Vikes just miss out in shootout at Osceola
OSCEOLA — Even in defeat the Wausa Viking football team is clearly letting it be known that the 2021 edition of the program is for real.
Yes, the Vikes fell to regular state heavy Osceola on the road last week, but it was by the narrowest of margins – 52-50 – and the positive feelings continue to grow.
Josh Wattier (26 carries 103 yards, two touchdowns rushing, two catches, 20 yards and two scores) and Jaxon Claussen (77 yards rushing, 12-for-17 passing for 196 yards and five touchdowns) led the way.
“We had three sophomores step up and play really well - Cashe Carlson, Tucker Wright and Caleb Woockman,” Wausa head coach Adrian Alonzo said.
Carlson had four receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns, Tucker had six catches for 98 yards and a score.
“Caleb helped out on the defensive side of the ball with eight tackles with one for a loss,” Alonzo said. “Senior Jarrett Andersen continues to play like an all-state player on both sides of the football.
“I feel like even though we didn’t come away with a win we proved to ourselves that we can play and compete with a really good football team. We matched their physicality and never quit playing.”
Claussen said the game was a “good one,” and had plenty to say about the matchup with Osceola.
“We had a lot of small mistakes that gave them a lot of points,” Claussen said. “We gave them a long kickoff return and who knows what could have happened if we had stopped them on that drive. We played hard that whole game and fought the entire time hoping to come back.
“We should have started better. We should have changed some stuff earlier that we did in the end. We got a little frustrated with ourselves in the beginning.”
Claussen said the team was going into the game with a lot of confidence after the opening weekend win.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park,” Claussen said. “We were frustrated after because we thought we should have won. But we were proud of ourselves and how we played. Coach took it as a learning point on what we could have done to win the game.
“No one expected that game to be that close at all and I don’t like how people think because of past years where we haven’t been any good and we are just going to lose. We want to get those victories to prove to people that we aren’t on a bad team, and we are working together. I like that (teammates) were bummed after a loss and that they want to win. We all worked hard this summer for this opportunity to be good this year and we want it to pay off.”
The Vikings will get ready this week to host Boyd County on Friday and a second straight win over their newest guests.
“We need to have a great week of practice and get ready for Boyd County,” Alonzo said. “We are going to see some different things offensively so we will have to play good, disciplined football.”
Wausa 8 14 8 20 — 50
Osceola 6 18 14 14 — 52
Passing - Wausa - Jaxon Claussen, 12-17-196. Osceola - H. Lavaley, 2-2-81.
Rushing: Wausa - Josh Wattier, 26-103; Jaxon Claussen, 13-77; Tucker Wright, 1-5; Tug Dawson, 2- -5. Osceola - X. Blackburn, 26-203; K. Gustafson, 14- 120.
Receiving - Wausa - Tucker Wright, 6-98; Cashe Carlson, 4-78; Josh Wattier, 2-20. Osceola - K. Gustafson, 2-81.
Tackles Wausa - Tucker Wright, 12; Tug Dawson, 11; Brandon Kristensen, 11; Jarrett Andersen, 11; Josh Wattier, 10; Cashe Carlson, 9; Caleb Woockman, 8; Jaxon Claussen, 6. Osceola - K Gustafson, 15; A Winkelman, 10; K. Neujahr, 10; M. Demers, 9; C. Girard, 7; C. Sterup, 6.
Stay in the know!
To get news alerts on your cell phone, get the Cedar County News app in the ITunes store or in the Google Play Store.
