Freshman Division
UCLA v. Wisconsin: A Slow Game Turns into a “WisconsWin”
Contributed by Jay M. Stevens
The first game of the playoffs was a tremendous battle between the UCLA Bruins and the Wisconsin Badgers, with the teams remained deadlocked well into overtime.
The second quarter brought in the first touchdowns of the night. The scoring got started for Wisconsin, when Hunter Wilson, got around the Bruins’ left flank to score the first six points of the night.
Not to be outdone, the Bruins clawed at the Beavers’ dam until it burst, allowing MFNL All-League back Hunter Lindemeyer to break through and charge past the opposition for a long touchdown score to end the second quarter.
- Jake Ledford (Courtesy photo)
Jake Ledford led the Badger offense in the third quarter, bringing home another touchdown and sealing the deal with the extra point.
The Bruins let out one last roar and Hunter Lindemeyer squirmed past a horde of defenders, barely reaching the end zone before his flag was pulled. The team regrouped for another attack, and Lindemeyer powered through to get the extra point, tying up the game and bringing it into overtime.
Overtime was a frenzy of small gains, as each defensive line fought to overpower the other.
Lindemeyer made a perfect 20-yard pass behind the Bruins’ defensive line and brought the ball into the end zone, securing a tight victory for the Badgers.
“The kids played well,” Badger coach Fred Thomas said. “It’s always good to win a playoff game, and we’re happy just to have another game to play.”
The Badgers will face undefeated Notre Dame for the Pacific Conference Championship. The Irish advanced after a second round 51-6 victory over Washington Huskies.
Auburn vs. Florida: Edwards Unstoppable as Tigers Pounce Gators
Contributed by Gene Frizelle
In one of the most impressive Frosh Division performances of the year, Dorian Edwards ran for four touchdowns and threw for two touchdown passes as the Tigers of Auburn rolled to a 41-26 victory over the third-seeded Florida Gators.
Both teams came to play, combining for 67 points and several big yardage touchdowns. The Tigers started off the game with a toss play from quarterback Michael Rodda to running back Dorian Edwards resulting in a 40-yard score.
Florida’s first offensive series was stopped by a stingy defense led by Jimmy Grucza, Dylan Haverluck, Jacob Betsch and some great blitzing by Rodda.
However, the Gators scored on the next series when running back Christian Napasindayao took the hand-off to go the distance to keep Florida within seven points.
The very next series the Tigers called on their aerial attack with a long touchdown pass from Dorian Edwards to Joshua Beck.
The Tigers now advance to the Frosh Division’s Atlantic Conference Championship game versus the Miami Hurricanes Nov. 19 at Chaparral High School’s Puma Stadium.
Varsity Division
ASU vs. Washington State: Cougars Outshine Sun Devils
Contributed by Jay M. Stevens
It was a passing game in the first varsity playoff game of the night, as both the Arizona Sun Devils and the Washington State Cougars relied on the strength of their receivers to get to the end zone.
Francesco Lorenzetti was a driving force behind the first half of the Cougars’ game, receiving two successful touchdowns in the first quarter and throwing another in the second, bringing his team to an early 19-point lead over the Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils, however, also have strength in their receivers: Ethan Bell made a one-handed 35-yard catch. The very next play, he would intercept a pass thrown by Lorenzetti.
But the Sun Devils couldn’t muster the defense to stop the Cougars from taking a bite, nor could they burn their way into the Cougar defense, and the score stood 19-7 at the half.
The third quarter saw the Sun Devils score two more touchdowns: the first was a pass into the end zone, caught by Ethan Bell; the second was received by Mitchel Aubrey, who caught the pass while surrounded by a horde of defenders.
The Cougars would not be outdone, however. Zachary Northup ran with the ball into the end zone. Reece Fridlund would do the same shortly afterward, giving the Cougars the edge they needed to win the game.
Unfortunately, for the Cougars, they were eliminated an hour later by the Arizona Wildcats, ending a great season for first year coach Jay Fridlund and his Cougars.
Oregon Ducks v. Stanford Cardinals: Cardinals Fly High, Ducks Take on Water
Contributed by Jay M. Stevens
The Oregon Ducks began the evening with a huge 38-31 victory over the Huskies of Washington, and in doing so, earned a trip to the second round to face the Pac 10‘s second-seeded Stanford. Both teams tried their hardest to take flight to the next round of the playoffs, but it was the Cardinals who eventually soared.
Cardinals’ Eddie Romero, received a pass on one of the first plays of the game and brought it into the end zone. Shortly later, Justin Delara also caught a pass for a touchdown.
Oregon’s passes would not be so lucky: the first pass they threw was intercepted by Connor McEntee and taken the rest of the way by Daniel Moreno. The next was intercepted by Justin Delara and brought to the end zone by Eddie Romero. Delera concluded the night by intercepting another Duck pass and taking it to the end zone on his own.
The Ducks got a boost when Gerald McAllister intercepted a Stanford pass and gave the Ducks their only touchdown just before the half.
Despite achieving liftoff on the fields, the Cardinals kept their heads grounded.
“We’re not going to take anything for granted,” Cardinals coach John Delara said. “There are some good teams this tournament. We have our work cut out for us.”
The Cardinal will face the UCLA Bruins in Game 2 of the Pac 10 semi-finals. The winner will face the Game 1 winner of the Arizona versus Oregon State contest for the Pacific Conference Championship.
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