Sterling Jets vs. Bruning/Davenport
1st Round State Football Playoffs
By Brent Heusman
November 02, 2009
Sterling 42 Bruning-Davenport 14
In qualifying round action last Thursday, Sterling's Jake Wirthele
had himself quite an evening rushing for 351 yards and scoring 5
times in leading the Jets to the victory over the Storm.
Wirthele scored the lone touchdown of the 1st quarter on a 24 yard
run. The PAT run failed. Wirthele scored twice more in the 2nd
quarter on runs of 60 and 62 yards. An Austin Magill to Zach Lempka
pass converted the 2nd PAT. The Jets led 20-0 at the half.
The 3rd quarter started like the 1st with just one touchdown being
scored. Wirthele continued his impressive night this time scoring
from 4 yards out. The PAT pass failed. The Jets took a 26-0 lead
into the 4th quarter.
The Storm had one last rally in them early in the 4th quarter when
Luke Christensen busted loose from 48 yards out to get them on the
scoreboard. Ryan Tegtmeier ran in the PAT. After recovering an
onside kick, the Storm drove down and scored again with Tegtmeier
calling his own number from 3 yards out. The PAT run failed. But
the Jets responded on their next possession with Wirthele scoring
from 3 yards out. He also ran in the PAT. The final score of the
ballgame came from Justin Puls on a 1 yard run. A Colin
VanGroningen to Shane Benson pass added the PAT. The final score
stood at Sterling 42 Bruning-Davenport 14.
Wirthele led all rushers with his 351 yards on 37 carries. Helping
with the Jet ground game were Puls 37 yards on 9 carries, Lempka 37
yards on 10 carries, VanGroningen 11 yards on 3 carries, and Wenzl
-1 yard on 1 carry. Magill was 1 of 1 passing for 7 yards and
VanGroningen was 0 of 3 passing. Wirthele had the lone reception
for 7 yards.
Defensive leaders on the night for the Jets were as follows: John
Parrish 7 tackles, 3 assists, VanGroningen 5 tackles, 6 assists, 1
interception, Puls 3 tackles, 4 assists, Lempka 3 tackles, 2
assists, 1 quarterback sack, Benson 2 tackles, 5 assists, 1 1/2
quarterback sacks, Jake Wenzl 1 tackle 4 assists, Magill 1 tackle,
1 assist, 1 interception, Neil Pella 5 assists, 1/2 quarterback
sack, and Allan Parrish 1 assist.
" We did an excellent job of establishing our rushing attack as the
game went along. We rushed for 435 yards on the night, and Wirthele
had a nice return from his leg injury. Our defense did a fine job
as well. We kind of let up on our intensity early in the 4th
quarter, but we got the key stops when we needed them. This was a
nice game to get the postseason started, but as we know, its gonna
get much tougher as we continue to advance through each round of
the playoffs."
Sterling's next game is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4th vs.
Hampton at home. Game time is 7:00 p
