All aboard the RLO Bison running game train

The teams vastly changed in a rematch of last year’s season opener, but the result was much the same, and the Random Lake/Ozaukee high school football team was just fine with that.

The Bison racked up nearly 400 yards rushing in beating Kingdom Prep Lutheran in Random Lake, 42-12, for the second win in the co-op’s history.

Junior running back Colton Dybul had 23 carries for 166 yards and four first-half touchdowns. Quarterback Jeffrey Stefanich ran 13 times for 114 yards and a touchdown, and Jack Upson ran eight times for 69 yards and a score. The team ran 52 times for 380 yards for an average of 7.3 yards per carry.

“Our line just dominated. They were giving our backs some nice holes,” coach Cole Large said.

The line included Luke Hamm, Tegan Hall, Drew Keller, Jaxson Beth and Murphy Brown. Beth, a freshman, started for RJ Leider, who was out with an injury and expected back this week.

Brown, who played next to Beth, helped calm his nerves.

“He’s a really good communicator and leader on that line,” he said.

Like the rest of the line, Beth blocked well.

“He had an outstanding game,” Large said.

Otto Schmitz had a team-high six tackles, including a sack for a safety on the opening drive of the second half. Cooper Arndt was also in on the play, Large said.

The Bison scored on their opening drive, then gave up an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. They scored on their second drive, and then gave up a long touchdown pass when a corner bit on a route.

The score was 12-12, and the Bison finished the half on a 14-0 run.

They outscored the Wolfpack, 16-0, in the second half.

“They probably had about 150 yards of offense,” Large said. “We were getting some tackles for losses and played pretty well up front.”

Large said Schmitz did a good job rushing the passer and playing the run, and T.J. Dieringer was all over the field. Lineman Max Tesker showed hustle.

“He played the position really well and he had a couple of chase-down tackles,” Large said.

The linebackers — Dybul, Arndt and Upson — all played well, he said, as did cornerback Jake Delleree, who returned to football after a year off.

Large also praised freshman Carter Abegglen at fullback.

“He does a good job of getting good positioning and staying on blocks,” Large said.

Abegglen is also the only Bison who had any catches, snagging three balls for 22 yards.

Stefanich, who is back starting after missing last season due to injury, went 3-for-11 passing for 22 yards and an interception.

Owen Uselding forced a fumble on a kickoff, but the Wolfpack recovered it.

The Bison dominated despite the Wolfpack coming in with some size and speed and a better-coached team under a new leader, Large said.

The game had a good atmosphere with “a little buzz in the air and some good energy,” Large

He said he wants to clean up some penalties and allowing so many big plays.

RLO plays at Living Word Lutheran on Friday, Aug. 28, then has three straight home games. Living Word lost at Lourdes Academy, 45-14, last Thursday.