Hornets stifled by Edgar defense in loss
The Colby football team suffered their first loss of 2023 at the hands of the Edgar Wildcats last Friday. In a matchup between the two reigning co-Marawood champs, Edgar held the Hornets scoreless while riding three first half touchdowns to a 27-0 victory. The win gives the Wildcats the inside track for the conference championship, leaving Colby likely in need of some help if they hope to claim a fourth straight Marawood title.
It had been nearly four years since Colby had last suffered a shutout. A 36-0 loss in 2019 to Eau Claire Regis in the second round of the WIAA playoffs was the last time the Hornets had not scored in four quarters of play. In that game, Colby only managed 98 yards of total offense and five first downs.
On Friday, the Hornets picked up just four first downs and 91 yards of offense. It was an impressive performance from an Edgar defense that has only allowed 14 points so far this season. And while Colby’s own defense managed to hold together well enough, only allowing Edgar to convert on two of their 10 third down plays and holding them to just eight first downs, the Wildcats managed to go a perfect three-for-three on fourth down. That, coupled with two big plays at the beginning and end of the first half, were enough for the visitors to put points on the board and take command of the contest.
On their first three drives, the Hornets only had one first down, unable to get their ground game rolling against the stout Edgar defensive front. Running back Gavin Voss, who had accumulated over 200 yards rushing in each of his last two games, was held to just 27 yards in the first half, with his longest run going for just seven yards.
The visitors used the excellent field position given to them by their defense to go on the attack immediately. Edgar quarterback Teegan Streit connected with receiver Leyton Schuett on their first play from scrimmage, a deep pass along the sideline that went for 32 yards. The pitch and catch jump started the Wildcats’ offense, setting up a eventual 14-yard touchdown run from Karter Butt. The visitors then slowly but surely made their way down the field on their second possession, going on a 51-yard drive that eventually culminated in Butt’s second touchdown of the game.
A booming punt from Voss following their third unsuccessful drive finally flipped the field on the Wildcats. The Hornets defense was able to come up with a stop on the next possession, with linebacker Tanner Halopka making a play in the hole on third down to force Edgar into their first punt of the evening.
With only four minutes left in the half, the next drive appeared to be a chance to change the flow of the game for the trailing Colby squad. However, Edgar’s defense held strong, allowing just one yard and pushing the Hornets into their fourth punt of the evening. Running back Kohlbe Weisenberger quickly made Colby pay, taking the ball 44 yards to the end zone on the Wildcats’ first play of the drive.
Now down by three scores and with time running down, the Hornets made their first and only foray into Edgar territory on the following possession. However, the clock was not on Colby’s side and the Hornets watched as the half expired without being able to take advantage of the field position.
The grinding nature of the game only heightened in the second half. Neither offense made much progress, a 15-yard run by Butt was by far the longest play for either team over the first 22 minutes of the half. Only two passes were attempted in the half, Edgar seemingly content to wind down the clock on the ground and defend their three score advantage. Colby’s ground attack continued to be stifled by the Wildcats’ front and the Hornets were forced to punt three more times.
Edgar’s final score came with just over two minutes left in the game. On fourth down deep in Colby territory, the Hornets appeared to have stopped Butt short of the line to gain, but the senior back tossed the ball back to Streit before going down. Streit then took the ball around the pile of Colby defenders on what was Edgar’s longest play of the half, a 19-yard run for the Wildcats and their fourth touchdown of the evening. While the game had largely been in hand at that point, the score sealed the Hornets fate.
“We ran into a very good football team in Edgar,” head coach Jim Hagen said following the game. “Offensively we just couldn’t get anything going and we had a hard time moving the chains with only four first downs and we had to punt seven times. Defensively I felt that we did okay throughout most of the game; it was just difficult to consistently stop them.”
“As a team we have to accept this loss and move forward,” he continued. “There is a lot of season left and an awful lot to look forward to. Adversity is something that we all have to deal with from time to time and how we respond will be determined by our attitude.”
Voss ended the game with 20 carries for 49 yards. Smith added 19 yards on the ground, Brennan Geiger had 15 yards and Colton Orth had eight. Smith was 0-2 passing.
Halopka led the team in tackles with 12 total. Orth and Jacob Hoppe both had six each and Moises Fuentes ended the game with five.
The Hornets will try to get back on track on the road against Pittsville this Friday, Sept. 22. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
