Red Raiders, single-wing offense rush past Jags

By Rich Palzewic

Sports Editor

ASHWAUBENON – It may have taken the Pulaski single-wing offense a bit to get going, but once it did, it was unstoppable.

Scoreless after the first quarter, the Red Raiders amassed 409 yards rushing on their way to a 56-7 Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC) thumping Sept. 17 over Ashwaubenon at Goelz Field.

With the win, Pulaski (5-0 overall, 3-0 FRCC) remained unbeaten, while the Jaguars (0-5, 0-3) are still searching for their first win.

“We had a bit of a slow start, but that’s not uncommon,” Pulaski Head Coach Jerad Marsh said. “Sometimes, it takes us our offense a bit to get going, but our defense was lights-out. They put us in position all night. Ashwaubenon played us tough early on – they are well-coached.”

The Jaguars were severely hampered with the loss of junior quarterback Boone Kirst, who was out after getting a concussion in his team’s Sept. 10 game.

“(Kirst) is one of those great players in the area to watch,” Marsh said. “It’s fun to see him sling it around out there. I wish he could have played – you like to see all the great players play against you. We prepared all week to see (Kirst), and it’s never good to see kids out. I hope he will be back soon.”

Ashwaubenon backup quarterback Jayden Schoen completed 6-of-12 passes for 51.

The Jaguars mustered only 117 yards of total offense against the Red Raiders' stingy defense.

“We are blessed with a defense that gives us opportunities when we miss on offense,” Marsh said.

Trailing 14-0 after a pair of second-quarter Pulaski touchdowns, Ashwaubenon had a chance to go into halftime only down two scores, but a bad snap over its punter’s head on fourth down led to more bad news.

The Red Raiders got the ball with 39 seconds remaining in the half and scored on the first play after the miscue.

Derek Block hit Aidan McDougal with a 21-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0 after the extra point.

“That was a big play,” Marsh said. “We separated ourselves a bit. That made it tough for Ashwaubenon to come back.”

McDougal (1-yard run) and Aaron Maroszek (6-yard run) also scored second-quarter touchdowns.

Maroszek, who gained 128 yards on nine carries, rumbled 57 yards in the third quarter for a score, and Maverick Cole plunged in from the one a minute later to make it 35-0 after the Will Steeno extra point.

The 35-point lead initiated the running clock.

In the fourth quarter, Gatlin Robaidek had a touchdown, while Jacob Doxtater, who led Pulaski with 144 yards on seven carries, rushed for two scores.

Doxtater’s touchdowns were from 45 and 76 yards out.

Andrew Pludeman recorded Ashwaubenon’s only score – an 8-yard rush late in the game.

The Red Raiders, who thumped FRCC rival Bay Port in the spring, will host the Pirates Friday, Sept. 24.

Bay Port (4-1, 2-1) lost on the final play of the game last night to De Pere.

“We’re always excited to play the competition we get in Bay Port,” Marsh said. “Our community will be excited. The last couple of years have been excellent games to get both communities involved. When you get several thousand fans at a game, it’s exciting.”

Before beating the Pirates in the spring during the alternate fall season, Pulaski hadn’t beaten Bay Port since 2011.

“It had been a while,” Marsh said. “That game (in the spring) doesn’t mean much now – both teams are different.”