Waupaca stays in playoff hunt
Comets spoil East’s Homecoming
By Greg Seubert
Whether there’s a spot for the Waupaca Comets in the WIAA state football playoffs remains to be seen, but they took a step in the right direction Sept. 21 with a 37-8 win over Green Bay East.
Waupaca found the end zone in each quarter and improved to 3-2 in conference play and 3-3 overall with the win.
The Comets scored on their first two possessions. Trey Noltner capped the game’s opening drive with a 6-yard run midway through the first quarter, but the Red Devils responded on Homecoming night on their first drive and took an 8-7 lead on Hayden Ostertag’s 2-yard run and two-point conversion.
The Comets took the lead for good on Jack Menzies’ 6-yard run with 9:34 remaining in the first half. Waupaca had a chance to add to its lead later in the half on its third drive, but Cody Rasmussen missed a 27-yard field goal attempt.
Michael Pecher’s blocked punt on the Red Devils’ first drive of the second half led to the Comets’ third touchdown. Davis Levine’s 6-yard run with 7:21 to go in the third quarter gave Waupaca a 21-8 lead.
The Red Devils then turned the ball over on their next four possessions. Drew Krcmar intercepted a pass, the Comets forced a pair of fumbles and Menzies returned another interception 32 yards for Waupaca’s final touchdown with 1:37 remaining in the game. He also threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Terry Schmidt on the first play of the fourth quarter and Rasmussen kicked a 42-yard field goal that gave the Comets a 31-8 lead.
Menzies, who took most of Waupaca’s snaps as quarterback, led all rushers with 107 yards on 24 carries. He and Levine also combined to complete seven of 10 passes for 151 yards as Waupaca outgained the Red Devils 345-155.
The win wraps up three straight road games for Waupaca. Seymour will visit Waupaca at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, for the Comets’ Homecoming game.
