State record falls on game’s final drive

By Greg Seubert

Someday, someone in Wisconsin is going to set a new career rushing record.

For now, however, that record belongs to Bryce Huettner.

The Iola-Scandinavia senior ran for 158 yards Nov. 9 in the Thunderbirds’ 27-25 win over Grantsburg in a WIAA Division 6 state semifinal game in Chippewa Falls.

Huettner came into the game 151 yards behind Mike Firkus, who ran for 6,707 yards at Hilbert High School from 2000-02.

“I didn’t know how many yards there were to get,” he said. “I knew we had one game to win to get to the state championship.”

Huettner didn’t set the record until the final drive of the game, as he carried the ball on five of the game’s last six plays.

“I trusted (coach Scott Erickson) to do whatever was best for the team,” said Huettner, who also scored a pair of touchdowns. “Whatever that was, we were all behind it. It didn’t matter who he was giving the ball to, we had a job to do and that was to get some first downs and get the clock rolling. Watch the guys up front on film and you’d see they were moving some guys around and you can’t run the ball without that.”

Huettner’s first touchdown, a 12-yard run, came on the game’s third play less than a minute into the game.

“Getting off to a quick start is something we like to do,” he said. “If we win the toss, we take the ball. Our O-line did a great job right away opening some holes.”

Leo Chenal, a University of Wisconsin recruit, scored three of Grantsburg’s four second-half touchdowns, including a 57-yard run and a 41-yard pass reception in the game’s final seven minutes.

“That dude’s going to do some great things,” Huettner said. “That guy is an amazing athlete. He dominated me every time he tackled me. I don’t know if I broke one of his tackles. Our boys did a good job of just trying to contain him. With a player like that, that’s about all you’re going to do.”

Huettner now has 6,714 yards and can add to that total Thursday, Nov. 15, as the T-Birds face Racine Lutheran in the Division 6 championship game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison at 1 p.m.

His totals include 478 yards as a freshman, 950 as a sophomore and 2,830 last year as a junior.

“I’m blessed to have played so much football in my high school career,” he said. “I didn’t play offense my freshman year, but I got to play on the defense of a great team. The whole experience from freshman year to senior year is really culminating into the greatest experience you could ask for.”

Huettner and the T-Birds will take a 13-0 record into the championship game.

“The bond all the way around. Everybody looks out for everybody and everybody’s playing for everybody. When you do that, you do something special.”

The championship game will also be the last time Huettner suits up in a T-Bird football uniform.

“Records are made to be broken and I’m sure somebody else is going to come along in a few years that’s going to have a great team and they’re going to do great things,” he said. “I’m just excited to be a part of it, but I’m more excited to be going back for a state championship in my senior year.”