ARGYLE - For Pecatonica-Argyle freshman Lucas McKeon, the Level 2 playoff game against Mineral Point was more than a game.
The Vikings football team honored Mason J. Wedige, 15, with a moment of silence before the kickoff against Mineral Point Saturday. Wedige died as the result of a truck crash Thursday on County F, about one mile west of Blanchardville. Wedige was a freshman at Pecatonica High School and a lineman for the Pecatonica-Argyle football team.
McKeon understood the game would be filled with emotion playing football without his cousin.
"We were like brothers," McKeon said of Wedige. "We have been together for 15 years. It was tough and it hurts."
McKeon is sure that his cousin was pulling for the Vikings.
"I really wanted to play this game for him," McKeon said. "I tried to put him in every snap I got. I knew he would have been watching."
Lafayette County sheriff's deputies reported a 1998 Ford pickup truck driven by Jeffery D. Wunder Jr., 17, Blanchardville, was eastbound on County F when overturned down an embankment. The vehicle caught fire, and the fire was extinguished by Blanchardville firefighters. Wunder sustained non-life threatening injuries; he was transported to Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County and later released. Wunder is a senior at Pecatonica High School and a wide receiver on the football team.
Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said he addressed the tragedy with the team and coaches were available before the game to meet with players .
Green said he's not sure how Wedige's death affected the team.
"I'm sure some kids played worse and some played better," Green said.
Pecatonica-Argyle senior Tannar Johnson said the team remained close during the tragedy.
"It doesn't matter who you ask, he was with all of us," Johnson said.
There is a visitation for Wedige at Pecatonica High School from 3 to 8 p.m. today. Funeral services will be at noon Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Blanchardville. More information appears on Page 2A.
The Vikings football team honored Mason J. Wedige, 15, with a moment of silence before the kickoff against Mineral Point Saturday. Wedige died as the result of a truck crash Thursday on County F, about one mile west of Blanchardville. Wedige was a freshman at Pecatonica High School and a lineman for the Pecatonica-Argyle football team.
McKeon understood the game would be filled with emotion playing football without his cousin.
"We were like brothers," McKeon said of Wedige. "We have been together for 15 years. It was tough and it hurts."
McKeon is sure that his cousin was pulling for the Vikings.
"I really wanted to play this game for him," McKeon said. "I tried to put him in every snap I got. I knew he would have been watching."
Lafayette County sheriff's deputies reported a 1998 Ford pickup truck driven by Jeffery D. Wunder Jr., 17, Blanchardville, was eastbound on County F when overturned down an embankment. The vehicle caught fire, and the fire was extinguished by Blanchardville firefighters. Wunder sustained non-life threatening injuries; he was transported to Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County and later released. Wunder is a senior at Pecatonica High School and a wide receiver on the football team.
Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said he addressed the tragedy with the team and coaches were available before the game to meet with players .
Green said he's not sure how Wedige's death affected the team.
"I'm sure some kids played worse and some played better," Green said.
Pecatonica-Argyle senior Tannar Johnson said the team remained close during the tragedy.
"It doesn't matter who you ask, he was with all of us," Johnson said.
There is a visitation for Wedige at Pecatonica High School from 3 to 8 p.m. today. Funeral services will be at noon Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Blanchardville. More information appears on Page 2A.