By Jonathan Lewis, NISB Writer
ORANGEVILLE � With the beginning of a season comes a new goal for every team. For Orangeville and Freeport Aquin, it could be summed up in one word: playoffs.
But after a 33-0 beating of Aquin, Orangeville proved to be the superior team in the end. The opening drive for Orangeville led off with a first down run on the first play of scrimmage by Riley Kubatzke. Aquin then held Orangeville for gaining much the rest of the drive, which was described by Bronco quarterback Trace Hanson as �first game jitters.�
Aquin�s first drive of the season marched into the red zone, but a few too many penalties had the Bulldogs turned away. Consequently, the Broncos drove down the field and capitalized with a Kubatzke two-yard touchdown run and Clayton Shick added the extra point to make it 7-0.
Aquin then went back to work driving the ball down the eight-yard line, but once again got turned away by the stingy Bronco defense. On the ensuing play a Hanson to Austin Cramer 92-yard touchdown pass made it 14-0 after the Shick extra point.
�Hanson threw a great ball and had good protection,� said Cramer. �We have been working hard all off-season on this and it is paying off.�
After three failed drives to open the third quarter Orangeville marched down the gridiron but failed on a Shick field goal attempt. However, three plays later a loose ball fell into the hands of Kubatzke, who then returned it to the one-yard line where Steve Snider punched it into the end zone and Shick added the extra point.
On the ensuing kickoff the Broncos forced another turnover and took advantage by pounding the ball down the throat of the Bulldogs, and capping the run off with a 27-yard touchdown by Snider.
�We were really banking on our experience to step up tonight,� said Aquin coach Andy Hughes. �The turnovers and penalties hurt us tonight.�
Orangeville starts off with a big win in contrast to the last two seasons where the Broncos had a total of three wins.
�This is redemption on the entire season last year,� said Orangeville coach Toby Golembowski. �We are hoping the last three years of work these boys have put in will result in a pile of wins this season.�
Orangeville will take their show on the road to Durand next week, as Aquin will try to regroup against an upstart East Dubuque squad. |
