UPDATED: Pooler, Tigers roll over Lumberjacks

LADYSMITH -- The Northwestern High School football team stayed unbeaten as it defeated the Ladysmith Lumberjacks 42-14 Friday night behind a three-touchdown performance by senior fullback Mark Pooler.

The Tigers struck early as they took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards on eight plays capped off by a Pooler 5-yard touchdown run. The two-point attempt failed.

After the defense stopped Ladysmith on a three plays, the Tigers went 50 yards in five plays for another score as Nick Murray scampered in from 20 yards for the TD and Jordan Orme booted the PAT.

Following another three-and-out for Ladysmith, the Tigers appeared to be driving for another score when they fumbled at the Lumberjacks 5-yard line.

Ladysmith then returned the favor with a fumble that Duncan Magerl recovered, and the Tigers’ Pooler made them pay, scoring his second touchdown on a 3-yard run with 11:11 to go in the second quarter and making it 20-0 for the Tigers.

After again stopping the Lumberjacks, Northwestern took over on their own 27. On the third play of the series, Pooler put on a dazzling display of talent as he accelerated quickly through a hole in the line, faked out a linebacker, plowed right through the safety, and then outran three ‘Jacks to the end zone for a memorable 65-yard touchdown. Orme’s extra point made it 27-0 and that was all the first half scoring.

Pooler ended up with 122 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the first half.

After halftime, Nathan Sikorski ran 13 yards for another Tiger score and also ran in the PAT to put the game into running time at 35-0.

With the Tiger reserves turning the ball over on a fumble, Ladysmith quarterback Markus Armstrong hit Matt Ollinger on a 16-yard pass to get Ladysmith on the scoreboard with 10:58 to play.

Ladysmith’s Armstrong ran 3 yards for another score a couple minutes later and also booted the PAT making it 35-14 in favor of the Tigers.

On the ensuing kickoff, Sikorski took the ball at the 10 and went 90 yards to pay dirt to end the scoring for the night.

NHS coach Dennis Scherz praised the offensive line for their efforts.

“Luke Schulz, Luke Johnson, Logan Moreau, Jay Karich, Duncan Magerl and tight end Micah Olson opened up huge holes for the backs,” Scherz said.

He also was pleased with the play of quarterback Peter Lindsay, who completed 5-of-6 passes for 90 yards.

Scherz noted that the emergence of freshman Nate Pearson, as a starter at safety, allowed Lindsay to concentrate on his quarterback duties.

Pooler ended the night with 127 yards on the ground and Sikorski added 87 as the team totaled 272 yards rushing and 362 total yards.

Murray caught four passes from Lindsay and Grant Pearson caught one.

Defensively, Justin Miesbauer led the Tigers for the third straight game in tackles, this time with 11. Magerl and Johnny Parkins had eight each.

Armstrong was impressive for Ladysmith, moving to quarterback late in the second quarter and providing some offensive spark. Armstrong ran for 107 yards and passed for 39.

Northwestern (3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Heart O’ North Conference) hosts the Hayward Hurricanes at 7 p.m. Friday at Tiger Stadium in Maple.

Hayward fell Friday night to Cumberland, 54-28. In other HON action, Bloomer belted Chetek-Weyerhauser and Spooner scored a touchdown on a kick return in the final minutes of the game to defeat Barron 40-35.

Northwestern 13 14 8 7 — 42

Ladysmith 0 0 0 14 — 14

First Quarter

NHS — Mark Pooler, 5-yard run (Jordan Orme run failed).

NHS — Nick Murray, 20-yard run (Orme kick).

Second Quarter

NHS — Pooler, 3-yard run (Orme kick).

NHS — Pooler, 65-yard run (Orme kick).

Third Quarter

NHS — Nathan Sikorski, 13-yard run (Sikorski run).

Fourth Quarter

LHS — Markus Armstrong, 13-yard pass to Matt Ollinger (Armstrong kick).

LHS — Armstrong, 3-yard run (Armstrong kick).

NHS — Sikorski, 86-yard kickoff return (Orme kick).

Team stats

NHS LHS

First downs 16 15

Rushing yards 277 160

Passing completions-attempts 4-5 3-14

Passing yards 82 36

Touchdowns-interceptions 0-0 1-0

Total plays 40 55

Total offense 359 196

Fumbles-lost 3-2 1-1

Penalties-yards 4-40 1-5

Time of poss. 19:06 28:54

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