ABBOTSFORD FOOTBALL PULLS AWAY TO BEAT COLEMAN IN WIAA DIVISION 6 LEVEL 3 PLAYOFF
By Steve Pilz
For Zaleski Sports
ABBOTSFORD - The Abbotsford Falcons continued on their historic run of a football season by downing a game, but overwhelmed, Coleman squad 44-24 in WIAA Division 6 Level 3 playoff game Friday night at Abbotsford High School.
The Cougars shouldn’t feel too bad since Dalton Feddick’s been running around, through and over opponents all season long.
Feddick may have out-did himself on this night however, as the senior quarterback ran the ball 29 times for 354 yards. He had runs of 58, 55, 41, 29 and 21 yards to name just a few, and had a pair of touchdowns to boot.
“We all play for each other,” Feddick said. “It’s a team game, not just individuals. You gotta go do your job out there, and we did that. Our offensive line is doing as good as they have all year and our defense stepped it up tonight as well.”
“We didn’t think much about the weather; we just went out and played…but I’m pretty cold right now.”
Feddick set the tone for the game early on, ripping off a 55-yard TD on the game’s third play. He added a 41-yarder after Coleman gave up the ball on downs on their opening drive.
Mason Wellman scored from the 11 with almost six minutes left in the half making it 20-0 and it was beginning to look like a rout.
Coleman took the ball over at the 50 and Cayden Bintz hit Payton Nelson on a bomb on the first play from scrimmage that gave the Cougars life before the half.
And when Zack Cops took the second-half kickoff 70 yards for a score, the Cougars were actually right back in it at 20-12.
Ty Falteisek answered back about five minutes later with a 10-yard rushing TD, but Coleman answered that when Tyler Blanchard scored from one-yard out to trail by just 10 at 28-18.
Similar to last week against Auburndale, and more than likely, most of the season, Abby’s grind-‘em-up approach led to this win as well, as they allowed Coleman to run just 10 offensive plays in the second half.
Abby opened the fourth quarter with a 5-yard TD run by Cade Faber. Faber then went in again from the 12 about 4½ minutes later to make it 42-18.
Coleman got their final TD on a 40- yard burst from Blanchard with almost six minutes left, but that was it for the Cougars.
The Abby defense got the remaining points on a safety after Bintz was forced to ground the ball as he threw from his own end zone.
“They (Coleman) adjusted to some things,” Abby coach Jake Knapmilller said. “Our kids just had to communicate it. It’s nothing on the coaching staff. The kids need to see what’s happening and process that. The system we run allows that to be a little easier. I think because they follow rules but they need to recognize. There were holes for all the backs tonight. Dalton (Feddick) did a nice job of finishing through tackles.”
“We embrace this weather,” continued Knapmiller. “We’re built for it. The ability to pass the ball is nice, but when November comes you’ve got to be able to run the rock. We’re playing the best we have all year and that’s where you want to be at this point.”
Abbotsford (12-0) will take on Eau Claire Regis (12-0) in a WIAA Division 6 state semifinal on Friday, Nov. 15 at Dorais Field in Chippewa Falls.
Falcons 44, Cougars 24
Coleman 0 6 12 6 - 24
Abbotsford 14 6 8 16 - 44
First Quarter
A - Dallton Feddick 55 run (Feddick run), 10:58.
A - Feddick 41 run (run failed), 3:12.
Second Quarter
A - Mason Wellman 11 run (run failed), 5:52.
C - Payton Nelson 50 pass from Cayden Bintz (pass failed), 5:34.
Third Quarter
C - Zack Cops 70 kickoff return (pass failed), 11:47.
A - Ty Falteisek 10 run (Cade Faber pass from Feddick), 6:34.
C - Tyler Blancherd 1 run (run failed), 5:15.
Fourth Quarter
A - Faber 5 run (Falteisek run), 11:43.
A - Faber 12 run (pass failed), 7:16.
C - Blanchard 40 run (pass failed) 5:48.
A – Safety, Coleman penalized for intentional grounding in end zone.
Team Statistics
First downs: Coleman 10; Abbotsford 27.
Rushing (att.-yards): C 26-194; A 65-530.
Passing (comp.-att.-yards-int.): C 2-10-57-1; A 1-3-11-0.
Total yards: C 251; A 541.
Fumbles (total-lost): C-1-1; A 3-2.
Penalties (total-yards): C- 0-0. Abby 4-36.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: C, Blanchard 10-100, Sam Kuchta 6-41, Owen Kinziger 5-23, Cops 3-13, Bintz 2-7. A, Feddick 29-354, Faber 14-87, Falteisek 15-68, Wellman 3-14.
Passing: C, Bintz 2-10-57-1. A, Feddick 1-3-11-0.
Receiving: C Nelson 1-50, Cops 1-7. A, Reiley Schreiber 1-11.