Comets drop opener
Lone score comes on kick return
By Greg Seubert
If the first game of the season is any indication, the Menasha Bluejays are one of the top football teams in the Bay Conference.
The Bluejays outgained Waupaca by more than 300 yards Aug. 17 while handing the Comets a 33-7 loss at Comet Field.
Menasha shared the conference championship last year and the Bluejays picked up where they left off by outscoring Waupaca 27-7 in the first half.
The Bluejays capped their first drive of the game with Cole Popp’s quarterback keeper. The lead didn’t last long, however, as Terry Schmidt returned the kickoff 82 yards for what turned out to be the Comets’ only score of the game. Tyler Roehl scored from 12 yards out on the final play of the first quarter and Menasha added a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter on Andres Calderon’s 14-yard run and a 9-yard run from Popp.
Waupaca held the Bluejays to one touchdown in the second half, Popp’s 9-yard pass to Riley Zirpel in the third quarter.
Menasha outgained the Comets 329-39 on the ground and 142-69 through the air.
Most of Waupaca’s yards came on the Comets final two drives of the game in the fourth quarter.
Waupaca will travel to Shawano for a Bay matchup with the Hawks at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, while Menasha will host Kingsford, Michigan, in a nonconference game.
In other games Aug. 17 involving area teams, Iola-Scandinavia beat Montello/Princeton/Green Lake 32-0, Reedsville shut out Weyauwega-Fremont 47-0, Manawa topped Suring 67-7 and Amherst defeated Merrill 34-3.
