Aiden Norman (2) follows a legion of blockers on his way to a touchdown Friday night. Photo courtesy of Beth Sparrow-
Brady Cook (32) reads the block of fellow senior Trey Swertzic (8) to pick up a big gain. The Fullerton Warrior team concluded their season with a round 1 state playoff loss to Osceola. The loss brought the Warriors to 4-5 on the season. Fullerton finished 2nd in their district for the year. Photo courtesy of Beth Sparrow
It was a rematch for the first round of playoffs, as the Osceola Bulldogs again faced the Fullerton Warriors. Were the Warriors hungry enough after losing the first time? They started out well, scoring first with a touchdown and point after with only 9:34 on the clock. Warriors were ahead first 8-0. The Bulldogs answered with Kale Gustafson running a 33-yard touchdown, and Isaiah Zelasney adding the point after to tie it up, 8-8. Fullerton had a couple downs, and then there was a wild throw and the quarterback couldn’t recover it. Osceola got the safety, 10-8, for their first lead. Bulldogs got the ball back with Kolton Neujahr returning it. It was first and ten on the 37-yard line. Then Zelasney was back with another touchdown, and he added the point after for a score of 18-8, Osceola. The Warriors tried to get some yards, and were able to get a first down, until they had another bad snap, and Osceola recovered on the 29-yard line. Zelasney made a 51-yard run for another touchdown, and he added the point after for a score of 26-8 with 4:30 left in the quarter. Fullerton tried again to move the ball, but tried a pass with Kale Gustafson intercepting, and it was the Dawg’s ball again. After a first down with a loss of yards, Zelasney took the ball down the field again for a touchdown 32-8. Point after was a pass from Gus to Hayden Lavaley. 34-8 with 1:23 left in the quarter. The first quarter would stay with that score.
Fullerton was unable to score on their next possession, but Osceola was still on a roll. Gustafson would get the next touchdown with a 47-yard run. He passed to Zelasney for the point after 42-8. The Warrior’s next time of possession went better getting a couple first downs and moving the ball down the field until it was fourth down and one yard. The Warriors went for it, but were stopped and the Dawgs got the ball back. The Dawgs moved the ball down the field until it was first and goal on the eight-yard line. Zelasney ran it in for the touchdown, with Neujahr adding the point after 50-8 with 8:03 left in the half. The next possession for the Warriors would not be productive, with an incomplete pass and a delay of game penalty. The Bulldogs took over again. Gustafson and Zelasney took turns carrying the ball, and it was Zelasney who took it in for another touchdown with Gustafson running in the points after, 58-8 Osceola, 4:28 left in the half. Fullerton tried again, but it was Neujahr grabbing an interception. Neujahr took it eight more yards, before Zelasney ran it down, but it was brought back due to a Bulldog holding call. They still moved the ball and Gustafson got the touchdown with Neujahr adding the points after 66-8 with just a couple minutes left in the half. Fullerton was able to get some carries from Aiden Norman and Fletcher Dubas to move the ball down to the 21-yard line. Fullerton took a time out, and then came back to pass the ball to Brady Cook for a touchdown. Their point after attempt was no good, so it was 6614 going into half time.
The starters still played the second half with Zelasney and Matt DeMers carrying the ball. They got to first and goal, and then Gus ran the last four yards for a touchdown and added the points after, 74-14. The second string went in for Osceola, and Fullerton was able to move the ball down field with efforts from Cook, and a touchdown by Aiden Norman. Fletcher Dubas would pass to Max Voichahoske for the points after 74-22. That score would end the third quarter.
Brayden Santos passed to Braxton Mestl to start the fourth quarter for a touchdown. He then passed to Liam White for the points after 82-22, Osceola. Fullerton answered with a 37-yard touchdown run from Norman and the points after attempt of a pass from Dubas to Voichahoske, 8230. Freshman Santos had some speed and ran it in for a touchdown, 88-30. Their PAT attempt was no good. Fullerton made some progress giving the ball to Voichahoske seven times in a row. He eventually got another touchdown and put in the points after 88-38. That score would end the ball game for an Osceola win, 88-38.
Osceola goes on in playoffs. They are reseeded to #11 and will play sixth seed Bloomfield at Bloomfield on Friday, October 28th.