Backup QB leads Newman Catholic to first win

GREENWOOD – Newman Catholic lost quarterback Connor Wulf to a shoulder injury on a third down play on the first series of the game Friday.

The Cardinals then turned to a converted receiver to hadn’t played quarterback since middle school to run the offense.

All Chris Nicklaus did was guide the Cardinals to their first win of the season.

Nicklaus, a senior who normally lines up at wideout, took over for Wulf on the second series of the game and guided the Cardinals to five touchdown drives in the first half on the way to a 41-0 win over Greenwood in a CloverWood Conference game.

“The last time I played quarterback was seventh grade,” Nicklaus said. “(Tonight) was about as nervous as I have ever been in a football game before. I haven’t played quarterback in six years, so it definitely was nerve-wrecking.”

Nicklaus seemed to show little rust at the position, however.

He did most of the damage with his legs but made enough key passes as the Cardinals improved to 1-7 in conference play and beat Greenwood for the third straight season. Newman Catholic hosts Thorp next week in the regular season finale. Greenwood travels to Assumption.

“(The win) feels really nice,” Nicklaus said. “We’ve been on the opposite end of that a lot this year and it helps us a lot for next week. We’re looking forward to that and going for a two-game winning streak.”

Nicklaus rushed for more than 100 yards in the first half and scored on a 7-yard run for the Cardinals’ first touchdown. He also passed for a pair of touchdowns, including a 10-yard strike to Elliott Samuels with four seconds left in the second quarter to give the Cardinals a 34-0 lead at the break.

“It’s pretty neat when you talk about opportunity and chances. When he got on the bus tonight (on the way to the game) I don’t believe he was thought he was going to have 130-some yards rushing and what he had passing,” Newman Catholic coach Paul Michlig said. “It’s neat for him as a senior to have that opportunity.”

Joe Stephan added an 11-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter for the only score of the second half . Nicklaus set the score up with a 44-yard run.

Conner Miller rushed for roughly 90 yards in the first half, including a 27-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Miller also connected with senior Lauren Fech for a 24-yad score near the end of the half on a halfback option play.

The score was the first of her varsity career.

“It was an amazing feeling after four years of putting in the work and the time. It was just so satisfying to finally get a touchdown,” Fech said.

Nicklaus had a 55-yard touchdown pass to Miller wiped out by a holding call in the second quarter. Nicklaus also had a 41-yard touchdown run on the Cardinals opening possession of the second half wiped out by a penalty as well.

Newman Catholic rushed for more than 260 yards in the half and held Greenwood (0-8) without a first down until just over three minutes were left in the half.

Nicklaus rushed for 16 yards on his first carry of the game and didn’t slow down from there. He went over 100 yards for the game on a 37-yard run to the Greenwood 28 with just over four minutes left in the half. Greenwood sophomore Ale Zimbauer was injured at the end of the run as he chased Nicklaus down from behind.

Zimbauer remained down after the play and was eventually removed from the field by ambulance.

The Cardinals started five possessions in Greenwood territory in the first half. A fumble recovery set up Newman at the Greenwood 30 near the end of the opening quarter. Then Greenwood was stopped on a fake punt attempt on the ensuing possession on a fourth-and-2 from its 35.

Greenwood did not reach Newman Catholic territory until the opening kickoff of the third quarter. Greenwood was stopped on a fourth-and-4 play at the Cardinals 43 on the drive.

Greenwood then blocked a Newman Catholic punt on the Cardinals first drive of the third quarter and took over at the Newman Catholic 41.

A 31-yard reception by Walker Wuethrich put Greenwoodinside the Newman Catholic 5, but the Cards defense stopped the drive at the 1 on a fourth-down play.

Greenwood turned the ball over on downs at the Newman Catholic 46 on its final possession with just over two minutes left in regulation. The Cardinals ran out the clock from there.

“We came in with a seven-game losing streak coming in here and we haven’t had that many losses for a long time,” Michlig said. (The win) is good for the program in general just spirit wise and its special for the players who have workreally hard.”

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11

First quarter

NC-Chris Nicklaus 7 run (Casey Kaliface pass from Nicklaus), 3:42.

NC-Marshall Hackel 25 pass from Nicklaus (kick fail), 1:04.

Second quarter

NC-Connor Miller 27 run (kick fail), 6:48.

NC-Lauren Fech 24 pass from Miller (kick fail), 3:28.

NC-Elliot Samuels 10 pass from Nicklaus (Nicklaus run), :04.

Fourth quarter

NC-Joe Stephan 11 run (Fech kick), 6:34.