KCC keeps rolling with win over WAO to improve to 5-1

By Mark Bernstom, assistant coach
The Bearcats traveled down to Warren on Friday, Oct. 8 to take on the WAO Ponies. Both teams came into this game with a 4-1 record with WAO in first place and KCC in second within the section. A win by the Bearcats moves them into first place in a section that is starting to get very tight in the top 4.
KCC received the opening kickoff and were able to march it down the field with their physical running game. The drive was capped off by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Braden Faken to Chisum Schmiedeberg to open up the scoring. An extra-point kick was added on by Isaac Folland to give the Bearcats a 7-0 lead. The defense was not allowing WAO to find a rhythm, and was able to keep them out of the end zone to finish the first quarter, 7-0 Bearcats.
In the second quarter, KCC’s Ozzie Meyer-Rice found the end zone twice. Early in the second, he ran one in for a 1-yard score, and the extra point kick by Folland was good to increase the lead 14-0. Then later in the second, Meyer-Rice had a 13-yard run to extend the lead 20-0. The extra point kick was good but a penalty on the Ponies moved the ball closer, and the Bearcats were able to make the 2-point conversion. As the first half came to a close, KCC had a 22-0 lead.
There was rain the whole game but nothing bad enough to stop play until the beginning of the third quarter. After the defense was able to get the ball back after the first few plays of the Ponies’ opening drive, a thunderstorm postponed the game. After over an hour-long rain delay, play resumed with KCC controlling the ball. Meyer-Rice was able to find the end zone again with a 31-yard touchdown run to add to the lead again. Another successful extra-point kick by Folland gave KCC a 29-0 lead going into the fourth quarter.
As I mentioned before, the Defense was playing incredible all night. Most of WAO’s yardage came on their last offensive possession in the fourth quarter as coaches were subbing in players to give non-starters reps. WAO was able to score and convert their two-point conversion. To cut the lead 29-8. This is where the score stood as KCC got a few first downs and closed out the game with taking a knee.
After the win, the Bearcats move to 5-1, and sole possession of first place in the section. They face another tough challenge this week as they travel to Badger to take on BGMR Gators. This is a 7 p.m. game on Thursday, Oct. 14.

Offensive leaders
Rushing
Ozzie Meyer-Rice: 18 att, 164 yards, 3 TD
Chisum Schmiedeberg: 13 att, 87 yards
Passing
Braden Faken: ½ att. 24 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Chisum Schmiedeberg: 1 catch, 24 yards, 1 TD
Defensive Leaders
Chisum Schmiedeberg: 12.5 tackles
Kaden Vig: 9.5 tackles
Ozzie Meyer-Rice and Morgan Muir: 7 tackles each