Canes football powers past Blackhawks 20-8 for first win

After falling behind 0-8, the Hayward-LCO Hurricanes football team scored the last 20 points of the game to sweep past the Bloomer Blackhawks 20-8 for their first win of the season Friday Sept. 20 at Rod Lundberg Field.

Keegan Walsh, Anthony Aranda and Brock Chucka each ran for a touchdown and Aranda and Jacob Schuck each had an interception to preserve the win.

“It’s always exciting to get your first win of the year,” said Coach Noah LeBlanc. “Our kids have been through a lot. We had a tough loss to Barron in week three, in heart-breaking style. It’s something to get off our back as we look forward to the rest of the season. We have to be sure we’re ready to go.

“Our offensive line has been playing very good football,” he added. “ Quarterback Keegan Walsh has been tremendous. Our running backs have run as hard as I’ve seen in a long time and our receivers make plays. Our offense is starting to click.

“On defense, it was tough to play against Bloomer, with everything they throw at us. Our guys didn’t get discouraged when Bloomer went on drives. They stuck to the game plan and held them to eight points. It was a good team win."

Bloomer jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, after receiving a punt at their 49. Zeke Strand caught a 32-yard pass and Collin Crane ran three yards for a touchdown at 2:10. Crane then passed for two extra points.

Cade Schlapper returned the next kickoff to the Canes’ 34. They moved the ball to the Bloomer 15. On 4th-down-and-8 from the 15, Charles Egger attempted a 32-yard field goal, but it was blocked. The Canes then went 63 yards in seven plays for a touchdown, including passes to Preston Sullivan, Kyle Gajewski and Xzavier Stojek. Keegan Walsh ran five yards for a touchdown at 5:20 of the second quarter. A run for an attempted two extra points was stopped, and the Canes trailed, 6-8.

The Blackhawks returned the next kickoff to their 19. Three plays later, Aranda intercepted a pass at the Bloomer 35. The Canes then went 35 yards in five plays for their second touchdown, capped by a 1-yard run into the end zone by Chucka. The extra points run was stopped and the Canes took a 14-8 lead with 1:40 to play in the first half.

Bloomer received the next kickoff and moved down to the Hayward three yard line. Three passes by the Blackhawks were incomplete and the Canes went into halftime leading 14-8.

At halftime of Friday’s game, the Hurricane K-2 youth football program participants were introduced and the top finishers in the

punt, pass and kick contest received plaques that were made by Hayward Middle School technical education students.

Cade Schlapper received the third quarter opening kickoff and returned to his 36. The Canes then went 64 yards for a touchdown, including a 16-yard run by Chucka and a 32-yard run by Aranda. Aranda then ran eight yards into the end zone for six points at 2:40. Walsh passed to Schlapper for two extra points and the Canes led 20-8.

Bloomer took the next kickoff and fumbled at their 36, with the Canes recovering. Chucka ran 32 yards into the end zone, but it was called back on a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Hayward then fumbled and Bloomer recovered on the Canes’ 43.

In the fourth quarter, the Blackhawks moved from their 15 down to the Hayward nine yard line in 12 plays, but the Canes forced a turnover on downs.

In the game’s last three minutes, Bloomer returned a punt to midfield. Mason Langman ran 37 yards into the end zone, but the play was nullified due to a penalty for having an illegal receiver downfield.

The Blackhawks then reached the Hurricanes’ 15, but Jacob Schuck intercepted a pass in the end zone to nullify that threat. The Canes then ran out the clock from their 20, taking a knee on the next two plays.

The Hurricanes improved to 1-2 in conference play and 1-4 overall. Bloomer also is 1-2 and 1-4.

This Friday, the Hurricanes will travel to St. Croix Falls to play the Saints, who are 5-0 on the season.

Game stats

Hayward-LCO 0 6 8 0 — 20

Bloomer 8 0 0 0 — 8

Hayward offense: 122 yards passing, 175 yards rushing.

Passes completed-attempted-yards: Keegan Walsh, 9-13-122. Passes caught-yards: Jacob Schuck, 1-36; Kyle Gajewski, 1-17; Cade Schlapper, 2-13; Preston Sullivan, 2-25; Xzavier Stojek, 1-22. Rushes-yards: Brock Chucka, 21-94-1TD; Anthony Aranda, 12-66-1TD; Keegan Walsh, 3-12-1TD; Xzavier Stojek, 1-3. Kick returns-yards: Cade Schlapper, 2-40. Punt returns-yards: Jacob Schuck, 3-11.7. Punts-yards: Charles Egger, 5-141.

Tackles: Solo-total: Kaydon Kennnell, 7-13; Jacob Schuck, 4-10; Anthony Aranda, 4-9; Alex DePew, 3-6; Cade Schlapper, 3-4; Eric Fish, 4-7; Brock Chucka, 1-4; Darren Clifford, 1-4; Trevor Poppe, 1-2; Deangelo Sardina, 1-3; George Taylor, 0-5; Manny Munive, 0-1; Gabe Bisonette, 0-1.