GAME RECAP: Pewaukee Edges NB Eisenhower

Pewaukee drove 78 yards in 8 minutes 24 seconds at the end of the fourth quarter to give Donny Cramer a chance to win the game. Cramer, who missed an extra point in the first quarter, converted on a 25 yard field goal as time expired to lift the Pirates to a 24-21 victory over New Berlin Eisenhower, clinching at least a tie for the Woodland Conference Championship.

Eisenhower stormed back from a 21-7 deficit midway through the third quarter and scored touchdowns on two consecutive drives. A perfectly executed stop and go route with 8:26 left in the fourth quarter resulted in a 19 yard touchdown pass from Lion's backup quarterback Brian York to Ian McKechnie that tied the score 21-21 and set up Pewaukee's game winning drive.

Starting at their own 20 yard line, Pewaukee ate up the rest of the clock before Cramer kicked the winning field goal. On the drive, Kenny Mischker converted on three third downs. The Pirates were also the beneficiaries of a questionable pass interference call that moved them inside Lion's territory.

A.J. Coley ran off right tackle on 4^th and 2 at the 11 yard line with 1 minute remaining in the game to put the Pirates in position to win with a first and goal at the 3 yard line. The Lions defense did not break, and forced the field goal attempt on 4^th and goal with just 2 seconds remaining.

Both teams played well, with neither team committing a turnover the entire game. After the Lions jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a 2 yard TD run by Mike Lyles, Pewaukee reeled off 21 unanswered points. Andrew Kissner started the scoring with a 26 yard touchdown reception from QB Patrick Bacon with 3:11 remaining in the first quarter. Pewaukee followed that up with second and third quarter drives that were culminated by touchdown runs of 6 and 9 yards by Mischker and Coley respectively.

Eisenhower starting QB Niko Koshak left the game near the end of the third quarter with an apparent shoulder injury and was replaced by Brian York, a 6'3", 170 lb. Junior. In a tough situation, York failed to capitalize on a first and goal situation by missing a wide open Kevin Marr in the end zone to finish the half without points. The decision not to kick the field goal ultimately cost them an opportunity at overtime.

After a three and out series to open the second half, however, York began to heat up. Eisenhower successfully mixed the running of Tyler Faber and Lyles, and the connection of York to McKechnie to get back into the game.

The Pirates can clinch the Woodland Conference Championship with a victory on Wednesday against St. Francis.

After beating Greendale last week to set up this game between conference unbeatens, Eisenhower will likely have to settle for second place if they can win next week against Brown Deer.

The Lions hope to get QB Koshak back in time for the playoffs, where they will need every bit of their powerful offense to compete in Division 3 this year.