ARGYLE - The Pecatonica-Argyle football team unleashed its version of "Thunder and Lightning" in slicing and dicing its way to a 36-8 rout of Beaver Dam Wayland Academy in the WIAA Division 6 first round playoffs.
Pec-Argyle senior Taylor Saalsaa (Thunder) scored three touchdowns and fellow senior Lee Vlasak (Lightning) rolled up 172 total yards (97 rushing, 75 receiving) and scored two touchdowns to propel the Vikings to the win Tuesday night in Argyle.
"It feels like every play we can break one from anywhere on the field," Saalsaa said. "The blocking was great. You can see that by the result on the scoreboard."
Pec-Argyle (8-2) blocked a punt on Wayland Academy's first possession that the Big Red knocked out of bounds after a scrum for a safety.
At the end of the first quarter, Wayland Academy (8-2), facing a fourth-and-5 from its own 46-yard line, turned the ball over on downs after an incomplete screen pass.
Pec-Argyle capitalized on the turnover, with Vlasak breaking a tackle and bolting for a 46-yard touchdown run to give the Vikings a 9-0 lead with 2:01 to go in the first quarter.
"The playoffs is a whole new game," Vikings coach Larry Green said. "Records mean nothing to us."
The Vikings poured it on in the second quarter. On third-and-goal midway through the second, senior quarterback Milton Kurschner tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Vlasak. Kurschner completed 8 of 9 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
"The line did a great job up front, giving me time to throw the ball," Kurschner said. "According to some experts, we were going to get upset. We used that as motivation."
Pec-Argyle senior Pete Peterson intercepted Rhatican Brendan's pass with about four minutes left in the second quarter to set up the Vikings' next score. The big play on the ensuing drive was Kurschner's 40-yard pass to Vlasak on third down.
Kurschner later connected with Vlasak on a 15-yard touchdown pass, but the score was wiped out by a block in the back. The Vikings weren't frustrated by the penalty on the field. On the next play, Kurschner converted on third-and-goal with a 20-yard pass to Saalsaa to give the Vikings a 23-0 halftime lead.
The Vikings stuffed Wayland Academy on fourth-and-2 on the opening drive of the third quarter. Pec-Argyle cashed in right away, with Saalsaa breaking loose for a 34-yard run to give the Vikings a 29-0 lead.
Saalsaa added a 2-yard touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter.
Wayland Academy went 1-for-5 on fourth down, including three turnovers on downs, an interception and a blocked punt, which led to 23 Pec-Argyle points. The Vikings limited Wayland Academy to 171 total yards (157 rushing, 14 passing).
"We did what we had to do to get a stop, get a short field and score touchdowns," Saalsaa said.
Green thought the blocked punt on Wayland Academy's first possession set the tone.
"I think that scared them a little bit - having that many guys on the line of scrimmage," he said. "That may have factored into why they went for it.
"I'm a defensive guy. Our defense is always expected to play well."
Pecatonica-Argyle advances to Saturday's second round, where the Vikings will play at Racine Lutheran (8-2), which beat Brookfield Academy in a shootout, 35-34.
Pec-Argyle senior Taylor Saalsaa (Thunder) scored three touchdowns and fellow senior Lee Vlasak (Lightning) rolled up 172 total yards (97 rushing, 75 receiving) and scored two touchdowns to propel the Vikings to the win Tuesday night in Argyle.
"It feels like every play we can break one from anywhere on the field," Saalsaa said. "The blocking was great. You can see that by the result on the scoreboard."
Pec-Argyle (8-2) blocked a punt on Wayland Academy's first possession that the Big Red knocked out of bounds after a scrum for a safety.
At the end of the first quarter, Wayland Academy (8-2), facing a fourth-and-5 from its own 46-yard line, turned the ball over on downs after an incomplete screen pass.
Pec-Argyle capitalized on the turnover, with Vlasak breaking a tackle and bolting for a 46-yard touchdown run to give the Vikings a 9-0 lead with 2:01 to go in the first quarter.
"The playoffs is a whole new game," Vikings coach Larry Green said. "Records mean nothing to us."
The Vikings poured it on in the second quarter. On third-and-goal midway through the second, senior quarterback Milton Kurschner tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Vlasak. Kurschner completed 8 of 9 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
"The line did a great job up front, giving me time to throw the ball," Kurschner said. "According to some experts, we were going to get upset. We used that as motivation."
Pec-Argyle senior Pete Peterson intercepted Rhatican Brendan's pass with about four minutes left in the second quarter to set up the Vikings' next score. The big play on the ensuing drive was Kurschner's 40-yard pass to Vlasak on third down.
Kurschner later connected with Vlasak on a 15-yard touchdown pass, but the score was wiped out by a block in the back. The Vikings weren't frustrated by the penalty on the field. On the next play, Kurschner converted on third-and-goal with a 20-yard pass to Saalsaa to give the Vikings a 23-0 halftime lead.
The Vikings stuffed Wayland Academy on fourth-and-2 on the opening drive of the third quarter. Pec-Argyle cashed in right away, with Saalsaa breaking loose for a 34-yard run to give the Vikings a 29-0 lead.
Saalsaa added a 2-yard touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter.
Wayland Academy went 1-for-5 on fourth down, including three turnovers on downs, an interception and a blocked punt, which led to 23 Pec-Argyle points. The Vikings limited Wayland Academy to 171 total yards (157 rushing, 14 passing).
"We did what we had to do to get a stop, get a short field and score touchdowns," Saalsaa said.
Green thought the blocked punt on Wayland Academy's first possession set the tone.
"I think that scared them a little bit - having that many guys on the line of scrimmage," he said. "That may have factored into why they went for it.
"I'm a defensive guy. Our defense is always expected to play well."
Pecatonica-Argyle advances to Saturday's second round, where the Vikings will play at Racine Lutheran (8-2), which beat Brookfield Academy in a shootout, 35-34.
