Holding onto a slim 8-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben Bluegolds were looking to get some breathing room between them and host River Ridge. After the Timberwolves forced a Bluegold turnover on downs deep in River Ridge territory with just under five minutes remaining in the game, Bluegold senior Gage Wall gave them that breathing room by intercepting a pass from Timberwolves back-up quarterback Reese Drew and took it 25 yards for the touchdown to effectively seal the game for Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben.
River Ridge took an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter despite losing senior quarterback Brandon Davis to injury on their first possession of the game. Drew broke loose for a 40-yard touchdown run for the Timberwolves’ first and only touchdown of the game (as well as the only offensive touchdown of the game by either team).
Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben answered early in the second quarter when senior Jack Draka forced a Timberwolves fumble before recovering with a 24-yard scoop-and-score touchdown return. Fellow senior Jackson Konichek converted the two-point conversion attempt and the Bluegolds held a 8-6 lead shortly before halftime. The pick-6 return in the second half by Wall proved to be the only scoring in the second half by either team as the Bluegolds held on for the 15-6 win.
The defensive battle between both teams caused some low stats for both sides. Senior quarterback Cooper Lomas was held to 3-of-5 passing for 24 yards and one interception. Konichek caught two of those passes for 17 yards, while Wall caught one pass for seven yards.
Senior running back Carson Sime led the Bluegolds rushing attack with 53 yards on 16 carries. He was followed by Lomas with 52 yards on 14 carries and senior Hunter Hagensick with 35 yards on 11 carries. Konichek had five tackles to lead the defense, while junior Anthony Caya added four tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery.
The Bluegolds are back home this week when they host Boscobel (0-8, 0-6) in Seneca for senior night and homecoming. Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben (6-2, 4-2) will be playing for a better postseason seed and the chance to possibly host a playoff game in level one.
