Saturday, October 5, 2024
The Waupaca Comets became embroiled in a back-and-forth start of their homecoming game against the rival New London Bulldogs.
The Comets and the Bulldogs came into the matchup with identical records of 1-4 in the regular season, 1-2 in the Bay conference, and both still clinging to playoff hopes.
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead as running back Logan Ten Haken scored on a 39-yard touchdown to give his team the early lead, and Brett Marquardt scored on a two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
The Comets responded in the second quarter with two unanswered touchdowns to take the 15-14 lead. Ten Haken took back the lead for the Bulldogs as he caught a touchdown to give his team the 20-15 lead going into halftime.
Explosive plays became the trend in the third quarter, as running back Xzaver Pittman, who had 150 yards rushing in the game, scored on a 62-yard touchdown run to put the Comets up 22-20.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ten Haken took a 90-yard kickoff return to the end zone to give the Bulldogs the lead back 28-22. Ten Haken had 311 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns on the night.
The Comets tied the game 28-28, as wide receiver Westen Lauritzen hauled in a touchdown pass from quarterback Austin Adamczak, who threw for 81 yards in the game.
A 13-yard touchdown run by Adamczak on the Comets’ next drive broke the tie as they went up 35-28. The Bulldogs responded as Alex McGlin caught a 54-yard touchdown pass, but a failed conversion made it a 35-34 game in favor of the Comets.
Adamczak, who rushed for 157 yards on the game, made it an eight-point lead as he ran 25 yards into the end zone to give his team the 43-34 lead.
Defensive back Aaron Wolff iced the game with an interception returned for a touchdown to give the Comets the 51-34 victory.
