In a game that easily could have been played back in the '50s or early '60s, two teams slugged it out Saturday in a mudbowl at Slinger. Thanks to strong defense and special teams play, the Junior Blue Dukes Grey team prevailed over the host Slinger Owls, 14-6.
The only things this game lacked in the throwback department were the voice of John Facenda in the background and a few knocked-out teeth on the field.
Whitefish Bay received the opening kickoff but were forced to punt, derailed in part by a costly blocking penalty. On Slinger's first play from scrimmage, an Owls receiver got behind the Bay secondary, caught a perfectly thrown pass in stride and ran down the field for a score. 6-0, Slinger.
But Bay put itself right back in the game on the ensuing kickoff. Nick Higgins grabbed the ball about the 30-yard line, slipped briefly on the slick, muddy field, then charged up the middle, eluding all pursuit on his way to a 70-yard return for a TD. On the conversion attempt, holder Ryan Hummer put the ball down cleanly and Higgins kicked it through the uprights for 2 points. 8-6, Bay.
Bay stopped Slinger on their next possession, and went to work on offense. Fullback Teddy Weber gained a key first down up the middle. The Bay gained 15 yards and another first down on a pass interference penalty: a Slinger defender did everything short of putting a saddle on receiver Zach Casey as he rode Zach's back down the field. Van Bassindale ran left and then up the middle to bring Bay close, then Weber plunged through the middle for the TD. Bay 14, Slinger 6.
The sodden condition of the field asserted itself in quarterbacks falling down, ball handlers fumbling, and a variety of slip-sliding activities.
Near the end of the first half, Slinger reached the Bay 40, but the JBD defense turned the ball over on downs.
After Weber's touchdown, the game came down to a field position battle. Higgins' strong punts forced Slinger to start deep in its end. Brijhan Hackney, Mason Trussoni, Scott Rojahn, Bassindale, Weber and Higgins all made tackles for loss or stopped ball carriers after minimal gains.
In the 4th quarter, Slinger tried to drive for a possible tying score running up the middle behind the strength of its offensive line, but Bay contested every yard. The Slinger QB dropped back to pass and fired one down the middle, which defensive back Matt Bernstein picked off and returned more than 20 yards. Bassindale plowed up the middle for a first down that iced the game for Whitefish Bay.
