Franchise ResourcesJunkyard Dogs remain undefeated with a stunning 20-16 victory over Spartans
Playing under the lights for the first time all season, the West Bend Junkyard Dogs went on the road to play the defending AFC champion Wauwatosa Spartans on a cool night at Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Raabe field. The Dogs came into the game 2-0, and riding high after a comeback win over the Milwaukee Venom. The Spartans were on a two game win streak of their own, and looked to maintain their perch atop the AFC standings.
“They’re saying we don’t belong on this field.” – Head Coach Dan Greene
For one brand new team to the IFL, and one only two seasons removed from their inaugural season, the Spartans and Junkyard Dogs have built a nice little rivalry, with both players and coaches being recruited off of each team’s rosters from the previous season. Both teams wanted the victory for their standings in the league, but each wanted to vanquish the other for more personal reasons as well. It all bode well for a fantastic non-conference matchup of powerful teams.
“Time to be men.” – Middle Linebacker Mike Porter
The game could not have opened better for Sparta, as all-star QB Tony Henner found a streaking Ric Levy for a monster 59 yard gain, taking the ball all the way to the West Bend 6-yardline. On first down, West Bend DT Scott Tyrcha powered through the line, and brought down the running back at the line of scrimmage. Levy caught a second-down pass and appeared to score, but the referee spotted the ball at the 1-yardline. On third and goal from the 1 both teams brought their jumbo sets in. Henner handed the ball to all-star RB Cedric McFadden who was met by a wall of Junkyard Dogs. The swarming defense of West Bend stonewalled the Spartans on a goal-line stand, and the FG attempt went wide-left to the delight of the West Bend fans that had made the trek south.
The Dogs took over at their own 20. After two short runs, West Bend QB Mikey Bernal was chased down from behind by ‘tosa DE Joe Flick after a seven yard gain. The West Bend punt set the Spartans up with the ball at their own 30 yardline. After a 3 yard gain on a sweep, disaster struck the Spartans. Henner flipped a bubble-screen out to the sideline. The ball was dropped, and as it was a backwards pass, it was a live-ball. An alert SS Curtis Beals covered the loose ball, giving the Dogs the ball at the Wauwatosa 30. The great field position at the start of the drive appeared to be for naught when, on fourth down, Bernal found WR Eric Treske for 15 yards. Head Coach Dan Greene dialed up RB Chuckie McGuire’s number, and the dreadlocked demon pounded the ball between the tackles for 12 yards, pushing the pile all the way to the Spartan’s 3 yardline. Two McGuire runs later saw the power-back blasting through a ‘tosa LB on his way to the game’s first points of the day. The extra-point would sail through, making the score West Bend 7, Wauwatosa 0.
The Spartans would come out hot, with a 4 yard gain on a sweep by McFadden, a 5 yard completion to Levy, and then a Henner sneak for the first down. Henner found all-star WR Raymon Porchia for a 21 yard gain, placing the ball at the West Bend 29 yardline. The first quarter would end with a 7-0 score, and the Spartans of Wauwatosa threatening.
“We knew it would be a fight.” – Defensive Coordinator Aaron Schoen
The second quarter opened with Henner completing two passes, moving his team all the way to the 6 yardline. After a false start, and a 2 yard loss on a sweep sniffed out by DT Courtny Bryan, Henner found Chris Clarke for a 13 yard touchdown. The point after would score, knotting the game up, 7-7. The kickoff would be picked up on the bounce by West Bend’s new return man Ron Jones, who took it 40 yards to the Spartan’s 40 yardline. Three hammering runs by Mike Hill, and a first down later, and Bernal would find TE Mike Hicks for 19 yards, all the way to the 10 yardline. On first down, seriously threatening to score, Joe Flick squirted through the line and notched his first sack of the game, tripping Bernal up at the 21 yardline. After an incomplete pass and a short gain by Hicks, the Dogs faced a 4th and goal from outside of their kicker’s range. Mikey hit Eric Treske for a 10 yard gain, turning the ball over on downs at the ‘tosa 10.
Hoping to take advantage of the poor field position the offense was in, the West Bend defense came out fired up. The emotion wouldn’t be enough as Henner quickly found his favorite target, Ric Levy, for another big gain. This play would end up going for 52 yards, all the way to West Bend’s 38 yardline. Henner would complete another pass for 18 yards, placing the ball right on the edge of the redzone. Under heavy pressure from Scott Tyrcha, Henner threw incomplete on first down. On second down, Levy broke free in the endzone, but the pass proved too difficult to reel in, as it fell to the ground incomplete. On third and 10, with a blitzing MLB Mike Porter in his face, Henner fired a 6 yard completion to Porchia. His fourth down pass to RB Manny Mills failed when West Bend’s Mike Harrison tackled the big back for a loss.
West Bend took the ball over, and handed it right back to Chuck McGuire. A pair of four yard gains preceded an 8 yard catch by Mike Hicks. The drive would stall, and ‘tosa ended up getting the ball back at their own 41 yard line. Henner looked right to his star receiver, and Levy took the ball 42 yards, finally being brought down at the 19 yard line. After a timeout, an illegal motion and a clock SNAFU negated a Levy reception inside the 10. Rather than tempt fate, the Spartans were content to kick a 40 yard field goal, and take a 10-7 lead into the half.
“Why we playin’ scared? There’s only one team at the top of the league and THEY’RE NOT IT.” – Curtis Beals
The first possession of the second half would be a three-and-out from West Bend. Wauwatosa got the ball at their own 42, and their drive seemed like it would end early too, until Tony Henner hit Raymon Porchia for a 29 yard gain. McFadden took a draw 7 yards right into the teeth of the Dogs’ defense. Ric Levy caught a pass, and was dropped at the West Bend 4 yardline. It was gut-check time for the Dogs, and on an inside run by Cedric McFadden, Big Scott Tyrcha ripped the ball loose and DE Justin Steubs fell on it at the West Bend 5 yardline. Mighty Mike Hill took the first down handoff 32 yards, giving West Bend breathing room. The drive would stall, and the team would be forced to punt.
After a solid return by Brad Guettel, Tony Henner would feel the heat from MLB Porter, and loft a pass deep down the right sideline. Mike Harrison fought the receiver draped over his back, and secured the interception, giving the Dogs the ball back at their own 16 yardline. A completion over the middle to Eric Treske would put the ball at the 38 yardline. Chuck McGuire spun off of a tackle in the backfield for an 8 yard gain, and then pounded out a first down on his next carry. An incompletion and two short plays later, and the Dogs were punting again. The Spartans took over possession at their 21 yardline. A 1st down pass was broken up by OLB Luis Mendoza, and then Henner completed an 8 yard pass with pressure in his face from Mike Porter and DE Dray Norwood. A hard count by Henner drew the Dogs offsides, and on the ensuing free play, the QB found Porchia for a 35 yard gain. The quarter ended with ‘tosa threatening, and leading 10-7.
“Stay warm. We’re getting it back.” - Jake Klipp to Mikey Bernal
Henner began the fourth quarter the same way he ended the third. He completed a pass to Raymon Porchia to the West Bend 32 yardline. The next play, he found Shay again, this time after being flushed out of the pocket by Klipp and Justin Steubs. A bubble-screen was sniffed out by Klipp and Harrison for a 3 yard loss, but Henner found Guettel for a 14 yard touchdown pass in the back corner of the endzone. Curtis Beals blocked the extra point, making the score 16-7, Wauwatosa.
Trailing by two scores with a running clock, West Bend’s offense knew they couldn’t come away without points on the ensuing drive if they were to stay in the game. Ron Jones took the kick to the Junkyard Dogs 41 yardline. Mike Hill broke another long run, this time going 24 yards right through the middle of the ‘tosa defense. Chuckie McGuire would knock out a 10 yard run before Bernal would loft a ball to his TE in heading for the endzone. The ball was intercepted, but four different flags flew out, as Hicks was tripped from behind. West Bend, after the pass interference, would line up at the 1 yardline. Bernal rolled out and found Eric Treske open in the endzone for a touchdown. A bad snap on the extra point resulted in the holder being tackled. The score was Wauwatosa 16, West Bend 13 with less than five minutes to play.
The Spartans started with the ball at their own 30, and on the opening play DE’s Dray Norwood and Justin Steubs would team up to sack Tony Henner. The Spartans went to the air on second down, and CB Mark Edmonds read the out-route perfectly. He jumped in front of the pass and picked it off in front of his own sidelines, and the Junkyard Dogs went wild. Mikey started the drive from the ‘tosa 40 with a 6 yard keeper, stopping the clock by scampering out of bounds. Mike Hill took a handoff for 10 yards on the next play, winding the clock down even more. A deep endzone fade to Will Thomsen bounced on the ground, but Thomsen was grabbed illegally by the corner. The refs spotted the ball at the 1 after the pass interference penalty was assessed. Mikey called, “Follow Big Paul,” in the huddle, and as he handed the rock to Chuckie McGuire, the lane opened wide enough to drive a bus through. McGuire sauntered into the endzone, putting West Bend up 19-16.
The extra point was critical, as a miss would allow the Spartans to tie with a field goal. Novice extra-point specialist Jake Klipp calmly lined up his shot and stroked the ball right between the uprights, giving his team a 4 point lead. Wauwatosa came out looking to pass their way to a comeback win, but on the first play of the drive OLB Jake Klipp hunted Tony Henner down, and nailed him for a 12 yard sack. Henner fired incomplete on his next two passes, under heavy pressure from Justin Steubs and Dray Norwood. The Spartans, placing complete trust in their own defense, elected to punt the ball to West Bend, knowing that 1 first down would be enough for the Dogs to run out the clock.
Playing to their strengths, the Dogs followed the lead of their magnificent offensive line, and got nasty. Chuck McGuire ripped off a mean 6 yard run, forcing ‘tosa to call a timeout. The next play saw Chuckie churning behind the monstrous left side of his line for a 3 yard gain. Another timeout followed, and the game came down to a third and 1 play. The call in the huddle sounded something like, “Chuck, follow the Porch to the Promised Land.” Out of a shotgun snap, Bernal handed to McGuire. Chuck streaked into the line, right behind his big center, and ground out the clinching 4 yards the team needed. The Dogs knelt out the clock and secured the comeback win.
“It’s just one step on our way from where we are to where we want to be… but it’s a DAMN good step!” - Dan Greene
