This year’s Homecoming couldn’t have been much sweeter for the Polar Bears as they trounced the Marshfield Tigers 55-27 and earned a playoff spot with the win on Friday, Oct. 3.
Hortonville got on the board in the first quarter using the legs of Mitch Gerhartz, who ran for a 10-yard touchdown run and a 34-yard touchdown run. One of the extra point kicks failed, but the Polar Bears led 13-0 after one quarter.
Marshfield came to life in the second quarter, scoring three touchdowns on two running plays and one pass, but the Polar Bears also found the end zone on a 32-yard pass play from Jake Sommers to Carter Beaudoin and a five-yard touchdown run by Gerhartz. Hortonville took a 27-21 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, Marshfield scored on a short touchdown run to tie the game, but Hortonville answered with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Sommers to Kyle Witthuhn and a 32-yard touchdown pass from Sommers to Beaudoin. Both extra point kicks were successful and the Polar Bears stretched their lead to 41-27 after three quarters.
Hortonville put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Gerhartz and a 10-yard touchdown pass from Sommers to Blake Kallwitz for a final score of 55-27.
Hortonville piled up 27 first downs and gained 581 net yards. Gerhartz ran for 172 yards and four touchdowns, while Sommers completed 16 of 26 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Witthuhn had seven receptions for 100 yards a touchdown, while Beaudoin caught five passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
With the win, Hortonville’s record improved to 4-1 in the Fox Valley Association-South Conference, and 5-2 overall. The team’s fifth win earned them a spot in this year’s playoffs.