What could be better than playing your archrival for your Homecoming game and in addition, also doing battle for the right to take home the prestigious “Can”! In a convincing fashion, the Owen-Withee Blackhawks dominated the Thorp Cardinals from start to finish in a big 48-12 win putting an exclamation point on Homecoming week at Owen-Withee!
Talon Mueller received the opening kick-off and with a quick cut to the sidelines returned it 46 yards to the Thorp 25 yardline. One play later, with some excellent blocking up front, Mueller found paydirt and a 6-0 Blackhawk lead. The Hawks defense also came to play, with a big hit from Jack Wendler and a fumble recovery by Troy Sherwood, the Blackhawk offense was back in business.
This time it was Clay Mueller running the sweep to perfection, even Vince would have had a smile, as Mueller found the endzone from 12 yards out giving the Hawks a 12-0 lead. Mueller tacked on the PAT to make it 14-0 Hawks. The Cardinals were not going to go down without a fight as they put together a good drive of their own scoring on a six-yard run to the perimeter making it a 14-6 ballgame. Clay Mueller returned the ensuing kick-off out to the 41 yardline giving the Hawks good field position. On the first play of the drive, Talon Mueller pooped through the middle and went untouched to the endzone 59 yards and another Blackhawk score. The 2-point conversion failed making the score 20-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The two teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter as the Hawks scored on a one-yard plunge by Talon Mueller and Thorp scored on a 29-yard pass play to make the score 26-12 at the intermission.
The second half proved to be all Owen-Withee, as the Hawks slammed the door on the Cardinals defensively, and then added touchdown runs by Isaiah Pyrchalla of 28 yards and Talon Mueller tacked on another score from 4 yards out in the third quarter. Clay Mueller closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter on a four-yard TD and gave the Hawks a running clock at 48-12.
The Hawks defense created four turnovers, with the one fumble recovery by Sherwood and three interceptions, one each by Nolan Peterson, Clay Mueller, and Talon Mueller. In addition to the solid defensive performance the Hawks special teams continued to give the offense a short porch with some excellent field position throughout the game. A total team effort!
The Hawks will travel to Alma Center Lincoln for another big test for the Blackhawks as they try to keep a lid on their big play offense! Game time is 7:00 p.m.