Dubuque Wahlert avenges regular season loss with 27-6 win over West Delaware in Class 3A state football quarterfinal

MANCHESTER – Eleven seconds.

It doesn’t seem like much time to make a difference but it was enough for the game to flip Dubuque Wahlert’s way.

In that short stretch before the end of the first quarter, the Golden Eagles thwarted West Delaware’s goal line push with a turnover, followed it with a long touchdown pass for a two-score advantage and never looked back.

J.P. Elbert passed for two TDs, including an 80-yard strike to Josh Oelke, and rushed for two more, helping Wahlert beat West Delaware, 27-6, in a Class 3A state quarterfinal football game Friday night at Brown Field. The defending state champions return to the semifinals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, avenging a regular-season loss to the Hawks.

“Our guys were extremely focused tonight,” Wahlert Coach Jamie Marshall said. “They were ready to play. Couldn’t be more proud of what they did.”

Elbert said the Golden Eagles (9-2) circled this rematch when the postseason pods were released. They wanted to make amends for their last loss on Sept. 19. Wahlert has won seven straight.

“This is one we knew we wanted to get back,” Elbert said. “They’re a very good football team. We prepped well all week for it. We got it done tonight.”

The turning point came right before the first quarter break. The Hawks answered Wahlert’s first scoring drive with a 17-play drive to the 1. On fourth-and-goal, the Hawks tried to push it across but during the scrum Wahlert emerged with the ball. The ruling was a fumble and touchback.

One play later, Elbert carried out a play-action pass and hit a wide-open Oelke for the longest play of the game and a 13-0 lead 11 seconds after the first of two costly fumbles in the first half.

“They came out right away, drove down and made some plays,” West Delaware Coach Ryan King said. “We answer and we're going in. It’s a game of inches. You think we’re going to score and about 10 seconds later, it's 13-0. They make a big play and then it just kind of seemed like they were super confident.”

Wahlert Coach Jamie Marshall said the Golden Eagles executed better and were healthier than the first meeting. He also had a more dynamic offensive approach.

“What I have learned in the playoffs is you have to be aggressive,” Marshall said. “Whether you’re favored or unfavored, it doesn’t matter. The games go so fast that you have to be aggressive play-calling. That’s what we were tonight.”

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Elbert opened the scoring with a 21-yard pass to Brody Schumacher a little more than four minutes into the game. He also scored on a 7-yard run with 2:29 to go in the second for a 20-0 halftime lead.

Elbert added a 5-yard scoring run for the final points with 9:49 remaining. Overall, he finished with 225 yards, including 161 passing.

“Everything, this year, has gone through J.P.,” Marshall said. “We’re running and passing. Our running backs have been injured at different points of the year, so he’s picked up and carried the load for us. He’s done a heck of a job.”

West Delaware continued to battle. The Hawks covered 84 yards on 13 plays on their first second-half drive. Jack Cantwell raced in on a sweep left for a 5-yard TD run, pulling within 20-6 with 1:51 left in the third.

“That’s our brand of football, right there,” Cantwell said. “It took 10 minutes off the clock but that’s how we are. Run the football.”

West Delaware only had one more possession, resulting in a turnover on downs at midfield.

“They played mistake free,” King said. “That's probably the turning point. They didn't make any mistakes. They stayed ahead of the chains and kept us behind them.”

West Delaware managed to run the ball well. The Hawks amassed 232 rushing yards behind their big three of Austin Schnieders, Cantwell and Macoy Roling. Cantwell finished with 99, Roling had 79 and Schnieders added 54.

“Sometimes the ball just goes that way this time of year,” King said. “I think our kids play really hard. They played tremendous and gave great effort. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the way they play.”

The Hawks conclude their season at 9-2 overall and made it back to the quarterfinals for the second time in three season. This time with a new cast of characters, graduating most of last year’s starters on both sides of the ball.

“It was a great season for us,” Cantwell said. “I know it hurts right now but looking back it was an awesome year.

“No one thought anything of us. Ranked 30 in 3A. We beat them the first time. Couldn’t get it done this time but it’s about the bonds you make with the guys. I had a ton of fun this year.”

DUBUQUE WAHLERT 27

WEST DELAWARE 6

AT MANCHESTER

DW WD

First Downs 16 14

Rushes-yards 36-182 52-232

Passing yards 161 44

Comp-att-int 9-12-0 3-5-0

Total yards 343 276

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-2

Punts-avg. 2-35.0 3-33.7

Penalties-yards 4-30 3-20

Dubuque Wahlert 13 7 0 7 -- 27

West Delaware 0 0 6 0 -- 6

DW – Brody Schumacher 21 pass from J.P. Elbert (Landen Williams kick)

DW – Josh Oelke 80 pass from Elbert (rush failed)

DW – Elbert 7 run (Williams kick)

WD – Jack Cantwell 5 run (kick failed)

DW – Elbert 5 run (Williams kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Dub. Wahlert: Schumacher 5-74, Elbert 14-64, Anderson Herbst 9-34, Wil Welbes 5-13, Ben Francis 1-1, Team 2-(minus 4). West Delaware: Cantwell 18-99, Macoy Roling 18-79, Austin Schnieders 16-54.

PASSING – Dub. Wahlert: Elbert 9-12-0-161. West Delaware: Schnieders 3-5-0-44.

RECEIVING – Dub. Wahlert: Oelke 1-80, Herbst 4-46, Schumacher 3-38, Welbes 1-(minus 3). West Delaware: Cantwell 2-33, Tate Mormann 1-11.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com