Fondy Gets It Done

The Fond du Lac Cardinals are going to the 3rd Round of the WIAA Football Playoffs after an impressive 28-24 win at Mukwonago this afternoon. Coach Brad Kozaczuk moved senior Josh Korb from his left slot back position to fullback and it paid off to the tune of 126 yards and 3 TDs, including a 55 yarder early in the fourth quarter. Korb's offensive line did a great job today. They've struggled a bit this season but on Saturday, they gave Korb, Steve Chesna and the rest of the RBs some room to run and also Ben Anderson had decent time to throw the football. The thing I like about this win is that everyone contributed. It wasn't just the names you've heard all year, Anderson, Biolo, Korb, and Shea, but others as well. Jake Wirtz made a spectacular catch in the 3rd quarter to keep a drive alive and avoid a punt out of their own end zone. Sophomore QB Joe Bertram threw a perfect pass on a fake punt that led to a score as well. You also so Sean Hayes and Sam Wayland take some snaps at the slot. The offense just seemed to have that extra jump in their step today and it was good to see.

Yes, there were lots of guys stepping but it was those familiar names that made big plays at well. Korb's 125 yards and three TDs may be what gets the headlines, but it was a defensive play that could be the play of the game. On a fourth and goal from the five with :07 left in the first half, Mukwonago led 14-7 and looked to go up by two TDs, but Korb knocked QB Pat Quiglieri out of bounds inside the one and the Cards went into the locker room down just seven. If the Indians score there, Fondy does not win the football game.

Then in the end QB Ben Anderson drove the team down the field for the game winning score. The team was patient and confident as they drove down the field in the final minutes of the game. Ya gotta love Anderson rolling to his left and firing a rocket across his body to Kyle Duquaine for the game winning score....by the way..if you listened to the radio broadcast...I guess I don't know my right from left since I said Ben rolled to his right, when in fact it was his left.

Other notes from the game, Mukwonago has a very strange football stadium. All the bleachers are on one side of the football field and the press box is on the west side with no bleachers...so we were looking into the sun the entire fourth quarter and had to guess what was going on in some places. They also had mini-bleachers out in the north endzones. I've also never been to a game that was so windy. It was blowing right from the west and into our broadcast booth all night...brrrrrr!! I wonder how cold it was out in the stands! Hey, who's complaining! The young ballboy for Mukwonago was out there in just a T-Shirt all game and he had no complaints!

I gotta give props to the Mukwonago School District as well....they really do a nice job in how they treat people at the game. In the press box they had hot chocolate, coffee, popcorn, and soda and water on the house! The best was to a broadcasters heart is through the stomach, and Athletic Director Toby Akerman and his staff were great! Very friendly and I hope we get to visit them again someday! So if you know someone at Mukwonago, please pass the word along that the broadcast team at KFIZ was very appreciative.

So its off to level three of the playoffs for the Cardinals...they will longtime state power Hartland Arrowhead at Fruth Field next weekend. When you talk about great football programs in Wisconsin names that come up are always DC Everest, Oak Creek (well not anymore), and Hartland Arrowhead. It will be great to see a great program line up across the field against Fondy at Fruth.