News: Greenwood, Wisconsin Football Champs (Nov 1990)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Lenz, Lindner, Schmitz, Stremikis, Drazkowski, DeFlorian, Skau, Anderson, Gillespie

----Source: Wisconsin State Journal November 9, 1990

DE SOTO (12-0) vs. GREENWOOD (11-1) Saturday, 11 a.m.

For Greenwood Coach Bob Lenz, three times was a charm. That's how many times it took the Indians to get past Augusta. Last year, they made the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs only to be trounced, 49-6. in the first round by the Beavers, who went on to win the Division 6 title. This year, Greenwood's Small Cloverleaf Conference foes handed the Indians their only loss, 33-32. in the next-to-last game of the regular season.

The Indians made sure back luck didn't come in threes last week when they beat Augusta, 38-14, in the semifinals, earning a berth in the Division 6 state title game at 11 a.m. Saturday against De Soto. Now comes the hard part. De Soto has been to the playoffs 11 straight times, in the final six times, and has as many state titles (3) as Greenwood has playoff appearances. "How many times?" Lenz asked. "Holy cow. And they run the wishbone, so if we make any mistakes, it's going to be a long morning."

Of course, if the Indians running game performs like it has all season, it will stand a good chance of giving the Pirates a rough morning, too. Senior 230- pound fullback Lewis Lindner has gained nearly 1,500 yards for Greenwood and halfback Chris Schmitz went over the 1,000 mark against Augusta, rushing for 193 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Steve Stremikis can throw if he has to. "In the playoffs, you've got to be able to do both unless you've got the power to just run over people or the speed to run around them," said Lenz. For De Soto, the Ridge & Valley Conference champs for the first time in three years, it's been a season of redemption after three of frustration. With Bob Schulz at the helm, the Pirates made it to Camp Randall four straight years from 1983 through 1986, winning twice. But that string ended in 1987, when the Pirates were bounced by Mineral Point in the first round in Paul Drazkowski's first season as coach. In 1988, they lost in the first round again, to Iowa- Grant. Last year's season ended in the second round, 8-0, to Kickapoo. For a town used to state titles, this was not acceptable behavior.

So for this year's senior class, getting back to the final has been a great way to relieve the pressure. The Pirates beat Highland, 16-12, in the first round of the playoffs, then Seneca, 32-6, and Kickapoo, 14-0.

"The kids are aware of the pressure (to win), you bet they are," said Drazkowski. "And they have something to prove here."

De Soto's wishbone, led by fullback Travis DeFlorian, has proved lethal all season. DeFlorian has rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and has scored 44 of the Pirates' 62 points in the playoffs. He ran for 82 yards, a touchdown and a two point conversion in De Soto's victory over Kickapoo. John Skau, who scored the other touchdown against Kickapoo, is right behind DeFlorian with more than 1,100 yards. The quarterback, Barry Anderson, and the other halfback, Jamie Gillespie, each are around the 800-yard mark.