Hortonville falls to 2-2
By Greg Seubert
Win a game, lose a game.
That’s been the story of the season so far for the Hortonville football team.
The Polar Bears dropped to 2-2 after ending up on the short end of a 41-13 score to Xavier Oct. 16 at Wolf River Community Bank Stadium.
The nonconference matchup came together after both teams had their previously scheduled games canceled. Hortonville had been scheduled to host Wausau West in the Wisconsin Valley Conference, while Xavier had scheduled a Bay Conference game in Waupaca.
Hortonville forced the Hawks into a three-and-out on the game’s opening drive, but Xavier found the end zone on its second drive. Ray Zuleger’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Cal Mares and AJ Seidler’s extra point gave the Hawks a 7-0 lead with 3:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Zuleger and Mares hooked up for a 55-yard score with 7:30 to go in the first half.
The two teams combined for 17 points in the final 2 1/2 minutes of the half. Seidler’s 23-yard field goal gave Xavier a 17-0 lead, but TJ Payne returned the kickoff 90 yards to cut the lead to 7-6.
The Hawks answered with Mac Strand’s 3-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds remaining to give Xavier a 24-6 lead at the break.
Xavier added a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter. Trent Twombly’s interception ended Hortonville’s first drive of the second half and set the Hawks up at the Hortonville 21-yard line.
Stand scored from 6 yards out less than two minutes into the half to give the Hawks a 31-6 lead and Zuleger added a 4-yard quarterback keeper with 3:06 to go in the quarter.
Seidler’s 28-yard field goal less than a minute into the fourth quarter wrapped up the scoring for the Hawks.
Gabe Concepcion capped Hortonville’s final drive of the game with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Hortonville is scheduled to host Wausau East at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.