The Grey team rebounded from last week's difficulties with a 39-0 thrashing of Germantown Gold in Germantown. All facets of the Whitefish Bay team -- offense, defense and special teams -- were shiny in this victory.
Nick Higgins started the game by booming the opening kickoff over the head of the Germantown returner, and the Bay coverage team pinned the home team deep. Seamus Floyd brought down the Germantown QB for a big third-down sack. A short, possibly tipped punt gave WFB the ball first and goal at the Germantown 9. Unfortunately, a Bay ball carrier was stripped of the ball on third down, and Germantown recovered the fumble (the first of many fumbles in this game, which ironically was our first dry-weather game of the season). However, the beastly Bay defense forced a fumble, recovered (I think) by Justin Fisher, and Bay took over in Germantown territory. On third and long, QB Ryan Hummer tossed a short pass to slot receiver Nick Higgins on the left. Receiver Matt Bernstein tied up the only potential tackler, and Higgins raced into the end zone for the game's first touchdown. He kicked the two-point conversion. WFB 8, Germantown 0.
In the second quarter, the Junior Blue Dukes stopped a Germantown fake punt and took over on downs. Bay marched down the field on a series of runs by Van Bassindale and Teddy Weber, with Bassindale scoring from about 8 yards out. WFB 14, GG 0.
Germantown got nowhere on the next possession. On the third-down play, Bassindale plowed through two blockers to tackle the runner for a loss. On the first play after the punt, Bassindale took a handoff and swept around right end, where Weber and Tony Schulz had pulverized would-be tacklers. Van raced more than 50 yards to the end zone. WFB 20, GG 0.
On its next possession, Germantown launched a pass down the left side, but ball-hawking cornerback Zach Casey was waiting for it. Casey intercepted and raced down the sideline for a TD. WFB 26, GG 0.
The Bay defense held Germantown again, with Mason Trussoni tackling a GG receiver for a loss on a 4th down pass. From the wildcat formation, Bassindale tossed a bomb downfield to Casey, who made a surehanded grab for a gain of more than 30 yards. Bassindale handed off to Higgins for an end-around, but he was stopped at the 2-yard line as time expired in the half.
Due to mercy rules that allows a team down by more than 17 points to receive extra kickoffs, Whitefish Bay kicked off to start the second half. Higgins pinned Germantown deep with another long kick, with Bassindale reacquainting the ball carrier forcefully with the turf. After Germantown punted, Bassindale took a handoff and rumbled some 40 yards into the end zone for his third touchdown of the day. WFB 32, GG 0.
By this point, both teams were substituting players freely.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Germantown returner found a seam and charged up the field, looking for the big one. But as he crossed midfield, a low-flying, white-jerseyed, long-haired blur cut him down at the legs the way a scythe cuts grain. Kicker Nick Higgins made the touchdown-saving tackle. (I'm not exaggerating, folks, because he's my kid. If you look at the highlights video, he is moving so fast you can barely see him.)
Still, Germantown began a drive for the first time on Whitefish Bay's side of the 50. Germantown parlayed several nice runs and a Bay penalty into a first-and-goal situation at the 1-yard line. With the outcome of the game not in doubt, the next four plays were all about pride and the possibility of a clean sheet for the Bay defense. Led by Bassindale's saber-toothed savagery, the stout defense stuffed all four plays and took over on downs.
On third and long from inside the Bay 10, Bassindale ripped off a long run that would have gone for a touchdown, but the referee correctly flagged the Blue Dukes for a clipping penalty. Nonetheless, it was still a first down and Bay had dug itself out of the hole. Hummer then threw to Higgins on the left for a gain of more than 20 yards. Justin Fisher then took over as featured running back, charging for more than 10 yards on his first carry. Fisher and Weber interspersed carries as Bay marched down the field. Hummer passed to Matt Bernstein in the left flat for a gain that set up 1st and goal for Bay.
Behind the crisp offensive line that made Coach Steve Hummer proud all game, Fisher stormed into the end zone for the game's final touchdown. QB Ryan Hummer passed to Zach Casey in the end zone for extra point. WFB 39, Germantown 0.
Elie Ben Bordow squibbed the ensuing kickoff down the middle; he and Russell Grevious tackled the ball carrier. Led by defensive end Tony Schulz, who stuffed a ball carrier for a huge loss, Bay held Germantown on downs and took over the ball for the final moments.
Whitefish Bay closed out the game with QB Jack Friesch handing off to Grevious for a positive run, making them the 8th and 9th Blue Dukes players to handle the ball on offense in this game.
