With a mix of Brookfield Central’s interchangeable-parts backfield and Muskego’s powerful line, the Greendale hopes to follow the roadmap to Camp Randall those two schools drew up last season. The Panthers’ roll through the easy part of their Woodland Conference West Division schedule continued Friday night, as they shutout a banged-up and undermanned Wisconsin Lutheran, 49-0, at Gaviniski Stadium in Greendale as part of Friday Night Lights on 97.3 The Game.
The Panthers (6-2, 6-1 Woodland West) took control of the contest in the first four minutes. Sam Sommerfeld completed a seven-play, 67-yard opening drive with a six-yard touchdown run out of the wildcat formation. Greendale recovered a mishandled reverse by Wisconsin Lutheran on the ensuing kickoff, allowing Sommerfeld to take in a nearly identical five-yard touchdown run two plays later, making it 14-0 with 8:33 remaining in the first quarter. Sommerfeld added one more TD in the opening period from nine yards out on yet another similar run up the middle.
Miguel Smith and Joey Gordon would add second quarter touchdowns to create a running-clock situation after halftime, the fourth-straight game in which the Panthers made the clock tick unabated. After Wisco again fumbled away the opening kickoff of the second half, Mason Hanizeski tacked on another Panther score with a 36-yard scamper. Colin Buch rounded out the scoring with Greendale’s seventh touchdown run before a scoreless fourth quarter.
Wisco (3-5, 3-4 Woodland West), a state champion as recently as 2014, has been hurt by declining participation and a rash of injuries this season. A win would have made the Vikings playoff-eligible; now, they must win their conference crossover game against Cudahy of the Woodland East to have a chance for the postseason. Greendale, meanwhile, will play Whitnall in its crossover contest for the right to lay claim to at least part of the Woodland championship.
Friday Night Lights will head further south for the final week of the regular season for the rivalry matchup between Franklin and Oak Creek. Coverage will start at 6:45 p.m. on 97.3 The Game.
GREENDALE 49, WISCONSIN LUTHERAN 0
Stephen J. Gavinski Memorial Stadium; Greendale High School; Greendale, Wis.
WLHS…….0……0…..0….0 — 0
GDALE….21…14…14….0 — 49
First Quarter: GDALE – Sommerfeld 6 run (Alvarado kick), 9:15. GDALE – Sommerfeld 5 run (Alvarado kick), 8:33. GDALE – Sommerfeld 9 run (Alvarado kick), 2:17.
Second Quarter: GDALE – Mi. Smith 20 run (Alvarado kick), 11:03. GDALE – Gordon 8 run (Alvarado kick), 5:06.
Third Quarter: GDALE – Hanizeski 36 run (Alvarado kick), 10:02. GDALE – Buch 11 run (Alvarado kick), 2:18.
Fourth Quarter: No scoring.
RUSHING – Wisco: Bilitz 7-29, Pagel 5-11, Oertel 3-9, Burbridge 2-6, (team) 2-0, Hampton 7-(minus 4). Greendale: Sommerfeld 18-89, Hanizeski 5-57, Buch 6-35, Mi. Smith 3-34, Gordon 3-21, Brust 2-8, Murry 3-4, Paul 1-0, (team) 1-0.
PASSING – Wisco: Pagel 3-7-0-46, Bilitz 0-3-0-0. Greendale: Brust 4-6-0-51.
RECEIVING – Wisco: Bilitz 2-35, Oertel 1-11. Greendale: Mi. Smith 4-51.
Time: 1:53
Weather: 41 degrees, mostly cloudy