Ozaukee nips final opponent on the road

Ozaukee High School’s football team is returning to the playoffs with some momentum.

After last year’s first losing season in the past eight, the Warriors returned to the postseason this year, winning their final two games and five of their last six, all by one touchdown or less.

Friday was no different at Manitowoc Lutheran.

Jack Genzmer ran 15 yards for a game-winning touchdown with 9 minutes, 13 seconds left in the game in a 14-7 victory.

The win gave Ozaukee a 5-3 record in the Big East Conference (6-3 overall). The Warriors ended up with a No. 7 seed in the Division 6 playoffs and play at No. 2-seeded Mineral Point (8-1) on Friday.

“Mineral Point is a real good football team that passes the ball quite a bit,” Ozaukee coach Jim Lippe said.

“They have a really good quarterback that will be a real challenge for us, but we keep finding a way to win, and that’s going to be the plan for this week as well. We are going to try to find a way to win the game.”

Mineral Point’s quarterback Isaac Lindsay averages 223.2 passing yards per game. This season, he has thrown for 25 touchdowns and three interceptions, according to Wissports.net,

Lindsay is also the Pointers’ leading rusher with 45.9 yards per game.

For the Warriors, Brent Hoffmann leads the rushing attack with 86.4 yards per game.

Hoffmann and Mitchell Weyker have shared quarterback duties this season.

Ozaukee’s defense had led the way for most of the season, and last Friday was no exception.

Although the home team had 23 more total offensive yards than the Warriors, they held the Lancers to a single touchdown.

The Warriors fell behind early in the second quarter, but rallied to tie the game by halftime.

The Lancers scored on a 1-yard run by Ryan Wendt in the second quarter.

Ozaukee answered a short time later on a 12-yard scoring run by Hoffmann.

The first half ended in a 7-7 tie.

Ozaukee, which has proven this season that they can win games late, got the key score in the fourth quarter, and the defense took care of the rest.

“I was pretty happy with the game. We are getting better each week on offense,” Lippe said.

“Manitowoc Lutheran was a good team, and holding them to seven points was a real accomplishment for our defense, which has been playing really well every week.”

Hoffmann ended the game with 154 yards on 26 carries. Genzmer had 67 yards on 11 carries.

“I thought Brent ran the ball really well, and Jack ran well also,” Lippe said.

They got help up front.

“Our offensive line was probably blocking as good as we have all year. We are making some good progress, and we are excited to be in the playoffs,” Lippe said.

Logan Bell had 11 solo tackles and eight assists. Brandon Habison tallied eight solos and eight assists, and Jack Penney-Galindo had four solos and 10 assists.

The winner of Friday night’s playoff game next week plays the winner of No. 3-seeded Racine Lutheran and No. 6 Pecatonica/Argyle game.