The Beaver Dam High School football team is heading to the 2nd round of the WIAA football playoffs for the first time since 2011 after a dominating 35-21 win at Menasha on Friday night in a game that they never trailed.
The ECC champs set the tone early, marching down the field on an 11 play, 65-yard drive, that was capped by a one-yard Eli Bryant touchdown run with 8:25 left in the opening quarter. Menasha evened up the score quickly at 7-7 when Logan Liegl connected with Ruben Staniford on a 52-yard strike with 4:27 to go in the 1st quarter. Senior Parker Blank housed the ensuing kickoff from 78 yards out to put BD back in front 14-7.
Early in the 2nd quarter, Menasha had a drive ended at the BD two-yard line when Eli Johnson picked off his 5th pass of season. BDHS then went on a 12-play 98-yard drive capped by a four-yard Bryant run with 2:32 left in the half to take a 21-7 lead into the break. Menasha outgained BDHS 148-119 in the first half, but had 9 penalties for 75 yards.
Menasha got right back into the game on the opening drive of the third quarter, as they capped a quick four-play, 67-yard drive with a Liegl 1-yard TD run to cut the BDHS lead to 21-14 at the 10:20 mark of the 3rd. Once again, the Beavers bounced back, as Bryant hit Moose Morrissey on a 14 yard TD pass to cap a 7-play, 67 yard drive with 6:59 left in the 3rd sending the lead back to 14 at 28-14. The Blue Jays answered again as Liegl hit Beau Thompson out of the backfield for a 40 yard TD pass and the game was once score again at 28-21.
On the first play of the 4th quarter, Bryant tossed his 2nd TD pass of the day, connecting with Jeff Freund on a seven-yard score to go up 35-21. Menasha had a long drive come up empty, and Beave Dam was able to run out the clock and advance to the 2nd round of the playoffs.
The Golden Beavers scored a touchdown on every possession of the game until the final kneel-down.
Menasha outgained Beaver Dam 318-263. Eli Bryant ran for a team high 52 yards and two TDs. Josiah Barnes had 35 yards on 10 carries. Bryant completed 13 of 20 passes for 162 yards and 2 TDs. Jeff Freund caught seven of those passes for 92 yards and a TD.
Liegl threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw a pair of picks (Johnson, Blank). Liegl ran for 32 yards and TD while the FRCC-South co-Offensive Player of the Year Elijah Gigl ran for 113 yards on 24 carries. Thompson caught 2 passes 94 yards and a TD.
Beaver Dam (9-1) heads to #1 seed and FVA champ Kaukauna next Friday night. You can hear that game on 1430 ESPN Beaver Dam and watch it on DaiyDodge TV.
Click the link to hear postgame comments from Beaver Dam Coach Brock Linde
Click the link below to watch the DailyDodge TV Broadcast
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