Blair-Taylor drops season opener to Onalaska Luther

A high-powered rushing attack led by quarterback Dillon Yang and running back Josiah Larson pushed Onalaska Luther to a convincing win over Blair-Taylor in a non-conference game on Friday.

The Wildcats held Luther off the board in the first, but the Knights found their groove thereafter, scoring a pair of touchdowns in each of the next three quarters to win 40-7. Blair-Taylor head coach Andy Nehring still saw positives in the game.

“Even though the outcome wasn’t what we wanted, we saw things we can build on for the future,” Nehring said.

Yang opened the scoring on an 11-yard run in the second quarter before adding another on a short run to help Luther to a 13-0 lead at halftime.

The quarterback threw a 16-yard touchdown in the second quarter before Larson scored on runs of 66 and 10 yards.

The Wildcat defense was led by junior linebackers Gabe Armitage and Bryan Rogstad, who finished with 10 tackles apiece. Isaiah Washington, a senior, added nine tackles and a forced fumble.

Blair-Taylor got on the board late in the game when quarterback Cain Fremstad found running back Jackson Shramek from seven yards out. The senior finished 13-of-29 with 122 yards and four interceptions.

Shramek ran 11 times, racking up 89 yards on the ground and a pair of catches for 18 yards. Senior wide receiver Colton Lejcher led the Wildcats in catches (four) and receiving yards (44).

As Blair-Taylor hopes for a better outcome in its home opener against Elmwood/Plum City (0-1 this season) on Friday, Nehring said he believes in his team after the loss to Luther.

“Our kids kept playing all four quarters regardless of the score,” Nehring said. “That’s something we’re proud of. There will be better days in the future with that kind of attitude.”