Quarterback, defense shine as Newman Catholic wins
WESTON - Sophomore quarterback Ben Bates had a pretty good Saturday afternoon at Stiehm Stadium that it was not only his first varsity start, but first football game at any level.
The Cardinals underclassman threw three touchdown passes and ran 70 yards for another score as Newman Catholic rolled to a 41-12 win over Wausaukee in the home opener and first 8-man football game in both program's history.
Bates connected on scoring passes with Michaal Alfonso, Cade Kimball and Elliot Samules in the first half as the Cardinals took a 34-6 lead at the break. Bates threw a touchdown pass on the Cardinals first and third offensive possessions of the game sandwiched around a three-and-out series.
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"The thing is he would probably sit right here and tell you he didn't have the game of his life," Newman Catholic coach Paul Michlig said. "He was sharper at the scrimmage last week."
The Cardinals host Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas in Week 2 before a stretch of four road games in five weeks.
Bates might have led the offensive attack, but it was the Cardinals' defense which might have won the game. The Cardinals blocked a punt and forced three turnovers, including an interception by Connor Wulf in which he jumped a screen pass and returned the interception 41 yards for a score in the first quarter to give Newman Catholic a 20-0 lead.
The Cardinals' three-man defensive line of Alfonso-Marshall Hackall-Jordan Buntin created havoc for Wausaukee throughout the day. The Cardinals held Wausaukee to three straight three-and-out series to open the second half and the Rangers were held to negative yardage until back-to-back plays netted 33 yards.
"Michael Alfonso was in the backfield every play," Michlig said of his noseguard. "That (lline) is three seniors and if your defense can win the line of scrimmage, you're going to be in good shape. Those three guys did a tremendous job."
Alfonso said his linemates set the tone from the start.
"The d-line was really eating them up today and Marshall and Jordan were really big parts of that," Alfonso said. "I think they made at least half of the tackles today."
Hayden Rentkow was one of the few Wausaukee players to have success against Newman Catholic. The sophomore rushed for 101 yards and had a hand in both of his team's touchdowns.
Rentkow connected with Matthew Delfosse for a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and then scored on a 2-yard run late in regulation for the final score of the game.
Nnewman Catholic rolled up 225 yards of offense in the first half but was held to one score in the second half — a 14-yard run by Kasey Kalafice with just under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter to extend the Cardinals lead to 41-6.
Alfonso said the opening win was big for the program but said the team feels it has work left to do.
"I know we had a great game (today) but like our coach tell us, we can always do things just a little bit better,"