Wildcat territory and set up McGee for a first-down rush of three yards for the touchdown and 26-12 lead.
Blair-Taylor scored on their next drive to cut the lead to one possession at 26-18 with 1:52 left in the third.
The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Wildcats on their own 43-yard line with hopes of tying up the game. However, Andrew Blazer’s recovery of a Wildcat fumble stopped Blair-Taylor in its tracks.
Glenwood City converted the turnover into a touchdown six plays later as Olson’s 26-yard rush pushed the Topper lead to 15 points at 33-18 with 7:26 left in the game.
McGee capped the Hilltopper scoring on the night with a two-play drive featuring the man of the hour. The first play saw McGee carry the ball 48 yards to the Wildcat four-yard line. The next play he completed the drive with his fourth touchdown of the night to extend the lead to 40-18 midway through the fourth quarter.
“Our offensive line, tight ends, and backs played very well all night,” praised coach Strong on his offense’s performance. “We beat them off the ball with physical play and our backs ran with great determination.”
The Wildcats added a late touchdown and PAT to make the final 40-25.
McGee was the workhorse on the night finishing with 288 yards on 34 carries. Olson added a nice change of pace and accounted for 141 yards on 18 rushes.
Olson completed both passes thrown on the night going for 19 yards. McGee and Dylan LaBeree were the receivers with receptions of 12 and seven yards, respectively.
The win advances the Hilltoppers to Level 2 action with a road game against Dunn-St. Croix champion Spring Valley.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to play another game,” answered coach Strong in reference to the upcoming game. “We are going into this game with the mindset to win, just like we did the first time.”
The is a rematch of an October 18 matchup between the two squads in Glenwood City. The Cardinals won the hard fought first matchup 21-3. Kickoff for the November 1 contest is 7:00 p.m.