Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
Coming into Friday night the Merrill Bluejays football team was 0-3 and looking to get their first win of the year against a conference opponent in Mosinee, who sat at 1-3 on the year. The Indians lone win of the season came in a 37-34 shoot out against Iola-Scandinavia in their second game of the year, however Mosinee has had a red hot offense all year, scoring 44 points in a loss to Wausau East on Sept. 6.
The Jays would attempt to slow the game down and make Mosinee play at their pace, however the Indians were having none of it, as they cruised past Merrill in a 41-7 blowout.
Mosinee got off to a fast start, driving the field and scoring a touchdown on a QB (quarterback) sneak with 10:12 remaining in the first quarter. It took under two minutes for the Indians to reach the endzone again, this time on a 37-yard throw and catch. Mosinee led 14-0 after the first quarter and poured on even more in the second. A 53-yard passing play to the endzone increased the Mosinee lead, however they would miss the extra point making it a 20-0 game. The Indians added one more score before halftime, punching their tickets to the endzone on a two-yard QB keeper.
Merrill looked to have turned the tables after halftime, shutting down the Mosinee offense on their first couple drives. However, the Indians would get back to their scoring ways finding the endzone on a three-yard run from the QB with 3:53 left in the quarter. Another quick score on a pick-six from the Mosinee defense gave the Indians a 41-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Merrill’s lone score would come with just 31 seconds left in the game. Bluejay QB Caleb DeJong found a big hole in the Mosinee defense and made them pay, taking a 62-yard run to the house to bring the game to it’s final score of 41-7.
Offensive stat leaders for Merrill include: Caleb DeJong (11 carries, 117 yards, TD, 3-13 passing, 39 yards), Nik Zastrow (7 carries, 27 yards), Mason Vandervelde (3 carries, 26 yards), Piersen Pyan (2 catches, 32 yards).
Defensive state leaders for Merrill include: Zach Iribarren (5 tackles), Caleb Gebert (4 tackles, 1 assist), Eddie Collinsworth (3 tackles, 1 assist, 1 tackle for loss) and Tyler Leistikow (3 tackles, 3 assists, 1 sack).