Capitalizing on two big fourth quarter plays, the Clintonville Truckers defeated the Freedom Irish, 34-21 in their Homecoming game Friday.
Tied at 21 each in the fourth quarter, Joe Hauser ripped off a 42-yard run to put the Truckers up 27-21.
On Freedom’s next series, Garrick Morgan stepped in front of an Irish pass and returned it 35 yards for a score. Joe Hauser’s kick made it 34-21 and sealed the victory for the Truckers on Homecoming.
The game began with Clintonville receiving the opening kick off and marching down the field. The Truckers scored on a Cody Zuehl 42-yard run around the left end. Joe Hauser’s kick made it 7-0 Truckers. Freedom responded with their own drive, scoring on a Kevin Vosters 30 yard run. Aaron Kiecker’s kick made it 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Clintonville held Freedom on downs with the help of a tackle for loss by Brandon Dilge forcing the Irish to punt the ball. In the second quarter, with a big runs by Cody Zuehl and a 46-yard pass from Ben Klein to Mike Hogen set up a one-yard run by Joe Hauser. The kick by Hauser put Clintonville up 14-7.
Freedom came back and marched down the field. On fourth and goal, the Irish punched it in the end zone to tie the game at 14 all. With 1:45 left in the half, the Irish elected to squib kick the ball. It gave the Truckers possession on their own 45 yard line. On first and ten, Klein connected with Colin Moon for a 27-yard gain. An eight-yard run by Cody Zuehl put the ball on the Irish 20 yard line. Then three runs by Hauser moved the ball to the three yard line. And on second and goal with 42 seconds left in the half, Clintonville regained the lead on a Hauser three yard run. The kick by Hauser was good.
In the third quarter, Freedom tied the game on a 53 yard pass from Schlavensky to Craig Schommer. The kick by Kiecker was good and the game was tied again. This set up the fourth quarter heroics by the Truckers to seal the game.
For the game, Clintonville rushed 43 times for 219 yards; Freedom had 33 rushes for 132 yards. Clintonville was 6 for 11 for 113 yards passing; Freedom was 9 for 24 with two interceptions for 196 yards passing. For Clintonville Hauser had 21 rushes for 126 yards and Zuehl had 14 rushes for 92 yards. Mike Hogen led Clintonville in receiving with one catch for 46 yards; Colin Moon had one reception for 27 yards; and Brandon Sivertson had one catch for 26 yards. Defensivley, Brandon Dilge led the Truckers with eight unassisted tackles; Jared Henschel had five; and Garrick Morgan had four.
The Turckers are 3-4 in conference play and have a shot at the playoffs should they knock off the Winneconne Wolves this next week. This week’s game is on Thursday night, 7 p.m. at Winneconne.