SPORTS

A-F beats Nekoosa for SCC title

Mark Massoglia
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

WISCONSIN RAPIDS - The Adams-Friendship High School football team did much more than win the South Central Conference championship Friday night.

With a 28-7 victory over Nekoosa, Adams-Friendship claimed its first outright conference title since 1960. The championship was also the first undefeated league crown in program history and the first undefeated regular season. The Green Devils last earned a share of the SCC crown in 2006 when they tied with Poynette.

“It still hasn’t hit me,” said A-F senior Joe Duty. “I see a lot of our players crying and I might tear up right now, too. It’s crazy that this actually happened.”

Duty, the Green Devils quarterback and defensive back, completed 9 of 19 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. He also had two interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter.

Shortly after Duty’s interception coach Nick Stormoen got the first of his two water jug baths.

“That was the best bath I’ve ever had,” said Stormoen of the first dousing. “It’s hard to put into words what this means to me and our program. Getting married and the birth of each of my daughters are the only things that top this.

“This is a testament to these kids. We’re four years removed from a 22-game losing streak. These seniors turned the program around. They are special athletes, but they created a culture change too.”

The losing streak Stormoen spoke of dated back to the last four games of the 2010 season. The Green Devils went 0-9 in 2011 and 2012. The first game the seniors played as freshmen, they helped snap the streak. Duty had the interception that sealed the win.

Nekoosa turned the ball over six times, twice on fumbles and four interceptions. A-F scored 14 points off those extra opportunities.

“You can’t make mistakes against a team like them,” Nekoosa coach Paul Liebherr said. “We had too many turnovers in a big game and no doubt they’re a good team.

“We’re in the playoffs and I told the boys that we have to shake this one off and get ready to make a statement in the playoffs. I wouldn’t want to run into us in the playoffs. We’re going to be a dangerous 5-4 team in Division 4.”

Trevor Smith led all ground gainers with 28 carries for 151 yards and scored the Papermakers’ only touchdown in the second quarter to make it 14-7 with 5:57 left in the half.

Donnell Finich led the Green Devils’ ground game with 111 yards on 14 carries and scored on runs of 3, 5 and four yards.

“It was a great night,” Duty said. “We played well against a good team. The interceptions were awesome. We had a defensive end and a linebacker get some and I had two.”

Nekoosa

0

7

0

0

7

Adams-Friendship

0

21

0

7

28

Second quarter

A-F: Donnell Finch 3 run (Hunter Smith kick), 10:39

A-F: Finch 5 run (Smith kick), 9:45

N: Trevor Smith 6 run (Trenton Smith), 5:57

A-F: Alvin Parker 46 pass from Joe Duty (Smith kick), 2:23

Fourth quarter

A-F: Finch 4 run (Snith kick), 3:13

Records: Adams-Friendship 9-0, 5-0 SCC; Nekoosa 5-4, 4-1 SCC.

Mark Massoglia: 715-424-7309 ormark.massoglia@gannettwisonsin.com; on Twitter@markmazzy.