Cinderella Run For Underdog Wolverines Comes To An End Against Norfolk Catholic

The Wilber-Clatonia Wolverines were unable to slow down No. 2 seed Norfolk Catholic’s run game, losing in Class C-2 semifinals 12-35 Friday in Norfolk.The Wolverines went in battle ready, sporting a record of 7-4. The opponent across from them was the Norfolk Catholic Knights, who came in with a 10-1 record.Catholic’s opponents combined for a record of 50 wins and 41 losses whereas Wilber-Clatonia’s opponents combined for a record of 65 wins and 45 losses.Wilber-Clatonia was able to reach the semifinals with upset wins over fourth-seeded Yutan in the first round and fifth-seeded Hastings St. Cecilia in the quarterfinals, but turnovers and big plays were too much for the 13th-seeded Wolverines to overcome the Norfolk Catholic’s run game throughout the night.Wilber-Clatonia had the ball to start the game at their own 30 yard line and picked up two first downs by running the football. A play that went backward, had forced the Wolverines to pass, and it resulted in an interception. W-C, who has been battling injuries all season, were dealt another blow early in the game when senior Mason Combs exited with an injury and never returned.Two series with the teams trading punts would take place early in the second quarter.The next drive for Norfolk Catholic would be a nine play scoring drive together albeit with all run plays, up 7-0.For the Wolverines, they had moved the ball through the air with Coy Rosentreader connecting with passes to Tyson Kreshel and Houston Broz, getting Wilber-Clatonia into the red zone. A sack by Norfolk Catholic put the brakes on the drive, and a 32-yard field goal attempt was missed, giving the ball back to Norfolk Catholic.On the next drive a break for a 44-yard TD run extended Catholic’s lead to 14-0. It would seem that bad luck had struck when Wilber-Clatonia fumbled on the first play of their next drive and Catholic recovered. But on the very next play, Jonathan Zoubek would come up with an interception to give the ball back to the W-C.Driving it deep into NCHS territory with another pass from Rosentrader to Broz, setting up the Wolverines up inside the five yard line with four seconds to go before the half. Running one more pass play, W-C came up just short as time expired, keeping the score at 14-0 at the half.Falling behind in the second half 21-0 made the hill even steeper. After the two teams exchanged punts on their next drives, W-C would finally put a scoring drive together. Rosentreader was able to find Carter Skelba for a 31-yard pass, to set up a TD by Rosentreader on the next play. They would miss the PAT, keeping the score 21-6.The Wolverine defense would then force a turnover.Tyson Kreshel forced a fumble and Houston Broz had recovered, but on the very next play, Wilber-Clatonia would fumble it right back to the Knights. Two plays later would have the Knights going for 58 yards extending the lead 28-6.Wilber-Clatonia threw an interception on the first play of their next drive, giving Norfolk Catholic the ball back in Wolverine territory. Catholic capitalized on the turnover capping off another drive in the end-zone 35-6.The Wolverines didn’t give up.A lengthy score driving was finished by Carter Skelba scoring a rushing touchdown, and following a failed a two point conversion, leaving the final score 35-12.

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