The Hatchet football team closed out a 1-7 season with Friday’s disappointing 33-14 loss to the Rib Lake/Prentice co-op.
“It was a tough way to end the season,” THS coach John Larson said. “We had scoring opportunities early, but turned the ball over in the red zone twice. The Hatchets just dug too big of a hole to come back. You won’t win many high school football games when you turn the ball over four times.”
RL/P built a three touchdown lead by scoring once in each of the first three quarters-on 76- and 41-yard Zach Butera runs, and a 5-yard Dalton Hawkins blast. Butera’s two-point conversion after the second score made it 20-0 heading into the fourth.
The Hatchets out-scored their guests 14-13 in the fourth, using a 16-yard Austin Bellile run and a 6-yard pass from Bellile to Turner Wegener. Adam FauFau converted the two-pointer after the second tally. Butera scored from 5 yards and Cody VanLuven ripped of a 25-yard run.
“We gave up big plays defensively,” Larson said. “It was a big night for Austin offensively.”
Bellile led the squad with 26 carries for 129 yards rushing, and completed 16-of-30 passes for 155 yards, although he threw two picks. A.J. Bunce (3-53), Wegener (3-33), Eddie Yirsa (2-28), Faufau (2-20), Lorne Ahrens (1-15) and Neko McMahnon (1-6) were among the receivers. Ahrens (9-56) and Jake Borchardt (8-34) helped Tomahawk get to 220 rushing yards.
RL/P gained 496 yards, with 365 rushing and 131 passing.
The THS defense was paced by: Bellile (3 solos, 5 assists, 2 ints.); Borchardt (3 s, 4 a, 1 sack); Wegener (2 s, 2 a, 3 PBU); Cale Graeber (3 s, 4 a); FauFau (1 s, 7 a); Aaron Leonhard (1 s, 1 FC, 1 FR); and Austin Ehn (2 s, 4 a);