There was little resistance for the Rice Lake Warriors in winning their home opener 44-0 over Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday at Pug Lund Field.
Rice Lake led 36-0 at halftime as a running clock began after the second half kickoff, and the Warriors added one more fourth-quarter score before the game was called with less than three minutes left after a flash of lighting.
Lucas Peters scored three touchdowns and Connor Durand had two, while the Warrior defense forced two turnovers and held Wisconsin Rapids to 54 yards of offense.
Rice Lake gained 302 on offense, led by total of 168 yards from Peters. He ran the ball eight times for 114 yards and two scores and caught a 54-yard touchdown from Jakob Kunz. Durand had 36 rushing yards on three attempts and a score, and also found the end zone after a scoop and score fumble recovery on defense.
Tanner Koltunski also ran for 36 yards on a pair of carries, Vincent Weber totaled 22 on six attempts, and Owen Brunette scored a touchdown as he ran the ball five times for 13 yards.
Rice Lake's defense held the Red Raider ground game in check as quarterback Jonah Rasmussen ran eight times for 19 yards and tailback Cohen Lehmann had 12 carries for 18 yards. Wisconsin Rapids had two first downs in the game.
"They were really disciplined in their assignments," Rice Lake coach Dan Hill said of his defense. "It helps when they’re running a similar system so our guys understood it."
Rice Lake had Wisconsin Rapids facing fourth-and-1 from its own 29 on the first possession of the game. Instead of punting, the Red Raiders went for it, and Peters first hit Lehmann in the backfield before Zach Orr knocked the ball out. Durand won the race to the bouncing ball and carried it 20 yards into the end zone. He then added the two-point conversion for the early 8-0 lead just 2:21 into the game.
The Warriors moved down the field in five plays covering 42 yards on their next drive. Durand took a counter to the outside on a 15-yard score with Peters adding the two points after.
After forcing another punt, the offense for Rice Lake struck quickly as Kunz dropped a pass to Peters in the flat. Peters did the rest, leaving multiple defenders on the ground after diving attempts, and then he got a block upfield from Will Svendsen as Peters scored from 54 yards out. This gave the Warriors the 22-0 advantage with one minute left in the opening quarter.
Peters had a 78-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter and then added a 1-yard score with 2:18 before halftime as the Warriors were up 36-0 at the break.
In the second half Jack Larson forced a fumble as Wisconsin Rapids attempted a fake punt from inside its own 36 and Connor Carr came up with the recovery for the Warriors. Nine plays later Brunette scored for the 44-0 lead with 7:22 to play.
Rice Lake had touchdowns on five of its seven possessions, not including the final one of the game when lightning struck with the Warriors inside the Wisconsin Rapids red zone.
"We just keep pushing the execution," Hill said. "Football, you look at the matchups physically and you wonder why some of that happens. It’s still a game that there’s 11 guys and if everybody does things right, you have a chance to win a play. We’ve just got to keep getting sharper. We’re going to play a lot better teams."
Rice Lake is back in action Sept. 6 at Marshfield for a conference crossover game with the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The crossover games between the Big Rivers and Wisconsin Valley will be used for playoff qualification purposes. The Warriors will begin Big Rivers play at Menomonie on Sept. 13.
Rice Lake 44
Rushing: Lucas Peters eight carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns; Connor Durand 3-36-1; Tanner Koltunski 2-36; Vincent Weber 6-22; Reedon Jarvis 3-17; Owen Brunette 5-13-1; Parker Diercks 3-11; Grant Pacholke 2-2; Owen Storberg 1-2; Xander Easton 1-0; Jakob Kunz 2-(-5).
Passing: Jakob Kunz 1-3 for 54 yards, one touchdown.
Receiving: Lucas Peters 1-54-1
Total yards: 302 (248 rushing, 54 passing)
Wisconsin Rapids 0
Rushing: Jonah Rasmussen 8-19; Cohen Lehmann 12-18; Sawyer Brooks 2-9; Chase Gethers 5-7; Matthew Vollert 2-4; Ty Haydock 1-0; Jordan Gustafson 2-(-1); Brady Gilbertson 1-(-2).
Passing: Jonah Rasmussen 0-3 for 0 yards.
Total yards: 54 (54 rushing, 0 passing)
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