Piotrowski throws four TD passes

By Greg Seubert

Marcus Glodowski and Bryce Holderman get in a chest bump while being introduced as Amherst starters before the Falcons’ playoff game with Winnebago Lutheran. Holly Neumann Photo

Amherst’s football team gave up more points than it had all season in its third-round playoff game.

Winnebago Lutheran found the end zone four times against the Falcons, but it wasn’t enough, as the defending WIAA Division 5 state champions handed the Vikings a 44-27 loss Nov. 4 in a Level 3 game at Amherst High School.

The 11-1 Falcons will now face Stanley-Boyd in a state semifinal game at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at a site to be determined. The Orioles advanced with a 31-20 win over Durand.

The Vikings didn’t have an answer for Amherst’s Brandon Piotrowski, who threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score.

His first touchdown pass, a 1-yarder to Marcus Glodowski with 8:43 remaining in the first quarter, capped an eight-play 51-yard drive.

Amherst soon had the ball back at the Winnebago Lutheran 32-yard line, as Colby Daves fumbled on the Vikings’ first play from scrimmage and Cole VanNuys recovered the loose ball. Piotrowski hooked up with Glodowski for a 31-yard pass play to start the drive and Chandler Benn scored from a yard out on the next play to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead with 8:10 to go in the quarter.

Winnebago Lutheran cut into Amherst’s lead on the Vikings’ next drive, as Eric Schmitz scored on a 3-yard quarterback keeper. However, the Falcons blocked the extra point try.

Amherst’s third touchdown came on its third drive, as Glodowski connected with Josh Cisewski for a 55-yarder with 9:53 to go in the first half. A two-point conversion made it 22-6.

The Vikings answered on their next drive with Mason Herkstroeter’s 25-yard option pass to Brennan Kulibert with 5:59 left in the half. The two-point conversion failed.

The Falcons came up with their fourth TD drive in a row later in the quarter, as Piotrowski hit Glodowski for a 19-yard pass with 2:21 remaining in the half.

Amherst added to its lead with 4:45 remaining in the third quarter on Piotrowski’s 41-yard pass to Cisewski that capped an 83-yard drive.

Winnebago Lutheran wasn’t finished, as Schmitz came up with a 35-yard TD pass to Eric Schwark with 9:33 left in the game. Schmitz then hit Daves for the two-point conversion and the Vikings had trimmed Amherst’s lead to 36-20.

The Vikings turned the ball over on downs at their 33-yard line and Piotrowski gained 23 yards on the first play of the drive to set the Falcons up at the 10-yard line. He later scored from 9 yards out with 3:28 remaining.

Schmitz scored from a yard out with 1:13 to go, but the Vikings never got the ball back after the Falcons recovered an onside kick.