Two-time defending conference champion Pepin-Alma had little trouble in its conference opener against Augusta. The Eagles cruised to another running clock victory. This time a 42-0 blanking of the the Beavers to improve to 3-0 on the season, for parent's night.
Trenton Krzoska completed 9 of 10 passes for 155 yards all in the first half. The aerial prowess included a pair of TD passes and a pair of two-point conversions. In the Eagles’ first two wins (vs E-PC and Assumption) the junior signal caller was mostly called upon to distribute the ball to the Eagle's running backs. In Alma on Friday, an aggressive Augusta defense often stacked the line with 9 or even 10 players close to the line. The Eagles took full advantage.
Head coach Mike Olson noted the aggressive defense PA faced, dictated a more pass-heavy first half. “Augusta stacked the box trying to take away the run game. It did leave some openings in our passing game though.”
After Reeden Bocksell opened the scoring with a 5-yard TD run, Krzoska used some deceptive play-action fakes and found senior Clayton Kegel for a 42-yard TD strike on the Eagle’s second drive. Junior fullback Liam Midtvone found the end zone from 6 yards out before the 1st quarter would end with P-A leading 20-0.
Midtvone found paydirt again in the second frame, and Krzoska and Kegel hooked up midway through the quarter, this time from 54 yards out. The Eagles lead expanded to 34-0 at the half.
Senior halfback Kaden Sherrin, who was limited during the week’s practices with an injury, closed out the scoring with a 4-yard run in the third quarter. Bocksell led the home team in rushing with 103 yards, and Owen Post caught 7 balls for 61 yards to accompany Kegel’s 94 receiving yards.
Bocksell, who played Oline for the Eagles in their 2-0 start, switched exclusively to halfback for this game. “It was fun playing running back tonight,” Bocksell said. “But if I need to go back in the trenches on the offensive line, I will do it.”
The return of 6’4 "junior Nash Komisar to the offensive line, coupled with Pepin-Alma's lack of running backs Cole McQuiston, Justin Bergmann, and Jaxon Busch, all of whom missed the game with injuries, made Bocksell’s performance one of flexibility.
As impressive as the Eagle offense was, the defense for #6 ranked Pepin-Alma was just as stellar. They posted a shutout for the second straight week after showing signs of vulnerability in a 46-42 week one win versus EPC.
Juniors Cody Moline and Jake Komisar each recorded 8 tackles. Komisar recorded a pair of fumble recoveries. Senior Dylan Roundy added 7 tackles. Post intercepted a pass for the Eagle defense that allowed only 3 first downs through 3 quarters.
“Augusta is a young team but they play very hard,” assistant coach Troy Ingli stated. “Our front four was pretty solid tonight and I liked the way our second-level players ran to the football. We were able to take the ball away three times, and that is huge in high school football. If we give our offense extra possessions, I think we will score points.”
The Eagles will travel to Independence on Friday to take on the Indees. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.