G-E-T loss to Westby sets up must-win rivalry game with Arcadia
Sophomore Oliver Remus followed the block from teammate Ben Hansen as he ran the ball during a 27-6 Coulee Conference loss to Westby last Friday. The Red Hawks need a win over Arcadia this week to qualify for the postseason. (Times photograph by Benjamin Pierce)
It’s do-or-die time for the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau football team.
One team stands between G-E-T and a second straight trip to the playoffs after last Friday’s 27-6 loss to Westby on the road, and it’s a team that knows the Red Hawks perhaps better than any other.
The Red Hawks host their northern county neighbor Arcadia (2-6 overall, 0-6 Coulee Conference) this Friday, and both sides know the math is simple this week — a win puts G-E-T at four conference wins this season, enough to qualify for the 2023 postseason. A loss in the Highway 93 matchup means the end of the road and the Raiders spoiling the Red Hawks’ goal.
The Red Hawks (3-5 overall, 3-3 Coulee) will hope for a more resilient showing on defense this week than they showed in last week’s loss to Westby (7-1, 5-1 Coulee).
Westby ran through G-E-T on a day the hosts racked up 317 yards in the running game and added another 163 through the air while limiting G-E-T to less than 150 yards of total offense.
Most of the first half was played between either teams’ 20-yard lines as the sides traded possessions for much of the early going. The Norse opened the scoring on a 24-yard run from Brady Mowery, a play that stood as the only score of the first half.
The visitors held Westby out of the end zone just before halftime despite the Norse having three looks at a score inside the 10-yard line in the final minute.
When play resumed after halftime, though, Westby appeared ready to utilize a rushing offense that has given the entire conference trouble this season. Mowery scored another touchdown for Westby and Rhett Stenslien added a 60-yard score to give the hosts a four-score advantage.
Stenslien (141 yards) and Mowery (121) each eclipsed the 100-yard mark for Westby on Friday. Stenslien (10) continues to lead the Coulee in rushing touchdowns entering the final week of the regular season.
The Red Hawks prevented a shutout with a touchdown in the final minute, this one a 12-yard pass from quarterback Ben Hansen to Jackson Burns. Kolby Lewis led G-E-T on defense with seven tackles against Westby, and teammate Omar Jimenez had six tackles and an interception for the Red Hawks.
Arcadia will need to limit Kyle Seiling in the running game this week after the junior had another productive day for G-E-T against the Norse—Seiling paced G-E-T with 99 yards rushing and leads the team with eight touchdowns in 2023.
G-E-T—
Rushing (att./yds.)—Seiling 32/99, Lewis 4/15, Haney 4/13, Hansen 7/11, Johnson 1/3, Repaal 1/0, Remus 1/-2.
Receiving (rec./yds.)—Burns 1/12, Repaal 1/-2.
Passing (comp./att./yds.)—Hansen 2/6/10, Knott 0/1/0.
Tackles (solo/total)—Lewis 7/8, O. Jimenez 6/7.5, Repaal 4/4.5, Johnson 3/3.5, K. Seiling 1/4, Burns 3/3.5, C. Jimenez 1/3, Waxlax 2/2.5, Remus 2/2, Hammel 2/2, Wieczorek 1/1.5, Herman 1/1, Halverson 1/1, Christian 0/0.5.
