Late scoring surge lifts Vikes over Osmond
Alan Dale
Wausa Gazette
OSMOND — Wausa football found itself again and in the most dramatic of ways.
The Vikings held on for a pivotal 40-38 road win at Osmond Friday to end a two-game losing streak, move to 3-3 this season, and give themselves a strong chance of a playoff trip and with a relatively favorable route, as well.
Josh Wattier had one of his best ever outings with 32 carries for 255 yards and two rushing touchdowns and three rushing conversions.
“The team came to play, our O-line and defense showed that we can do what we want when we play together,” Wausa head coach Adrian Alonzo said. “We controlled the ball and game clock with our ability to rush the ball almost seven yards a carry.
“When we were down at half, we responded with a great second half run. We showed composure and fight: I love this group of young men.”
Jaxon Claussen threw for 57 yards and ran for 56 more yards while Tug Dawson contributed 33 yards on the ground.
Tucker Wright caught two passes for 32 yards. Defensively, Claussen and Dawson finished with 10 and nine tackles.
Michael Vanness of the Vikings said the win was a needed elixir to shake the doldrums of the past two weeks.
“We squeaked it out, but a win is a win,” Vanness said. “This is going to be a great boost for us. To have a heart-breaking loss to Wynot the week before was a gut punch. This will help us bounce back and hopefully we can put it to Winside.
“There was a little disappointment coming in because we weren’t sure if we had a chance at the playoffs. I think that the win really will bring it all together and hopefully we can host a playoff game.”
After a two-year absence from the playoffs Vanness, a senior, admitted that there was some worry if the Vikings would get back there and now the reality is much brighter.
“We knew that we would come together as a team,” he said. “We have the players to go the distance. This summer we put in a new weight program and that’s where it starts. We got ready for the year, and I knew we were going to be a lot better than in year’s past.
“That first game against Niobrara-Verdigre and we came out with the win, and we kept putting it to them and executing and doing everything right, I knew we had a heck of a team there. If we come up all cylinders flying, and we get this next win … people look at Wausa and say we have a good game once in a while … I think we can really get a couple of rounds into the playoffs and who knows after that.”
Winside is next as it makes the trip to Wausa Friday.
“They have two really good running backs that will be a handful,” Alonzo said. “We will need to come out with the same intensity and desire to play smash mouth football.
“By winning at Osmond, we control our own postseason destiny. I feel good where we are at after this last road win.”
Wausa 8 0 8 24 — 40
Osmond 0 12 6 20 — 38
Wausa Osmond
Passing 5-8-57
Rushing 50-349
Total yds 58-406 55-243
PASSING
Wausa - Jaxon Claussen, 5-8-57.
RUSHING
Wausa - Josh Wattier, 32-255; Jaxon Claussen, 9-56; Tug Dawson, 7-33; Tucker Wright, 1-3; Cashe Carlson, 1-2.
RECEIVING
Wausa - Tucker Wright, 2-32; Cashe Carlson, 2-20; Tug Dawson, 1-5.
TACKLES
Wausa - Tug Dawson, 13; Tucker Wright, 12; Jaxon Claussen, 12; Josh Wattier, 11; Cashe Carlson, 10; Jarrett Andersen, 10; Brandon Kristensen, 6; Caleb Wookman, 3; Jake Munter, 2.
