Back-to-back sacks win it for Raiders

After Wisconsin Rapids scored in overtime, the Raiders defense needed a big play to win the game.

They got two from Vince Biegel.

In back-to-back plays, the senior linebacker broke through the line of scrimmage and sacked Kimberly quarterback Ben Diedrick, who had orchestrated a furious final quarter, in which Kimberly scored 10 points in the final 5 minutes and 33 seconds to force overtime.

With the 34-27 win, Wisconsin Rapids (10-1) will play D.C. Everest in the Level 3 game Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in Schofield.

After Kimberly (9-2) scored a touchdown — a 1 yard run by Alex Schuh — to extend the game, Wisconsin Rapids scored in overtime behind a Devin Peterson 1 yard run.

On Kimberly’s overtime possession, the Papermakers used two pass interference penalties to get first-and-goal from the 3-yard line. On first down, Schuh ran for 1 yard then was pushed back 1 yard on second down. Diedrick took the snap on third down and rolled back to the left when Biegel came free and hit the junior quarterback, who fumbled the ball out of bounds at the 9 yard line. Facing fourth down, Diedrick again dropped back to pass and was met by Biegel, who’s initial sack attempt was thwarted by Diedrick only to step to the side where Biegel wrapped him up and took him down ending the game.

“On the last play, we played a prevent defense with a blitz,” Biegel said. “I blitzed right up the middle and had a straight shot at the quarterback.”

Biegel also scored the Raiders first points when he intercepted an intended screen pass over the middle and ran 50 yards for the score with 11 minutes left in the first quarter.

After racking up 382 total yards in the game, Kimberly’s offense was shut down in overtime with -5 yards.

“It was the perfect way to end the game,” said Raiders coach Tony Biolo. “Our defense just shut them down.”

After a first half that showcased the Kimberly offense, which led the Valley Football Association North conference in many statistical categories, the Raiders opened the third quarter with a long, 13-play drive that had five rushes each by Peterson and Cort Halbur, and a fantastic 24-yard catch by Alex Marriott over two defenders. From the 13-yard line, however, Rylan Lubeck ran it in to give the Raiders a 13-10 lead.

Kimberly would respond with a score of its own — a 3-yard Schuh run.

Just three plays into the next Wisconsin Rapids possession, Peterson caught a pass from Halbur and ran 80 yards for a touchdown.

Halbur, who also had 29 yard rushing, threw for 112 yards on 3-of-4 passing. Lubeck, who led all rushers, finished with 127 yards on 13 carries. Peterson had 61 yards on 17 carries.

The Raiders extended their lead with 7:45 left in the game when Lubeck ran 63 yards for a touchdown.

Leading Kimberly 27-17 with in the fourth quarter, Wisconsin Rapids had its chance to end the game. After the Papermakers kicked a field goal to make the score 27-20, Lubeck ran back the kickoff 67 yards to the Kimberly 20-yard line. A holding call on Wisconsin Rapids stalled the drive and Rod Keyzer’s 32-yard field goal attempt fell short.

Kimberly scored the game-tying touchdown 2 minutes later.

“The momentum swung quite a bit as the game went on,” said Kimberly coach Steve Jones. “We were able to string together a nice drive to sent it to overtime.”

The defense came through for the Raiders, said Peterson.

“I’m so proud of our defense for holding us in game,” said the senior running back.

Raiders 34, Papermakers 27

Wis Rapids        7        0        6        14        7        —        34

Kimberly        3        7        0        17        0        —        27

Scoring drives

First quarter

WR — Vince Biegel 50 yard interception return (Rod Keyzer kick), 11:00

K — Mitchel Fisher 25 yard field goal, 1:57

Second quarter

K — Ryan Giese 20 yard reception from Ben Diedrick (Fisher kick), 3:48

Third quarter

WR — Rylan Lubeck 13 yard run (kick failed), 5:56

Fourth quarter

K — Alex Schuh 3 yard run (Fisher kick), 11:55

WR — Devin Peterson 80 yard reception from Cort Halbur (Keyzer kick), 10:03

WR — Lubeck 63 yard run (Keyzer kick), 7:45

K — Fisher 37 yard field goal, 5:33

K — Schuh 1 yard run (Fisher kick), 1:15

Overtime

WR — Peterson 5 yard run (Keyzer kick)

Team Stats

        WR        K

Rushing        43-217        47-117

Passing        3-4-112        23-34-244

First downs        7        20

Penalties        11-94        4-40

Individual stats

Rushing — WR: Peterson 17-61, Lubeck 13-127, Halbur 12-29, Campbell 1-0; K: Schuh 32-77, Diedrick 30-54, Derek Peerenboom 1-2.

Passing — WR: Halbur 3-4-112 1TD; K: Diedrick 23-34-244 1TD 1INT.

Receiving — WR: Alex Marriott 1-24, Peterson 1-80 1TD, Lubeck 1-8; K: Brett Pozolinski 11-98, Austin Livingston 9-96, Peerenboom 1-8, Ryan Giese 1-20 1TD, Jared Heagle 2-22.

Records — Wisconsin Rapids 10-1, Kimberly 9-2