About the only thing that separated two 10-2 football teams hungry for state was a 47-yard field goal with two seconds remaining from Waunakee senior Troy Laufenberg that fell short. The 21-20 win sent the Wolverines back to Camp Randall Stadium in Madison for the WIAA Division 2 state championship game Nov. 21.
It was the second time Waukesha West coaches, players and fans had to cross their fingers in a WIAA Division 2, Level 4 game at Greg Vock Field at Kettle Moraine High School. After a 15-play drive, Laufenberg hit junior Jacob Royston on a 3-yard touchdown play on fourth down and goal with 26 seconds remaining, head coach Pat Rice elected to go for 2 points and the win. The play was busted up by Wolverines senior defensive lineman Brad Goetz.
'Oh God, my heart was racing (when they went for the 2-point conversion),' said Waukesha West senior quarterback Conor Blount. 'But I had a good feeling about it. This was a great feeling that will take time to sink in.'
The Wolverines (11-2) will try to replicate what the 2010 and 2004 teams were able to do — bring home the gold ball.
Blount tossed two touchdown passes to junior wide receiver Nick Daniels. One came from 29 yards away to give Waukesha West a 14-7 lead early in the third quarter. The second was measured at 28 yards with 31 seconds to play in the third, setting up the fourth quarter drama at 21-14.
Blount had all kinds of confidence in Daniels.
'I just knew I had to get the ball to him and allow him to make plays,' said Blount. 'He's a play-maker for us.'
Steve Rux wasn't sure if the Warriors were going for 2 on the touchdown to nearly tie the game. But Rux would have.
'If I was them, I would,' he said. 'It didn't surprise me. They've got a good run game and were getting five, six yards a crack. I was a little surprised with a reverse pass off of that.'
Waukesha West offensive lineman —junior Sam Heckel, senior Jake Keating, senior Sean Morrow, senior Joe Schultz and junior Ben Ganswindt — got some encouragement early in the second quarter from the coaching staff.
'We were kind of on our heels for a while against Waunakee, a well-coached team,' said Rux. 'Our protection wasn't there at the beginning, but we made some adjustments, and the kids responded.'
What a feeling.
'Waunakee is definitely a great team,' Daniels said. 'This is great. I can't wait to get to Camp Randall, it's a great atmosphere to be in. Tonight at the end was so nerve-racking, I can't begin to describe it.'
Laufenberg, who had 114 yards rushing in the first half, scored on a 9-yard run with 9:37 to play in the second quarter, giving Waunakee a 7-0 lead. Waukesha West tied the game at 7-7 with 34 seconds to play prior to halftime on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Blount to junior Tyler Remmers.
'It was like we won and then we didn't. Crazy game that could have gone either way,' said Rux. 'We made one more play then they did.'