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12-0 Chiefs roar past Ripon, 22-8
By BDN staff
RIPON, Wis. — Mike Walker has turned the WIAA Division 4 playoffs into his own personal playground.
And that’s just fine with Big Foot.
The senior running back was at it again for the Chiefs on Friday night. Walker scored three touchdowns, rushing for 183 yards on 28 carries. He also hauled in three passes for 56 yards in Big Foot’s 22-8 Level 3 victory over Ripon at Ingalls Field.
Walker has been on an unbelievable roll for the Chiefs (12-0), scoring 10 of their 11 postseason touchdowns, amassing 574 total yards of offense (393 yards rushing, 181 receiving).
“I think his legs were a little tired after the first week of the playoffs,” Big Foot coach Rodney Wedig said. “I think the (FieldTurf) did Mike some good tonight. He was spinning out of tackles all night.”
Big Foot found itself in a position it hadn’t experienced this year — trailing.
Ripon jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter when the snap went over quarterback Steve Dowden’s head into the end zone, setting up an easy touchdown and an 8-0 lead for the Tigers (9-3).
The Chiefs responded in the second quarter when Walker punched in Big Foot’s first touchdown from 1 yard out. Walker finished off the scoring with the two-point conversion run to tie the game 8-8.
Walker would put the Chiefs in front for good later in the second quarter, this time scoring from 3 yards out to put Big Foot up 15-8.
It looked like Ripon would tie the game on the Tigers’ opening possession in the third quarter.
But the Chiefs’ defense came up with a big stand in the red zone, forcing the Tigers to fumble at the Big Foot 12-yard line.
The Tigers had a similar drive in the first quarter but were stuffed by the Chiefs at the 2-yard line.
Overall, the Big Foot defense forced five turnovers, helping erase any thoughts of a comeback for the Tigers.
“I thought both defenses played well, but it was just a matter of one making big plays,” Wedig said. “Fortunately, that was us tonight. The kids really stepped up when we needed them to.”
Big Foot put the game out of reach in the third quarter when Dowden hooked up with Walker for a 15-yard touchdown pass to extend the Chiefs’ lead to 22-8.
Dowden completed 6-of-11 passes for 103 yards — three of which went to Alec McGreevy for 47 yards. Dustin Sorrentino added 41 yards on nine carries for the Chiefs.
Connor Hanson led all Ripon rushers with 151 yards on 25 attempts.
The win puts Big Foot in the WIAA Division 4 semifinals for the second straight year. The Chiefs will meet the Brodhead-Juda/Lodi winner next Saturday at Middleton High School.
RIPON, Wis. — Mike Walker has turned the WIAA Division 4 playoffs into his own personal playground.
And that’s just fine with Big Foot.
The senior running back was at it again for the Chiefs on Friday night. Walker scored three touchdowns, rushing for 183 yards on 28 carries. He also hauled in three passes for 56 yards in Big Foot’s 22-8 Level 3 victory over Ripon at Ingalls Field.
Walker has been on an unbelievable roll for the Chiefs (12-0), scoring 10 of their 11 postseason touchdowns, amassing 574 total yards of offense (393 yards rushing, 181 receiving).
“I think his legs were a little tired after the first week of the playoffs,” Big Foot coach Rodney Wedig said. “I think the (FieldTurf) did Mike some good tonight. He was spinning out of tackles all night.”
Big Foot found itself in a position it hadn’t experienced this year — trailing.
Ripon jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter when the snap went over quarterback Steve Dowden’s head into the end zone, setting up an easy touchdown and an 8-0 lead for the Tigers (9-3).
The Chiefs responded in the second quarter when Walker punched in Big Foot’s first touchdown from 1 yard out. Walker finished off the scoring with the two-point conversion run to tie the game 8-8.
Walker would put the Chiefs in front for good later in the second quarter, this time scoring from 3 yards out to put Big Foot up 15-8.
It looked like Ripon would tie the game on the Tigers’ opening possession in the third quarter.
But the Chiefs’ defense came up with a big stand in the red zone, forcing the Tigers to fumble at the Big Foot 12-yard line.
The Tigers had a similar drive in the first quarter but were stuffed by the Chiefs at the 2-yard line.
Overall, the Big Foot defense forced five turnovers, helping erase any thoughts of a comeback for the Tigers.
“I thought both defenses played well, but it was just a matter of one making big plays,” Wedig said. “Fortunately, that was us tonight. The kids really stepped up when we needed them to.”
Big Foot put the game out of reach in the third quarter when Dowden hooked up with Walker for a 15-yard touchdown pass to extend the Chiefs’ lead to 22-8.
Dowden completed 6-of-11 passes for 103 yards — three of which went to Alec McGreevy for 47 yards. Dustin Sorrentino added 41 yards on nine carries for the Chiefs.
Connor Hanson led all Ripon rushers with 151 yards on 25 attempts.
The win puts Big Foot in the WIAA Division 4 semifinals for the second straight year. The Chiefs will meet the Brodhead-Juda/Lodi winner next Saturday at Middleton High School.
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