The new era of eight-man football couldn’t have started better for the Bowler/Gresham high school football team.
The Cats scored on their very first play, with Zack Olson returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown en route to a 52-24 win over Oneida on Saturday.
“This was a blast,” Bowler/Gresham coach Ralph Smith said. “I didn’t know what to expect coming into this. It was so exciting. I know the kids were excited. We started off good with that touchdown on the kickoff; Zach runs it back. What more can you ask to start off a game like that?”
Olson found the end zone three more times, running for a 5-yard touchdown in the first quarter, punching it in on third and inches in the second quarter, and capping his day with a 26-yard scamper in the third quarter.
“Just a great kid,” Smith said. “He has a great work ethic. He’s always in the weight room. I can’t say enough about Zach; he’s a leader.”
Olson finished with 105 yards on 12 carries.
Oneida got on the board in the first quarter with a 60-yard catch and run from Isaiah Charles to Duwayne Matson.
Bowler/Gresham led 14-6 at that point, but the Cats went ahead 20-6 on a 13-yard run by Cody Montez, who finished with 68 yards on seven carries.
Oneida and Matson answered with a 65-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 20-12.
A third-quarter touchdown throw from Thomas Kazik to Chase Nueske put the Cats ahead 42-18. Kazik later hit Blade Cameron for a 12-yard touchdown.
“Kazik did real well coming in and pulling the trigger,” Smith said. “He’s got a good arm on him. We didn’t have him there for a while, so we’re still trying to get him reps, still trying to teach him the offense.”
Kazik finished five of six for 53 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Charles finished two for eight for 91 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also carried the ball 22 times for 53 yards and a touchdown. Matson had three rushes for 70 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three balls for 88 yards and a touchdown.
“We gave up a couple big plays,” Smith said. “There’s some stuff we have to work on. We need to get the guys in better condition. I can see that already. It’s a lot different from 11-man.”
The smile on the coach’s face after the game said a lot about how the team felt making the switch this year from 11-man football and the team’s chances going forward.
“Hopefully we can keep this rolling and keep up this success,” Smith said.
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