Game 1: Junior Blue Dukes BLUE 30, Germantown Blue 0

The Junior Blue Dukes 8th grade Blue team enjoyed a successful home opener with a 30-0 victory over the Germantown Hawks at scenic Lubar Stadium.
Van Bassindale took the opening kickoff back 75 yards up the middle, untouched, for a touchdown. Connor Kimple kicked the two-point converstion. 8-0, Bay.
On third and long, Matt Bernstein picked off a Germantown pass to put the Blue squad at the Germantown 41. Four plays later, quarterback Kimple kept the ball and ran left for a 30-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was no good. 14-0, Bay.
On the next series, Seamus Floyd recovered a fumble to give Bay the ball at its own 44. The Blue team drove down to the Germantown 31, but turned the ball over on downs.
In the second quarter, Bassindale scored on a short run, with Kimple kicking the two-point conversion to make the score 22-0, Bay. Aided by a face-masking penalty on the Bay, Germantown drove into Bay territory near the end of the second quarter, but the Blue defense kept the Hawks out of the end zone.
The only scoring in the second half came when linebacker Alec Lindfors, the human pterodactyl, jumped a pass route and took the ball 30 yards for a touchdown, making a nifty cut to avoid a would-be tackler on the way. Kimple kicked the two-point conversion (from further than normal due to a penalty). 30-0, Bay.
Late in the half, Zach Casey took an inside handoff and ran 44 yards to the end zone. Unfortunately, it was nullified by a penalty. The final score was 30-0.

Video: Highlights from JBD7 Grey at Germantown Blue

Game 4: Junior Blue Dukes GREY 21, Germantown Blue 0

The Junior Blue Dukes controlled all phases of the contest in a 21-0 victory Saturday at Germantown.

Bay received the opening kickoff and consumed most of the first quarter on a steady march downfield, mixing runs by Teddy Weber and Van Bassindale, including a 4th down conversion by Bassindale, who went on to score the game's first TD on a run to the right. WFB 6-0.

After the kickoff, Bay stuffed Germantown deep in their own end, with linebacker Nick Higgins tossing a block aside before dropping a Germantown running back for a big loss on third down. On 4th down, the Germantown punter mishandled a high snap. When he picked it up and tried to kick, Higgins blocked the punt, and Bay took over on downs inside the Germantown 15. Unfortunately, Bay's drive stalled after an incomplete pass, and Germantown resumed possession deep in their own end. 

Realizing they could not run wide on the speedy Bay defense, Germantown began to throw more. On one dropback, defensive end Mason Trussoni knocked the ball out of the QB's hands, and defensive end Jonathan Downs recovered the fumble for the Junior Blue Dukes. On 4th down, Bassindale plowed up the middle for the touchdown. Teddy Weber ran for the extra point. WFB 13-0.

After the kickoff, Germantown gained some yardage on a run left, a few passes and an offside penalty against Bay. But safety Matt Bernstein leaped high in the air to intercept a pass and end the potential threat. The half ended with Whitefish Bay leading 13-0.

Germantown received the second-half kickoff. The Hawks completed a longish pass to cross into Bay territory. But Bay turned up its defensive pressure. Cornerback Scott Rojahn nearly intercepted the Germantown quarterback's pitch to a running back, and Bassindale nearly made a leaping one-handed interception in the middle of the field. Bay took over on downs.

From the wildcat formation, Bassindale threw a long pass to wide receiver Zach Casey, which he was not able to reel in. The Bay coaches, showing faith in both their players and their play call, went right back to the same play, with Casey making the catch for a long gain. Still in the wild cat, Bassindale ran a QB draw up in the middle for first-down yardage. On 2nd and goal, Bassindale ran through a would-be tackler into the end zone for a TD. Higgins kicked the 2-point conversion to make the score WFB 21, Germantown 0.

Neither side would taste the sweetness of the end zone after that, but the fourth quarter nonetheless had its charms. Jesse Sanford made a crisp tackle to stop a short reception right where it was caught. On 4th down in alleged punt formation, the Germantown protector (or up back) threw a pass, but cornerback Ryan Hummer read the play from the beginning and intercepted the ball. With determined effort Friesch eluded a tackler to gain a first down on a QB sneak. 

On Germantown's final possession, Casey intercepted a pass and took it down the right sideline to the end zone, but a holding penalty on the run back pulled the ball back. Still, it was a satisfying ending to game that Whitefish Bay dominated completely.

Game 3: JBD7 GREY 39, Germantown Gold 0

 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.

Video: Highlights from JBD7 Grey at Germantown Gold

Game 3: Junior Blue Dukes GREY 39, Germantown 0

Justin Fisher and Van Bassindale rushed for touchdowns, Nick Higgins caught a touchdown pass, Zach Casey returned an interception for a TD, and defensive end Tony Schulz led a swarming defense that shut out Germantown, 39-0. I'll post a more complete game story and video highlights later this weekend.

Video Highlights from JBD7 Blue vs. Germantown Gold

Footnote: Unfortunately, video of Alec Lindfors fumble return for a TD not available due to technical difficulties. It was a great return by Alec of a fumble caused by a strip by Connor Kimple.

Game 1: Junior Blue Dukes BLUE 24, Germantown Gold 0

Connor Kimple caught two touchdown passes, Wilt Alt ran for a score and Alec Lindors returned a recovered fumble for a TD as the Junior Blue Dukes Blue team won their home opener against Germantown.

Video: Highlights of the Germantown game

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

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.