GMG signal caller Ethan Klemesrud (2) avoids a tackle while carrying the ball through the Meskwaki defense last Friday in Garwin. Klemesrud keepered the ball for 94 yards and two strikes against the Warriors. He was also 11-for-12 passing for 272 yards and five touchdowns. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GARWIN – It was clear even before halftime hit, the GMG Wolverines more than likely had a win in the bag over the Meskawki Settlement Warriors as the 8-player District 6 teams faced off last Friday evening in Garwin. After scoring 64 unanswered points across the first period, GMG’s eventual 80-16 triumph over Meskwaki (0-7) marked not only a solid end to Homecoming Week for the Wolverines but also their first win in what has been a tough season on the gridiron.

Prior to kickoff that evening, GMG celebrated Senior Night by recognizing fall athletes including football student-athletes Jonas Buchanan, Liam Fitzsimmons, and Rider Kupka. Also recognized, cross country student-athletes Brayton Davis, Henry Dieleman, and Drayson Stephenson; and football cheer student-athletes Isabella Cobb, Boudica Fitzsimmons, and Jocie Parks. Following Senior Night introductions, the Wolverines stormed the field by charging out of the adjacent corn and through the cheer team’s pom pom entrance chute.

After receiving the ball, GMG instantly set the night’s tenor on the very first play when sophomore Easton Sash carried in a 42-yard touchdown. The extra point was good, putting GMG up 7-0 barely 30 seconds into the game. Not long after, following a Meskwaki turnover on downs, GMG junior signal caller Ethan Klemesrud rushed in the next touchdown. With the extra point good, the score was 14-0.

Nearing the halfway mark of the first quarter, Meskwaki finally managed a first down but any elation Warrior quarterback Layne Steuhm – a talented athlete both light on his feet and fast – might have felt in that moment was short-lived; roughly a minute later, Sash intercepted Steuhm’s pass to easily run in a 44-yard touchdown, marking GMG’s third strike of the night. The Wolverines’ attempt at a two-point conversion failed, putting the score at 20-0 with under six minutes to go.

Steuhm soon fumbled in the backfield but managed to recover the ball before being tackled. An offside call was made on GMG, putting Meskwaki at their own 25-yard line. The Warriors managed a good drive, earning two first downs before a flag was thrown, pushing them back five yards (and seemingly throttling their momentum). On the next play, Wolverine freshman Easton Brown recovered a forced fumble, putting GMG near the line of scrimmage. With under a minute to go, senior Rider Kupka took a short toss from Klemesrud to run all the way to the endzone for the touchdown. This time GMG’s two-point conversion was good and the Wolverines ended the first quarter 28-0.

The GMG Wolverines football team storms the field ahead of Homecoming kickoff on Friday, Oct. 10, in Garwin. GMG defeated Meskwaki Settlement, 80-16, that evening in an 8-player District 6 clash. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

In the second quarter, the Wolverines put another 36 points on the scoreboard beginning with a 33-yard receiving touchdown by sophomore Bodie Hutchinson. The Warriors managed to block the PAT.

Steuhm was eventually sacked to end Meskwaki’s next drive with a turnover on downs. Sash took the punt all the way to the Warrior’s 1-yard line before being tackled; he carried it in on the next play for his third touchdown of the evening. PAT was again no good. GMG led 40-0.

After a Meskwaki timeout, GMG scored again on a pick-six by sophomore Jacoby Woodbury, notching a 32-yard touchdown and firing up the Homecoming crowd. Kupka successfully fielded the two-point conversion to put the score at 48-0.

Just ahead of the three-minute mark, Klemesrud threw a successful touchdown pass into the endzone and the subsequent two-point conversion was good. Meskwai turned over again on downs, leaving under a minute to go. Starting at their own 27-yard line following the punt return, Kupka took a pass from Klemesrud and ran in a streaking 54-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was good; GMG ended the first half up 64-0.

In the second half, GMG’s defense appeared to pull back somewhat, allowing Meswaki to score twice. The Wolverines notched another 16 points themselves, marking their first win of the season – a district victory 80-16 over the Warriors.

Wolverine sophomore Easton Sash runs into the endzone last Friday night to mark GMG’s first touchdown against the Meskwaki Warriors. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Against the Warriors, Klemesrud was 11-for-12 passing for 272 yards and five touchdowns. Passing touchdowns were scored by Kupka (2), Sash (1), Hutchinson (1), and Buchanan (1). GMG rushed for 240 yards. Sash led the rushing game with 119 yards and a pair of touchdowns; Klemesrud carried the ball himself for 94 yards and two strikes.

The Wolverines defense recorded 61 1/2 tackles; Sash had 10 including eight solo and one tackle for loss; Woodbury had 8 1/2 (seven solo); Hutchinson and Jay Bessman both had eight apiece (six solo). Both Sash and Woodbury returned one interception for a touchdown.

During the halftime break on Friday, senior Liam Fitzsimmons was named Mr. Football, while GMG’s senior class was awarded the Wolverine Spirit Trophy for earning more points than any other class across Homecoming dress-up days, contests, lip sync results, and parade float building results.

Tonight, Friday, Oct. 17, GMG (1-6, 1-4) is on the road, playing their final regular season game against Colo-NESCO (2-5, 1-4) in another District 6 clash. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in Colo.

Sophomore Easton Sash, left, leaps into the air in celebration alongside his teammate, junior Caleb Ferch, after rushing in a 42-yard touchdown against the Meskwaki Warriors. Sash recorded the strike barely 30 seconds into the Friday, Oct. 10 game in Garwin. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Wolverine sophomore Bodie Hutchinson runs in a 33-yard touchdown reception during the second quarter of last Friday’s game against the Meskwaki Warriors in Garwin. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GMG assistant coach Seth Hedman, center, speaks to his players during a timeout on the field Friday evening in Garwin. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER