Dukes Battle to Beat Greendale 21-14
- Updated: November 5, 2017
QB Cade Garcia rushed for 61 yards and threw for 237 yards in the Dukes win over Greendale. Photo Credit: Cathy Lichosik | Full Photo Gallery
In what was truly one of the wildest games of their storied 2017 season, the Whitefish Bay Blue Dukes battled the Greendale Panthers to a 21-14 win on Friday night, securing their spot for the Division III semifinals of the WIAA Boys Football Tournament.
The Dukes struck first with a 30 yard kick by P/K Zach Lichosik, but the Panthers narrowed the gap to 7-3 with a 21 yard touchdown late in the first quarter. After back and forth play in the second quarter, Dukes Head Coach Jake Wolter tapped Lichosik again for a field goal, narrowing the score to 7-6 with only two seconds left in the half.
The Dukes truly shined in the second half. QB Cade Garcia, who passed for 237 yards with 61 yards rushing, led Bay’s tenacious air and ground attack against the Panthers. He connected with WR/DB Case Fleck late in the third quarter to give the Dukes a 13-7 lead, and, with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter, handed off to RB/DB Bo Bassindale for a 3-yard touchdown. Garcia then found his favorite target WR/DB Alex Anthony for a two-point conversion pass to widen the Dukes lead to 21-7. Greendale rallied back with a 9-yard touchdown pass at the 1:41 mark, making the final score 21-14.
Bay’s defense was a critical factor in frustrating Greendale’s offense. Thanks to hard nosed play by OL/DL Jordan Riley and WB/DLÂ Brady Weas the Dukes held Greendale to just 224 offensive yards and recorded a sack on Panthers QB Mitchell Gnadt.
Coach Wolter was quick to praise his team’s efforts to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“I told the kids after that being at the Level 4 game is where we should be,” Wolter said. “They deserve this with everything they’ve done in the offseason. That has got them to this point. There’s no reason for us not to be in this Level 4 game, so I’m really proud of our guys. They are all in and excited to see what we get in Eisenhower.”
Next Up: The Dukes travel to Kettle Moraine High School to face the New Berlin Eisenhower Lions (12-0) on Nov 10, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Boxscore | Photo Gallery
