By Greg Bates
Correspondent
SEYMOUR – Game one didn’t quite work as well as the Seymour football players would have hoped.
The Thunder’s offense struggled to get in any type of rhythm, while the defense had a tough time slowing down Shawano’s high-octane attack.
The result was a 27-0 home loss Friday, Sept. 25.
“We got our butts handed to us, and it showed on the field,” Seymour quarterback/defensive back Peyton VanDeHei said. “As a unit, we’ve got to be better – everyone’s got to be better, including me.”
Seymour was outgained 291-92 in yards, and Shawano racked up 19 first downs compared to six for Seymour.
The majority of high school football players in northeastern Wisconsin didn’t suit up for Week One because teams optioned to move their season to the spring.
Seymour Head Coach Matt Molle said he felt lucky his guys were on the field.
“That’s huge,” he said. “It’s difficult when you’re disappointed in the way you play. You give Shawano credit, and it’s hard to remember you have to be thankful for every opportunity you get because it could easily have not been that.”
Shawano’s three-year starting quarterback Gage Timm threw for 107 yards (12-for-22) and two touchdowns and ran for two more and 56 yards.
Shawano (1-0) finished 6-for-15 on third down and 7-for-7 on fourth down.
“It seemed like every third-and-long or fourth down, we never got off the field defensively,” Molle said. “You can’t win football like that.”
On the other side, Seymour (0-1) had a tough time getting its offense going most of the night, especially in the opening half.
The Thunder tallied only one first down in the first 24 minutes of action and negative total yards in four possessions.
For the game, Seymour managed 92 yards: 68 through the air and 24 on the ground.
With a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter after a Timm 5-yard touchdown run and a Timm to Brandon Reed for a 6-yard score, Shawano was on the move again.
However, Seymour defensive back Carson Molle hauled down an interception.
On the play, Molle landed hard and suffered a concussion.
Coach Molle had to tweak his playbook without his son, an all-conference running back, on the field.
“We have some capable guys,” Molle said. “Dawson Steltz looked good. Carson is starting both ways for a reason, and Logan Mattson would have been the same thing coming into tonight. You can move pieces around, and our young guys did a nice job. They were looking forward to that opportunity.”
Shawano pieced together a 20-play drive that stretched from the third to the fourth quarter.
The Hawks converted on three fourth downs, the latter, a 2-yard plunge by Timm into the end zone to make it 21-0.
The visitors added a late fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Timm to Jacob Landon.
Even though his squad lost, coach Molle pinpointed a few bright spots from his young team.
“There’s always going to be pieces you have to be able to figure out as a team and coach what you can build on and move forward with,” Molle said. “You saw a nice connection between Peyton and Tyler LeSatz. I was happy because those kids have been together since they were young.”
LeSatz had a team-leading five catches for 58 yards.
Seymour will attempt to bounce back in Week 2 at Waupaca.
The Comets are coming off a 41-15 defeat to Luxemburg-Casco.
Coach Molle said he is hoping his son will have a shot at playing, however, he was pretty symptomatic following the fall.
Also, Mattson – who had to miss Week 1 because he was in quarantine after coming in contact with someone who has COVID-19 – should also be back.
Seymour hasn’t had a player or coach directly contract the virus.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed,” Molle said. “For the seniors especially, I want them to get as many opportunities to compete as they can.”