MFL MarMac’s homecoming theme of “Storm Warning: The Dogs Are Coming” proved not to be hyperbole on Oct. 2, as the Bulldogs blasted the Camanche Storm 59-16 in Monona.
The team built a 14-0 first quarter lead behind touchdowns from Tyce Wikner and Daxton Diemel, before Camanche narrowed the advantage to 14-8 at the start of the second quarter.
The Bulldogs continued to drive, though, with Diemel scoring his second of three touchdowns on the night and Mason Hollar hauling in a touchdown reception from quarterback Easton Lange to put the team up 28-8.
The Storm added a touchdown midway through the second quarter, trimming the lead to 28-16. But MFL MarMac countered with 31 unanswered points to fully take the wind out of the Storm’s sails. That included two more Wikner touchdowns just before halftime.
Diemel’s third TD, along with scores by Kashton Decker and Owen Mullarkey, accounted for the MFL MarMac’s second half points.
Overall, the Bulldogs accumulated 423 rushing yards, with both Decker (129) and Diemel (101) surpassing 100 yards and Wikner reaching 74. Kade Strong finished the night with 36 yards, and Mullarkey and Blake Schutte each had 35.
“Offensively, we were clicking on all cylinders,” said head coach Dan Anderson, who credited the stout offensive line for opening big holes. “I think we averaged 10 yards a carry. When you can do that, your offensive playbook is just wide open. You can do whatever you want to do.”
Quarterback Lange completed seven of 11 passes for 130 yards, including the touchdown reception to Hollar, who had two catches for 21 yards. Decker also caught a pair of passes for 83 yards, while Wikner caught two balls for 14 yards.
Lange has yet to be sacked this season—another highlight for the offensive line and one aspect of the sophomore QB’s growth, said Anderson.
“He’s throwing the ball better and playing well enough that teams can’t load up the box all the time. Now it makes us more balanced, more dangerous on offense,” he said.
Overall, “We spread the ball to a lot of different guys, too,” Anderson noted. “It’s definitely a team win by everybody.”
The Bulldog defense was impressive too. Although Camanche netted 284 passing yards, its ground game was non-existent, at -24 yards. MFL MarMac snagged two interceptions and sacked the Storm quarterback seven times.
Senior Rylan Schroeder was the top tackler, at 6 overall, including a sack. Taco Thompson wrangled 4.5 tackles and Schutte, Diemel, Hollar and Cameron Hagensick each had 4. Schutte had 1.5 sacks and Hagensick 2. Wikner and Noah Troester each netted 3.5 tackles and a sack.
“Definitely got a lot of rush on the quarterback and put pressure on them all the time,” Anderson said. “Second half, they locked them down completely. I was really happy with the tackling and the running to the ball, hustling and just the enthusiasm. The kids played with a lot of energy, and that was important. They had fun. It was a great homecoming.”
The win improved MFL MarMac to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in district play. It also guarantees a playoff berth—although games at Cascade (3-3) on Oct. 9 and at home versus Northeast (6-0) on Oct. 16 will determine what seed the Bulldogs will be.
Paired with the previous week’s 41-14 rout of Lisbon, Anderson is excited about the team’s momentum.
“We haven’t punted in the last two games, and that’s pretty impressive. Our offense is clicking and our kids are feeling good,” Anderson said. “The competition is going to step up next week and step up even more the week after that, but our kids are confident and they’re excited, and we’re healthy. We’re peaking at the right time.”
