Saturday, October 31, 2009

Video: Clips from our game against Lake Country













UNDEFEATED: Junior Blue Dukes 13, Lake Country 0

The Junior Blue Dukes defeated Lake Country 13-0 Saturday afternoon to cap off an 8-0 season.
After a scoreless first half, Van Bassindale scored on a 50-plus yard TD run in the 3rd quarter. Macklin Kortebein later scored on a run, with Jake Fisher passing to Bailey Weiland for the extra point.
The Dukes defense made several 4th down stops, and two turnovers helped the home team keep a clean sheet: a fumble recovery by Evan Miller and an interception by Weiland.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

He Knows Something

 

Photo: Karen W. Higgins
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Football: A Great Father-Daughter Bonding Experience

 

Photo: Karen W. Higgins
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Cheer Squad

 

Photo: Karen W. Higgins
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Video: Fredonia game highlights with music


Music: "Sabre Dance" by the Brian Setzer Orchestra

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Game Day: Junior Blue Dukes 30, Fredonia Warriors 21

The Blue Dukes overcame the cold & Fredonia's unusual unbalanced offense to win 30-21. The incomparable Charlie Cohen returned the opening kickoff for a TD to get the Dukes rolling. (More on that wonderful play under the video clips below.)
This was probably the oddest game I have seen in two years of Junior Blue Dukedom. I had a clear sense that Bay had superior talent, but Fredonia battled very hard, especially their skill players on offense. Coach Joe Wieland also played second- and third-string groups extensively, giving them lot of experience with the game actually on the line.
Cohen's kickoff return made the score 6-0. Later in the first quarter, QB Jake Fisher ran into the end zone to bring the score to 12-0. But Fredonia scored on a TD run in the second quarter, cutting the margin to 12-6.
Fisher passed to Bailey Weiland, who scampered 40-plus yards for a score in the second quarter. 18-6, Bay.
After a substantial drive, Fredonia had first and goal near the end of the half, but could not punch the ball in. On Fredonia's 4th down try, Matt Bernstein intercepted the ball near the goal line. With seconds left until halftime, Bay was not content to sit on the ball. First it ran a classic hook and ladder play: Fisher passed to wide receiver Chris Siebert, who lateraled the ball to Van Bassindale, who gained about 6 years. Next Bay ran what looked like a double reverse (I'll have to check the film), but the final exchange was fumbled. Bay covered the ball in the end zone, resulting in a safety and 2 points for Fredonia. Halftime score: Bay 18, Fredonia 8.
In the third quarter, Fredonia made a game of it, scoring on a TD run and adding a converstion run. 18-15. But the Junior Blue Dukes rode the big shoulders and constantly churning legs of Van Bassindale forward. Van scored on a 48-yard run in the third quarter and added another TD run in the 4th, making it 30-15, Bay.
Fredonia scored another TD, and grabbed the ball on a successful onside kick. But Anthony Enea intercepted a pass to seal the game, and shortly thereafter the Junior Blue Dukes lined up in victory formation for the sweetest of all plays, the last-second kneeldown. Final score: Junior Blue Dukes 30, Fredonia Warriors 21.
While I don't have official confirmation of this, it's believed our final opponent will be a Lake Country team at noon Sat. Oct. 31. This should be a battle, so Coach Joe Wieland is planning a week of focused and committed practice. I'll send volunteer reminders out for next Saturday soon.

A few things to note on the kickoff return:
1. This was some variation of an onside or surprise kick. Fredonia kick defenders all shifted to their right, and the kicker aimed a short line drive in that direction.
2. Charlie catches the ball cleanly and knows what to do with it (i.e., move forward).
2. Ryan Hummer and Will Alt block defenders at the point of the catch, freeing Charlie to get outside Fredonia's main wave.
3. Downfield Macklin Kortebein knocks a potential tackler out of the play.
4. Further downfield Nick Higgins knocks one Warrior off his feet and another on the ground.
5. Genuinely excited teammates congratulate Charlie in the end zone.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Running to Daylight

 

Photo: Nathan Wallin
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Scrambling

 

Photo: Nathan Wallin
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Ready to Attack

 

Photo: Nathan Wallin
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Interception Return

 

Photo: Nathan Wallin
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Brothers of the O-Line

 

Photo by Nathan Wallin
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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Video: Highlights of the Germantown game



[The music, which begins about 45 seconds in, is "Filthy McNasty" by The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble.]

Saturday, October 17, 2009

One Minute with Macklin

Game Day: Junior Blues Dukes 30, Germantown 12


[Coach Joe Wieland outlining a few new plays on the board before Saturday's game.]

From razzle-dazzle trickery to smash-mouth defense, the Junior Blue Dukes have many arrows in their quiver. Whitefish Bay's sixth-grade warriors used several of them in storming to a 30-0 halftime lead on their way to a 30-12 victory over Germantown at chilly Lubar Stadium.
Coach Joe Wieland's non-Euclidean offense threw an unexpected gadget play at Germantown that resulted in the first touchdown. Jake Fisher passed backwards to Van Bassindale, who paused for a beat and then threw back to Fisher for a TD. (It wasn't a stroll into the end zone. Fisher juked his way past a charging Germantown linebacker.) I actually remember seeing this play in a Notre Dame game some years back, when the Domers were good. Sam Horn kicked a 2-point conversion. 8-0, Junior Blue Dukes.
Later in the first quarter, Macklin Kortebein, who was stellar on both sides of the ball Saturday, scored on a 1-yard TD run. Kortebein also intercepted two Germantown passes in the game. Horn kicked another 2-point conversion, 16-0.
In the second quarter, Bassindale returned a fumble for a TD, bringing the score to 22-0.
Bailey Weiland scored the final Blue Dukes TD on a sweep around the end. Nick Higgins kicked a 2-point conversion to make the score 30-0 at half.
Coach Joe Wieland had given a speech at practice Thursday, exhorting second- and third-stringers not to get discouraged if their playing time was light. Well, everyone saw plenty of action in this game. Taking advantage of a mercy rule that allotted them extra kickoffs, Germantown scored two touchdowns to bring the score to 30-12. But Sam Horn snuffed out the final Germantown rally with a deft interception, and smartly stayed in bounds on the long return.
Our first playoff game will begin at noon Saturday Oct. 24. I will send details on our opponent as soon as that team is confirmed.










Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Avid Fan

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Staying Warm

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Murderers' Row

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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If I Were Gary I Would Be Edging Away From Those Guys, Too

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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More Glamour in the Stands

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Ready for the Ball

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Waiting

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Brain Trust

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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In Action

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Beautiful People

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Glamour in the Stands

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Coaching the backs

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Manimal: Half Coach, Half Beast

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Huddling Up

 

Photo by Rick Rojahn
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Saturday, October 10, 2009

Video: Game Day Highlights with Music



To combat memories of the frigid afternoon, our soundtrack is a live version of Hugh Masakela's "Grazin' in the Grass."

Game Story: Junior Blue Dukes 25, Cedarburg 21

In a battle royale of previously unbeaten North Shore teams, the Junior Blue Dukes prevailed 25-21 on the windswept, snowy plains of Cedarburg.
This game had elements of both a steel cage match, as two tough teams battered each other on the frozen ground, and a chess match, as Cedarburg pitted its close formation trickery and deception against the inspired mad-scientist play calling of Blue Dukes coach Joe Wieland and his henchmen. (Joe said a few of today's ideas from his boy-wonder sidekick, Jeff Frank.)
In the first quarter, the Blue Dukes scored on their first offensive play from scrimmage, as Van (Godzilla) Bassindale rampaged through the Cedarburg D. Jake Fisher passed to Bailey Weiland for the extra point. 7-0, Bay.
In the second quarter, Fisher scored on a QB sneak to make it 13-0. The short TD run was set up by a dazzling gadget play: Fisher passed backwards to running back Macklin Kortebein, who then threw deep to wide receiver Chris Siebert, who ran down to about the 2-yard line. The play was well executed, and also called in a timely fashion: Cedarburg had tackled our running back for a loss on the previous play, and their whole defense had aggressively sold out, hoping for another TFL.
Cedarburg narrowed the gap in the 3rd quarter with a TD run, 13-6. But in the
fourth quarter, Fisher passed to Matt Bernstein for a TD, increasing the Bay lead to 19-6.
Cedarburg tallied a TD and an extra point to narrow the margin to 19-13. Bay parents would have been biting their fingernails, had those fingernails not been frozen. But a long QB scamper by Jake Fisher set up a Bailey Weiland TD run. 25-13.
Cedarburg scored on the final play of regulation time, and added a 2-point kick to bring the final score to 25-21.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

WFBHS punter to play in all-star game

PRESS RELEASE (from WFBHS)
October 6, 2009
Will Hagerup
2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
On Thursday, October 8, in an event to be held at Whitefish Bay High School, Whitefish Bay High School senior punter and recent University of Michigan scholarship signee, Will Hagerup, will be officially invited to participate in the 10th annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The jersey to be worn in the game will also be presented to Will at the ceremony.
Will has been chosen as the only football player in Wisconsin to participate in the game. Only 90 high school senior football players from across the nation have been honored with an invitation. The game, to be played on January 10, will take place in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game will also be broadcast across the nation.
Alumni of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl include Adrian Peterson, Reggie Bush, Vince Young, Chris “Beanie” Wells, and Tim Tebow. More information on the game is available at www.usarmyallamericanbowl.com.
Each year the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Tour visits the high school of each All-American to officially recognize and announce them to the bowl. The ceremony honoring Will is scheduled for Thursday, October 8 at noon in the Auditorium at Whitefish Bay High School. Guests should enter through the main school entrance located at 1200 E Fairmount Avenue.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Video: Cullen Keiper tackle

Watch the Beast Boy at work:

Video: Jake Fisher PAT run

Video: Charlie (The Animal) Cohen Sack

Video: Paul Wilson kamikaze tackle

Video: Will Alt TD run

Video: Pass Tipped by #75

Video: Tackle for Loss

Video: Blocking Leads to Touchdowns

Please note, especially in the concluding slow-motion segment, the punishing block by #23, Macklin Kortebein, that cleared a path for Van Bassindale through the middle to score.