Warriors rally late, post first Classic 8 triumph

Muskego - After two defeats, the Muskego football team needed to make a statement as the new kid on the block in the powerhouse Classic 8 Conference.

Facing a daunting schedule that pitted them against the league's annual powers to open the 2012 season, the Warriors entered Friday's game with losses to Hartland Arrowhead and Mukwonago and looked at Waukesha West without the services of star running back David Kucharski, at least at the start of the contest.

After losing an early lead and falling behind 28-27 with just 3:08 left in the game, the Warriors quickly turned gloom into a startling 41-28 victory on a touchdown run by Kucharski, who played in the second half, and Tyler Thomka's interception return for another score.

"The kids really responded," said a jubilant coach Ken Krause. "We are a team, not a one-man show. Our theme is unity, family and brotherhood and we've faced adversity all season.

"We don't make excuses - we didn't have a returning starter from last season and have four kids out for the season with injuries. So many players have stepped up … I had 22 fresh starters tonight. This is one of the top three wins since I came to Muskego.

"I am proud of the kids and coaches. We are getting better playing great teams - next week it's Catholic Memorial."

The Warriors (1-2 in the Classic 8, 2-2 overall) will host the Crusaders at 7 p.m. Sept. 21. Memorial fell to Mukwonago, 14-13, on Friday night to slip to 1-2, 2-2.

Grounding it out early

Last week, neither Muskego nor Waukesha West showed much strength on defense, as ground games ate up yardage into the third quarter. The two teams collectively ran 48 times for 361 yards in the half.

With Kucharski, the Warriors' 6-foot, 4-inch and 210-pound running back, held out of the starting lineup, junior quarterback Peter Roy rose to the occasion. Carrying the ball 20 times in the first half for 79 yards, he led his team to a 20-15 intermission lead on touchdown runs of 4, 20 and 1.

Roy finished the game with over 200 yards of total offense, both running and passing.

West's Bronson Semerau led the Wolverines' ground attack with nine carries for 110 yards in the half, lugging the ball all six times on his team's first possession that ended in his 7-yard touchdown just 2:35 into the game.

West took a 15-14 lead on Ar'Breon Dunson-Lilley's 8-yard run after a 46-yard completion from Austin Della to Dylan Chmura.

Fumbling an opportunity

Waukesha West missed a chance to score when Semerau spun his way to the 1-yard line after a 20-yard gain and then fumbled into the end zone, where Turner Kehoe fell on the loose ball.

After forcing the game's first punt, the Wolverines again marched toward a score, but on the 10th play of the drive, Della's pass was picked off by Thomka moments before the half expired.

Receiving the second-half kick, Muskego started on the 20 and, in 10 plays, covered 80 yards to go ahead 27-15. Roy, doing double duty as fullback and quarterback, found an open Kehoe for an 18-yard TD pass, and Kucharski added the PAT kick.

Waukesha wasted no time in answering. Using Dunson-Lilley's 44-yard kick return to spark the offense, the Wolverines got the score on a 3-yard keeper by Della and a PAT kick from Steve Drida to close to 27-22 with five minutes left in the third quarter.

West's defense then stiffened, and after a Warriors' punt, the Wolverines needed just two plays to cover 62 yards and take a 28-27 lead. Dunson-Lilley used a second, third and fourth effort to run for 17 yards, and that was followed by a 45-yard burst up the middle by Semerau for the score.

Starting at its own 30, West began with a penalty and an incomplete pass, and then quickly began to move toward victory. Semerau gained 26, then added another 12 to give him a total of 206 yards on 21 carries.

With 3:08 left, though, Waukesha coughed up the ball on second down, and the Muskego march began.

Warriors prime for comeback

A Roy to Jon Kudronowicz toss gained 13 with 2:38 to go. Roy picked up 4 on a keeper and scampered another 15 with 1:43 to go. He found Kehoe for a 15-yard gain through the air, then a fresh Kucharski lugged defenders and broke tackles for 18 yards. Another pass to Kehoe set up first-and-goal at the 3, and Kucharski punched in from there.

Roy ran in the two-point conversion for a 35-28 lead with 52 seconds to play.

The drive was reminiscent of Muskego's other victory this season, when it marched for a winning score in the final minute to beat Port Washington.

After the kick, Della's pass was picked off by Thomka, who returned the theft 39 yards for the final points of the game.

"I had a rough week of practice," said Kucharski regarding his being held out of the first half. "Coach made a statement not to start me, and I told the team we have great leaders and we could win without me. I worked my way in the second half - the O line stepped up - we have injuries and we had to rotate guys. This team has very much heart."

Added Roy, "We needed this one. I needed to step up wherever I was needed. The line blocked its heart out and made it easy for me. I rode the momentum. We had a strong second half as a team - we can finish."