Little mistakes add up for Oconto Falls football team in loss

When facing some of the better teams in the state, playing mistake-free football is key to coming away with the win.

The Oconto Falls High School football team learned that on Friday, when the team made too many little mistakes during a 40-8 nonconference loss to Lourdes Academy in Oconto Falls.

Up until Thursday, Oconto Falls was preparing to take on Northwoods Conference opponent Northern Elite. Instead, after a coronavirus-related cancellation by Northern Elite, the Panthers wound up hosting Lourdes Academy, which was ranked second in Division 7 of the wissports.net coaches poll coming into the week.

Oconto Falls opened the contest with the football and looked to build up some early momentum. The Panthers run-heavy offense was able to pick up three first downs and march the ball into Lourdes Academy territory.

After short runs on first and second down, the Panthers decided to pass on third, but a breakdown on the offensive line led to a sack of senior quarterback Tucker Bouche. Facing fourth-and-12 at the Lourdes’ 43-yard line, Oconto Falls tried to flip field position by punting.

The move appeared to pay off, as the Panthers defense forced the visitors into a fourth-and-2 from their own 37, only to jump offside on the hard count and give the Knights an automatic first down.

Five plays later, Lourdes scored the game’s first touchdown.

After Oconto Falls was forced to punt on its next possession, a pair of tackles for losses from the Panthers defense would have forced a punt on fourth-and-long, but a facemask call on the second tackle for loss gave Lourdes another crack at third down. The Knights converted and eventually worked into Panther territory.

Another Oconto Falls’ tackle for loss, this one by senior Daylen Hischke, forced the Knights into fourth down. The visitors again came through, connecting on a 33-yard touchdown pass to go up two scores.

Attempting a pass on first-and-15 after a fumble on the first play of its next drive, Oconto Falls was intercepted. It took the Knights two plays to go 44 yards and into the end zone again.

“That first half really snowballed on us right away. I saw a lot of things that I didn’t like,” said Oconto Falls coach Nick Bohl. “The mental errors added up. It wasn’t one position, or one side of the ball, it was the whole team, coaches included on that.”

“Friday’s game was a tough one. Lourdes defense was physical and disciplined,” said Bouche. “As for their offense, they had a few good skilled players and capitalized on some errors.”

Oconto Falls next offensive drive was a promising one, as it went into Lourdes Academy territory. But a fumble on third down forced the Panthers to punt on fourth from midfield, and the Knights blocked the kick, setting up a quick six-play, 33-yard touchdown drive.

Down 27-0, the Panthers decided to go for it on fourth-and-2 from its own 36 on the next drive. Oconto Falls converted on a run from senior Owen Huber, but on the very next play, a fumble after a completed pass ended the drive and gave the visitors another chance to score before half.

The Panthers were then hit by a bit of misfortune as a tipped pass on second down turned into a 63-yard touchdown.

Starting with the ball in the third quarter, Lourdes put together another touchdown drive — its sixth straight to start the game.

Oconto Falls had another drive end in Lourdes territory after a fumble on a fourth-down play before putting together a scoring drive early in the fourth quarter.

A pass from Bouche to Huber on third-and-10 set up third-and-3, which junior Dylan Thomson was able to convert on a six-yard run. The next play, senior Logan Joachim broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run and then powered his way in for the two-point conversion.

But it was too little, too late for the Panthers, as a long Knights’ drive drained most of the remaining time in the game.

“Lourdes Academy came out with a tougher mentality on defense than we did,” said Joachim. “Offensively, Lourdes Academy came out with strong passes and made some tough runs and passes compared to our defense.”

The now 1-2 Panthers hope to bounce back this week in a road clash against conference opponent Tomahawk. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday.

Lourdes Academy 7 26 7 0

Oconto Falls 0 0 0 8

First quarter

LA: Jack Huizenga 16-yard pass from Joshua Bauer (Will Pollack kick), 2:43

Second quarter

LA: Preston Ruedinger 33-yard pass from Bauer (kick failed), 10:05

LA: Bauer 1-yard run (Pollack kick), 9:24

LA: Ruedinger 5-yard pass from Bauer (Pollack kick), 3:19

LA: Huizenga 63-yard pass from Bauer (run failed) 0:29

Third quarter

LA: Bauer 2-yard run (Adam Arnoldussen kick), 10:03

Fourth quarter

OF: Logan Joachim 42-yard run (Joachim run), 8:21

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