The Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben Bluegolds earned its second ever playoff win as a program this past Friday night in Wauzeka (and the first one in eight years) when they defeated the Ithaca Bulldogs 30-14 in a rematch of their week two non-conference game that was won by the Blugolds 43-14.

The first half was a defensive slugfest as it went into halftime with the Blugolds leading 8-0 after they scored the first points of the game on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Lomas to Hunter Hagensick (his only reception of the game) early in the second quarter. The second half saw the Bluegolds pull away from Ithaca by outscoring them 22-14.

Lomas was 10-for-14 passing for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Besides Hagensick, his second touchdown pass went to Jackson Konichek (three catches for 23 yards).  Also catching passes from Lomas was Gage Wall (two catches for six yards) and Kaden Roberts (four catches for 21 yards).

Hagensick also hurt the Bulldogs on the ground as he led the Bluegolds rushing attack with 20 carries for 98 yards and one touchdown. Lomas (five carries for 31 yards) and Carson Sime (13 carries for 60 yards) rounded out S-W-S’s rushing totals.

The Bluegolds defense also got into the scoring act in the second half as Wall returned an interception for a touchdown, his second pick-six in the last three games.

As of press time, Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben is scheduled to travel this Friday night to second seed Hilbert (9-2) to take on the Wolves of the Big East Conference at 7 p.m. Hilbert, third place finishers in their conference, lost to a pair of D6 teams in conference opponents Manitowoc Lutheran (11-0) and Cedar Grove-Belgium (8-4). All three teams each won a replacement non-conference game after league opponent Random Lake/Ozaukee cancelled their varsity season. 

Hilbert is located on the eastern side of Lake Winnebago, roughly twenty miles southeast of Appleton.

The winner of this game will advance to next week’s sectional championship game where they will face the winner of the level two game between number one seed Oshkosh Lourdes Academy and fifth seed Eleva-Strum. 

Due to space constraints, find photos from this game on our website at pdccourier.com and our Facebook page at facebook.com/courierpress.newspaper.