Appleton North football drops WIAA playoff opener at Kimberly

AppletonSportsPage.com

KIMBERLY – The Appleton North football team’s season came to an end the same way it did last year, with a playoff loss to rival Kimberly.

Kimberly took a two-touchdown lead in the second quarter and held on for a 35-16 win over the Lightning in a WIAA Division 1 Level 1 playoff game Friday night at Kimberly High School.

Grant Hardy caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Olson in the opening quarter to give the Lightning a quick 7-0 lead.

However, Kimberly quickly turned the tables, as Carter Howard returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown to tie the game and North never recovered.

Kimberly quarterback Braedon Ellefson had rushing touchdowns of 5 and 3 yards in the second quarter to put the Papermakers (8-1) in front 21-7.

Mason Skorstad kicked a 29-yard field goal before halftime to cut North’s deficit to 21-10, but Kimberly pushed in two more TDs in the second half to surge to a 35-10 lead.

D.J. Wilson had a 14-yard touchdown run late for the Lightning’s final score.

Appleton North’s defense was stout, giving up just 181 total yards, but the Lightning were hurt by two turnovers and nine penalties.

Appleton North finishes the season with a 5-5 record.

Kimberly moves on to a Level 2 matchup against another Fox Valley Association rival, Neenah (8-2) at home on Friday, Nov. 1. Click here to view the statewide Level 1 playoff scoreboard

Papermakers 35, Lightning 16
Appleton North   7   3   0   6   –   16
Kimberly   7   14   7   7   –   35
First Quarter
AN – Grant Hardy 7 pass from Charlie Olson (Mason Skorstad kick).
K – Carter Howard 87 kick return (Maddux Hermus kick).
Second Quarter
K – Braedon Ellefson 5 run (Hermus kick).
K – Ellefson 3 run (Hermus kick).
AN – Skorstad 29 field goal.
Third Quarter
K – Brady Bell 1 run (Hermus kick).
Fourth Quarter
K – Kegan Pleau 33 run (Hermus kick).
AN – D.J. Wilson 14 run (kick missed).
Team Statistics
First downs: AN 14; K 9.
Rushing (att-yards): AN 22-57; K 37-176.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): AN 22-35-208-1; K 2-9-5-2.
Total yards: AN 265; K 181.
Fumbles lost: AN 1; K 0.
Penalties (no.-yards): AN 9-90; K 3-31.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: AN, Charlie Olson 13-40, D.J. Wilson 5-17, Bobby Salm 3-1, Grant Hardy 1-minus 1. K, Kegan Pleau 9-69, Marcus Doucette 13-51, Brady Bell 7-38, Braedon Ellefson 8-18.
Passing: AN, Olson 22-35-208-1. K, Ellfson 2-9-5-2.
Receiving: AN, Hardy 9-133, Michael Guido 4-19, Keegan Muchow 3-17, Caden Prince 2-21, Abraham Tomori 1-12, Wilson 1-6, Salm 1-2, Sam Schmalz 1-minus 2. K, Carter Howard 2-5.
Fumble recoveries (defense): K, Ellefson.
Interceptions (defense): AN, Eli Vezina, Daniel Garrigan. K, Sawyer Hanlon.
Records: Appleton North 5-5; Kimberly 8-1.