Pepin-Alma Uses Big Plays to Rout Indees 71-14
By: Screech McNeil
Alma- The explosive weapons of the 2023 Pepin-Alma football team were all on display for the homecoming game vs. Independence-Gilmanton on Friday. The #4 ranked Eagles ran only 22 plays on offense in the first half but raced to a 57-14 halftime lead, and eventually would cruise to another dominant win.
The Eagles forced an I-G punt on the game, first possession, following a Jameson Riesgraf sack.
Senior quarterback and receiver combo Madox Stewart to Evan Olson connected for the Eagles on the second play from scrimmage for a 48-yard TD Pass.
Independence-Gilmanton answered back after a long pass play set them up deep in Eagle territory. A 2 yard run by Chase Bach knotted the score at six. The Eagles wasted no time in responding. Three plays into drive number two Demetrius Bergmann ripped off a 41-yard scoring run and the Eagles had a lead they would not relinquish. Bergmann intercepted a pass that was tipped by fellow senior Ashton Radatz, and raced in for a 19-yard score, he added another 33-yard scoring burst before the first quarter ended, to the delight of the homecoming crowd.
Stewart and Olson would hook up again in the second quarter, this time from 19 yards out for a TD, and Keegan Stiehl caught two passes in the closing three minutes of the half. That capped a nice drive that ended when Stewart flipped a 13-yard scoring strike to Jackson Riesgraf. For a 50 to 14 lead.
The big-play Eagles were not quite done, however, as junior safety, Reeden Bocksell stepped in front of an Indee pass and returned it 54 yards to pay dirt for a 57 to 14 halftime lead.
The Eagles received the opening kickoff in the second half, and sophomore quarterback Trenton Krzoska led a ten-play scoring drive capped by Justin Bergmann‘s 5-yard TD run. Cainan Mann booted the extra point for a 64-14 lead Pepin-Alma forced a turnover on an Indee drive near midfield. Freshman, quarterback, Anders Johansen engineered a fourth-quarter drive that was cashed in by fellow freshman Griffin Riesgraf‘s 15-yard TD scamper. Mann again added the extra point in the final margin of victory of 71-14.
Head Coach Mike Olson was complimentary of the collective effort of his team. “We made big plays on both sides of the ball. It was a total team effort tonight.”
Assistant coach Casey Brownell continues to praise the efforts of his offensive line. “We are playing with great technique and it is happening at all levels. It was nice to see our JV and C team groups have successful scoring drives on Friday,” Brownell stated.
The Eagles are to begin the tough stretch of the season as they travel to Blair Taylor on Friday. Kick-off is set for 7 PM.
REMINDER-Get your Eagles Spirit Wear-Order Closes September 26
SMILE!
Picture Day is Thursday, September 21, 2023!
See flyer for more details.
Congrats to Jemma Fernholz, daughter of Danielle and Jeremy, on being Alma Area School’s student of the week. Jemma is in the 6th Grade with Mrs. Glander. While in school, Jemma is always looking forward to Science class. Jemma’s favorite lunch at school is pizza, but it would be a Twix candy bar, if that was an option. Jemma loves playing sports as well. Her favorite sport is Volleyball. When the school day is over, Jemma loves to be at home with her family and her dog, Karma.
Running the concession stand for football games takes a lot of work and there's no way the Music Club could do this without all the amazing help from parents and students. I would like to thank the following for helping out on Friday night: Wendy Busch, Sandra Kitzmann, Wes Weaver, Bobbi Blim, Leslie Loewenhagen, Ashley Brouillard, Sharaya Reed, Mindy Wick, Brenda Creighton, Kelsey Wall, Heather Brownell, Brynn Midtovne, Olivia Austin, and Preston Kitzmann. Also, thank you to Rob Stewart and Dan Pearson for grilling brats. A special thank you goes out to Heidi Noll and Kennedy Dinges for helping to get food for the stand and working on Friday night and Tom Brakke for helping with equipment for the tailgate party. I am so grateful for all your help and support. We had a super night! Keep us in mind as we get into the playoffs. We will definitely need more help if we are awarded a home game. Go Eagles!
Wisconsin Remembers: A Face for Every Name at the American Legion Post 224 on September 23 and 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Learning to read is a lot of fun especially with a partner! 2nd graders have been having fun practicing their reading skills.
Alma Homecoming Volleyball Game
The energy was soaring at the Alma High School as the Alma-Pepin Eagles and the Boyceville Bulldogs faced off for Alma’s homecoming on Monday night. Both the Eagles and the Bulldogs came in off a loss, hoping to get back on the right track. The Eagles had to change their lineup last minute as their setter, Bella Post, went down with an ankle injury during warmups. The Eagles didn’t let that stop them as they came out strong winning the first set 25-19. Even though the Bulldogs are a young team, they rely heavily on their underclassmen. The Bulldog’s sophomore Chelsi Holden had 11 kills and freshmen Aubrey Malean had 19 digs. Alma-Pepin’s stats are just as impressive, with senior Wallice Helmen having 14 kills, and junior Allidiah Luff having 17 digs. The Eagles weren’t settled with just winning one set; they went on to win the second set 25-19 and the third set 25-17. Alma-Pepin is excited to have a win in their record and hope to carry this winning energy on to their next game on Tuesday at Alma-Center Lincoln.
The Sophomore Science Class went on a field trip to Riecks Lake Park. Even though it is a mile down the road, students still gained a lot of knowledge. The goal was to get soil samples and to make a grid search. The class did this to learn how Scientists do their research.
Eagles Keep Rolling
Pepin-Alma has been one of the most prolific offenses in the state through the early part of the 2023 football season. Friday night in Augusta, the Eagle defense took center stage, as the defending Dairyland conference champions blanked the Beavers 39-0. The Eagle offense showed some signs of their early season dominance, yet at the same time, endured some penalties, allowed 2 sacks, and had the team’s first turnover in four games that led to adversity that this year’s squad had not yet dealt with. “We missed out on a couple of scoring opportunities in the first half,” said Eagles head coach Mike Olson. “Our mistakes kept us from executing. We came back with two very nice drives in the second half. Our defense was solid all night,” Olson added. It was not all doom and gloom for the Eagles offense, that outgained the Beavers 409 to 102 on the night. Demetrius Bergmann rushed for 189 yards on 18 carries and scored 3 TDs. Madox Stewart found fellow senior Evan Olson for an additional 3 scores through the air. Stewart was a very efficient 11-15 passing for 152 yards and also added 36 rushing yards and a 2-point conversion run after PA’s 1st TD. Olson hauled in 10 receptions for 126 yards. On defense, Stewart and Bergmann combined for 28 tackles from their inside linebacker spots. Defensive end Jameson Riesgraf recorded 9 stops, and sophomore linebacker Jake Komisar added 7 tackles. Defensive coordinator Troy Ingli was happy with his team’s performance. “This was our best performance on the defensive side of the ball. We are still learning and need to keep improving, but we are heading in the
correct direction as we near the halfway point of the season,” Ingli said. Other players weighed in on the team’s performance. “I think we have great leadership on this team,” said center and defensive lineman Grant Hoffer. “When you are a leader, younger players look at you and gain confidence. We are playing with confidence right now.”
Bergmann, who has scored 12 touchdowns through four games, is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead for the season. “We took care of business tonight, but we need to keep improving.” The Eagles will host Independence/Gilmanton on Friday. It will be Homecoming in Alma and kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
By Screech McNeil
Thank you Briar Golden from Land Management for coming to visit with the fifth graders. They had a lot of fun learning about the land and making soil with your secret recipe!
See the attached flyer for details about the Music Club's Tailgate Party
Here are 10 more photos from the 2nd ANNUAL ALMA AREA COMMUNITY FEST.
2nd ANNUAL Alma Area Community Fest
The Community Relations Committee, the School Board and the administration from the Alma School District sincerely 'THANK' the community organizations, the school personnel and ALL who volunteered for the 2nd Annual Community Fest. The pictures show some of the fun but not all because this app limits the pictures to a total of 10 uploads per post.
The B4 class jumped right in with their learning on how to use scissors, glue, crayons, and using their own imagination to create alligators for their first alphabet craft of the year!
Reminder-Alma Community Fest Tomorrow-Sunday, Sept. 10 from Noon - 3:00 at the Alma Rod and Gun Club!
The Alma Area Community Fest will have a 'Music Walk' at the end. Do you remember the traditional "Cake Walk?" This Music Walk at the Community Fest is similar. Our music is the school song, "The Notre Dame Victory March" and the prizes are t-shirts --instead of cakes. Thank you, Kori, for holding up one of the t-shirt designs.
The Out of School Time program called 'Rivermen Quests' began on Sept. 7th after school. The students started on a project called "I've Got that Geometry Bug." Students are learning about insects, analyzing the geometrical aspects of various insect bodies, naming attributes of geometry shapes AND, in the end, the project based result will be a student 3D designed insect. Each will be named, and the students will write about a day in the life of this geometry bug. Here are few pictures of the students using shapes to create insects.
