Manawa improves to 3-1
By Mike Frazier
The Manawa football team ended its three-game home stand on a high note Sept. 13 with a 46-6 nonconference win over Oconto.
Four of the Wolves’ touchdowns came on plays of more than 40 yards and they also returned two fumbles for touchdowns.
Riley Krenke opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game with a 21-yard fumble recovery.
Manawa struggled on offense early in the game with a pair of interceptions and a lost fumble, but also scored on two big plays. Mason Wiesner hooked up with a wide-open Brett Zielke for a 65-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter.
Krenke capped a seven-play, 78-yard drive with a 47-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter. Wiesner added the extra point and the Blue Devils trailed 20-0.
Zielke opened the second half with a 42-yard touchdown run and Manawa found the end zone again two drives later on Wiesner’s 35-yard pass to Zielke. The pair also connected on a 55-yard score that gave the Wolves a 39-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Oconto took advantage of a Manawa fumble in the fourth quarter and scored on Caleb Moe’s 27-yard pass to William Sherman.
Deion Stroud completed the scoring for Manawa with a 91-yard fumble recovery.
Zielke led the Wolves with 77 rushing yards on only three carries and added 155 receiving yards on three catches.
Wiesner added 74 rushing yards and Krenke caught five passes for 100 yards.
Manawa improved to 3-1 on the season with the win and will return to Central Wisconsin Conference-Large play at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Shiocton.