Vikings get new season off to a great start
WAUSA — Welcome back to those winning ways, Wausa Vikings football.
The Vikings opened up the season amid a lot of high expectations in emphatic fashion last week by crushing visiting Niobrara/Verdigre 63-8 to kickstart a campaign that is expected to end a two-year playoff drought.
Junior Josh Wattier ran 11 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns while also picking off two Niobrara passes, returning one for a score.
“I felt like we did well for the first game on the offensive side of the ball,” Wausa head coach Adrian Alonzo said. “We rushed for 328 yards and eight touchdowns. Our defense is what stood out to me, we were by far the more physical team and tackled well.
“Cashe Carlson and Jaxon Claussen really stepped up with each having six tackles and both players had one tackle for a loss.”
Claussen also ran the offense at quarterback and ran seven times for 115 yards and three scores while Tucker Wright ran five times for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
Wattier was flying high following his performance and especially that of the Vikings who returned a good core of young players from a year ago that learned via trial by fire.
“We’re pumped: It’s about time that we had a good game,” Wattier said. “It was a relief. People finally know what Wausa can do and what it is made of. It’s not just an ‘oh, it’s Wausa, it’s going to be easy this week.’ It’s going to be ‘let’s work hard so we don’t get blown out by them.’
“We are much more physical, and we want to play this year. Last year, for me personally, it was just a game, and I didn’t care too much to play. I enjoyed playing, but now this year I want to go play, I want to hit someone and have people know my presence is there.”
Wattier gave the credit for his game as a rusher to the blocking.
“I had a hole and I just hit it,” Wattier said. “I didn’t do anything special I just did my job. I wouldn’t have had as good of a game if not for as well as they blocked.
“I want to hit a thousand yards rushing this year and this game will definitely boost my confidence. But the schedule always gets harder.”
This week, Wynot plays a usually very tough, Osceola squad that will playing host with a bit of an attitude after losing its season opener.
“Good teams bounce back, and they are a good team,” Alonzo said. “We saw them at camp this summer, so we have a pretty good idea what we are up against. Their QB, Isaiah Zelasney, is a really good player we will have to find a way to limit his effectiveness in the game.
“With a good week of practice and coming off a win we will head down there with some confidence.”
Wausa 7 32 0 14 — 63
Niobrara-Verdigre 0 0 0 0 — 8
Wausa Niobrara-Verdigre
Rushing 28-328 --
Passing 1-3-2 --
Total 31-330 --
PASSING
Wausa - Jaxon Claussen, 1-3-2.
RUSHING
Wausa - Josh Wattier, 11-155; Jaxon Claussen, 7-115; Tucker Wright, 5-55; Brandon Kristensen, 2-7; Colton Baue, 2-0; Brady Bloomquist, 1 -4.
RECEIVING
Wausa - Josh Wattier, 1-2.
TACKLES
Wausa - Jaxon Claussen, 7; Cashe Carlson, 6; Josh Wattier, 5; Brandon Kristensen, 4; Tug Dawson, 3; Tucker Wright, 3; Henry Kumm, 2; Tyler Peterson, 1; Donavin Seagren, 1; Jake Munter, 1; Matt Rumsey, 1; Michael Vanness, 1.
