Football: Fort Atkinson shut out by DeForest in Badger Large opener, 52-0

The first play from scrimmage was a bad omen for the Blackhawks, who surrendered a 46-yard grab.

DeForest continued to compile big plays en route to beating Fort Atkinson 52-0 in the Badger Large opener for both teams on Thursday at Jones Dairy Farm Stadium.

“We did not do many things very well,” Fort Atkinson football coach Nick Nelson said. “We didn’t block well and we didn’t run well. I wish we could have kept our composure better when we started facing adversity.

“When one thing went wrong, everyone tightened up and got worried about the next thing going wrong. We talked about on Friday that, regardless of the play’s result, we have to move on.”

The Norskies (2-0) dialed up a deep shot to kick off the proceedings with junior quarterback Isaac Ziegler hitting senior wideout Nick Hermansen for the aforementioned downfield grab, which featured the 6-foot-3 receiver out-jumping Fort senior defensive back Braeden Hoth to haul in a difficult contested grab.

Two plays later, an errant high snap was covered by Ziegler for a loss of 23 yards. On fourth-and-11, Fort junior defensive back Brant Selle came up with a sliding interception at the 2-yard line.

DeForest forced a three-and-out and then went to work from its own 44. Seven plays later, senior running back Brad Jacobson scored untouched on an 11-yard run.

After another Blackhawk three-and-out, the Norskies picked up steam on a 29-yard catch and run by Hermansen to move it into the red zone. Two plays later, Hermansen hauled in a 17-yard touchdown near the front right pylon to make it 14-0.

“DeForest’s offense did a good job protecting Ziegler and keeping him safe,” Nelson said. “He kept his composure and kept his eyes downfield out of the pocket. They found guys escaping coverage. DeForest is a very well-disciplined group.”

Fort, after six plays, was forced to punt, with the Norskies retaining possession at the plus 47-yard line.

There, senior tight end Jackson Accuardi, a 6-foot-7 West Virginia recruit, caught a short pass and stiff-armed one defender before outrunning several others en route to a 47-yard TD.

An interception by junior defensive back Amir Huemmer then set DeForest up at the Fort 33.

Fort senior defensive lineman Colin Schrader sacked Ziegler, bringing up fourth down and a 28-yard field goal try by senior placekicker Kyle Ugalde, which went through the uprights to make it 24-0 with 4:10 left before halftime.

The Blackhawks (0-3) retained possession at their own 11 on the next series. On the third play of the drive, senior quarterback Rocco Foelker retreated backward after facing pressure up the middle and fumbled in the end zone. Senior defensive lineman Christian Eberhardt recovered the loose ball for the TD.

The Norskies added second-half touchdowns on a 2-yard Ziegler run, a 1-yard Owen Voeck scamper and a 48-yard Braylon Lee rush.

Hermansen caught six passes for 121 yards while Jacobson ran it 11 times for 79 yards.

For Fort, which finished with 122 yards of offense and got held to five rushing yards on 20 attempts, Foelker finished 9-of-22 passing for 117 yards with two picks. Hoth caught three passes totaling 62 yards. Defensively, Selle also forced a fumble.

Fort travels to face Sun Prairie East (1-2) on Friday, Sept. 13.

“Getting back to our fundamentals and our basics will be focuses this week in practice,” Nelson said. “There were several plays where if we take a forward step instead of lateral step, or have our head on the side instead of in the center or have our hands on the opponent’s chest instead of outside on their shoulders, the result would have been much different.

“That’s how this game is a game of inches. Fortunately, we get a full week of prep this week. We are going to focus on what we can control.”

DEFOREST 52, FORT ATKINSON 0

DeForest 14 17 14 7 — 52

Fort 0 0 0 0 — 0

First quarter

D — Jacobson 12 run (Ugalde kick)

D — Hermanson 17 pass from Ziegler (Ugalde kick)

Second quarter

D — Accuardi 47 pass from Ziegler (Ugalde kick)

D — Ugalde 28 field goal

D — Eberhardt 0 fumble return (Ugalde kick)

Third quarter

D — Ziegler 2 run (Ugalde kick)

D — Voeck 1 run (Ugalde kick)

Fourth quarter

D — Lee 48 run (Ugalde kick)

Team statistics — Total offense: D 336; Passing yards: D 193, Rushing attempts-yards: D 25-143.

Individual statistics — Passing (comp-att-yds-td-int): D Ziegler 9-13-193-2-1; Rushing attempts-yards: D Jacobson 11-79, Lee 3-60; Receptions-yards: D Hermansen 6-121, Accuardi 2-53.