Setz' strategy works in win over Rockets

New Berlin - It was a good night on Friday for New Berlin Eisenhower coach Jeff Setz and his football team. They not only defeated the elements, but they also beat South Milwaukee, 19-12, on the road.

The Lions (5-2 overall) continue to improve as the season progresses, as they now share second place with Greenfield (4-3 overall), both with 4-2 Woodland Conference Black Division records, two games behind Greendale (6-0, 6-1).

At South Milwaukee on Friday, the Lions and Rockets had to deal with a muddy field and strong winds and that affected Setz' strategy.

With the score tied at 6-6 at halftime, the Lions came out and took the wind in the second half.

"The field was in somewhat poor condition because of all the rain and with the wind blowing the way it was at South Milwaukee," Setz said, "we came out in the third quarter and kicked with the wind in hopes of putting them in the hole. It worked pretty well."

The Lions outscored South Milwaukee, 13-0, to take a 19-6 lead and it was because of the play of quarterback John Crowley and wide receiver Nick Holicek, who combined on touchdowns of 33 and 25 yards.

"We got into a couple of third and long situations and John and hit Nick twice in end zone," Setz said. "The strategy worked - throw the long ball.

"We tried to run the ball when we went against the wind, but it was so muddy. We went to the air and took advantage of the wind at the right time. John made big plays and Nick had some big catches."

Holicek caught three passes for 83 yards and Crowley completed only 4-of-8 passes, but he passed for 103 yards.

The Rockets kept the running game in control as Darren Lehsten (8-for-30), Nick Taylor (6-for-23), Jordan Mather (5-for-19) and Crowley (6-for-14) led the attack.

When the other team gets only 12 points, the defense plays a big role and Friday night was no exception. In fact, the Lions defense got them on the board first when Matt Pscheid intercepted a pass and ran it in from seven yards out for Eisenhower's only first-half score.

South Milwaukee's Austin Stueck grabbed a 9-yard pass to take the game into intermission at 6-6.

Crowley and Holicek then took over the offense in the third period and all the Rockets could manage was a 3-yard run by Alex Cramer in the fourth period as Ike's linebackers Turner Sagat and Steve Itsines led a tough defense.

"We held South Milwaukee fairly well," Setz said. "They were bigger than us and they tried to grind it out through the mud."