October 9, 2021 – Germantown, WI – The Germantown Warhawks may not have been playing for a playoff spot, having already clinched one last week, but the team was still determined to do its seniors and alumni proud in their homecoming game.
The defenses of both teams showed up to play, as the first points weren’t scored until Brookfield Central kicked a 35-yard field goal with 8:44 left in the second quarter.
Germantown would answer back thanks to its special teams and defense. Junior Conrad Stuesser did an amazing job punting and pinning the Lancers inside their own 15-yard line.
After one defensive stand set up a 28-yard punt return touchdown by junior Michael Ubert, putting the Warhawks up 7-3 with 4:34 left in the first half.
In the final minute of the second quarter, a botched punt return by the Lancers was recovered by the Warhawks, who took advantage of the situation.
With 30 seconds left to play junior quarterback Hunter Kelley threw a picture-perfect 40-yard touchdown pass to junior Will Van Fossen, giving Germantown a 14-3 halftime lead.
Germantown would have chances to put the game away early in the second half, including a fumble recovered on the Brookfield Central’s own 15 yardline (the ensuing drive resulted in a missed field goal by the Warhawks), but the Lancers remained tenacious throughout and refused to give up big plays.
On the final drive before the end of the third quarter, the Warhawks lost senior running back Aaron Grant to a knee injury, most likely caused by the wet grass from the past two days of on and off rain.
Germantown would soldier on as Kelley started the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown that made the game 21-3 in the Warhawks favor.
The defense would remain steady and precise in their execution, securing the win by holding the Lancers off of the scoreboard.
Germantown Head Coach Jake Davis was very happy with his special teams’ unit stepping up. “Tt been a matter of progression,” Davis said. “Our special teams have just been getting better and better, especially when compared to last week where we had four returns called back.”
A big reason for success in high school athletics comes down to the play of the senior class. In Germantown’s case, to get one final win at home for his seniors means a lot to Davis.
“They’ve put in a lot of effort over the last four years and they bring the right type of attitude, effort, and aggressiveness we need in this program,” Davis said.
Germantown’s final regular season game has been cancelled, so the Warhawks will enter the playoffs with 6-2 overall record and 5-1 conference record, with chance be the Greater Metro Conference champions if Sussex Hamilton loses next week.