Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben outlasts Ithaca 14-6 in overtime to earn their first win of the 2023 season
Carson Sime (30) rushes upfield during the first quarter. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Cohen Redman (20) takes the handoff from quarterback Owen Oppriecht. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
By Derick Kelly
The Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben Blue-Golds finally got the proverbial monkey off their backs on Friday, Sept. 8 as the Blue-Golds earned their first victory of the year with a 14-6 road win in overtime over the Ithaca Bulldogs.
Not only did the Blue-Golds score their first points (and touchdowns of the season), but they also kept their playoff hopes alive as well with the victory.
After a scoreless first half by both teams, the Blue-Golds got things going in the third quarter. According to head coach Derrick Joy, “The first score came in the third quarter on a 87 yard touchdown pass from Owen Oppriecht to Cohen Redman. The point after touchdown attempt by Cooper Lomas was no good.”
Ithaca would respond in the fourth quarter with a touchdown pass of their own. The Bulldogs two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score tied 6-6.
The score would stay tied at the end of regulation. In overtime, SWS would have the ball first. On the first play Owen Oppriecht would hook up with Dawson Davidson for a 25 yard touchdown pass. Oppriecht would run in the two-point conversion attempt to give the Blue-Golds a 14-6 lead. Tucker Stluka sacked the Ithaca quarterback as time expired to seal the victory for the Blue-Golds.
Joy explains how the win came to be. “The defense came up big with 2 interceptions and holding Ithaca out of the end zone until the 4th quarter and preventing them from scoring in overtime. I’m proud of the team. They battled until the very end and never quit. It wasn’t a pretty game by any means, but we got the job done. Hopefully this momentum will carry into this week when we host an Onalaska Luther team that is 3-1 on the season in Seneca.”
Leading the way stats wise was Oppriecht, who was a perfect 7-for-7 passing for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Redman was the leading receiver with his 87 yard touchdown catch and the leading rusher with 34 yards on 16 attempts.
With the win, Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben improves to 1-3 overall, and 1-1 in the Ridge and Valley Conference. The Blue-Golds will host Onalaska Luther in a conference crossover game with the Scenic Bluffs on Friday, Sept. 15 at Seneca High School 7 p.m. with the game also being Seneca’s Parents’ Night.
