Overcoming penalties, mistakes and injuries, the Junior Blue Dukes 7th grade Grey team rode special teams play, clutch 4th quarter defense and power running to a 14-13 victory over the skilled, determined and large Cedarburg team.
Aided by a blocking scheme where every Blue Dukes player did his job, Nick Higgins took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown. Higgins kicked the two-point conversion to make the score WFB 8, Cedarburg 0.
But Cedarburg calmly went to work, running its double-wing offense, which tends to hide which back is carrying the ball. Its big linemen and crafty running backs ground the ball down the field until they scored a late first-quarter TD. A pass attempt for the point-after conversion failed. WFB 8, Cedarburg 6.
On the ensuing kickoff, Cedarburg squibbed a kick, possibly intended as an onside kick, but player Elie Ben Bordow covered up the ball for the Junior Blue Dukes.
After the Junior Blue Dukes failed to convert a 4th down play, Cedarburg again drove down the field and scored on a run. This time Cedarburg ran successfully for the point after. Cedarburg 13, WFB 8.
Cedarburg tried an onside kick, but Zach Casey covered it for the Blue Dukes.
At halftime the Whitefish Bay coaches made some adjustments to their defense that slowed down the Cedarburg juggernaut. But a score was still required for the Junior Blue Dukes to regain the lead.
A promising 4th quarter drive ended with an interception by Cedarburg at their own 6-yard line. The Blue Dukes defense held and forced a punt. Matt Bernstein ran the punt back nearly to the goal line, but a penalty on Whitefish Bay placed the ball back around its 45.
A series of power runs by Teddy Weber (mostly inside) and Van Bassindale (often to the right) put the Junior Blue Dukes within striking distance. Then the determined Bassindale rumbled into the end zone to make the score 14-13.
With less than a minute left, Cedarburg tried several runs and then a pass, but Bernstein intercepted the ball, and quarterback Ryan Hummer executed the sweetest play in football, the victory formation kneel down.
Final score: Grey team 14, Cedarburg 13.
Here's hoping to see many of you at the Blue team this afternoon, scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
I'll post video highlights after I finish processing.
