Wisconsin State Football League
Championship Game Recap-

11/7/2015

 

Mariners vs. Slayers

 

 These two teams had great battles this past year as both teams are loaded with all-star players and league MVP’s in their own positions. The Mariners won the toss and decided to defer giving the Slayers the ball first. After a few possessions by both teams the score was still 0-0 when QB Marcos Alfaro Jr found Steve Strong in for a 10 yard touchdown giving the Mariners an early 7-0 lead with 8:25 left in the first quarter. Alfaro would find the end zone again, this time running the ball in for a score giving the Mariners a 14-0 lead with 14:55 left to go in the 2nd quarter. The Slayers would answer back. After a few deep passes to the Slayers talented WR Antonio Fontanez the Mariners stuff the Slayers on 3 goal line plays forcing a field goal bringing the game to 14-3 with 8:17 left in the 2nd quarter.

We would go into halftime with the score 14-3.

 

   The 2nd half would start with a defensive battle again. With 5:13 remaining in the 3rd quarter the Mariners would get a safety after a high snap to the Slayers' new QB Mikey Bernal. With Rico Flores in hot pursuit of the ball Bernal would kick the ball out of the end zone giving the Mariners 2 points and a 16-3 lead. The following possession QB TJ Arndt would find Strong on the following play for a touchdown giving the Mariners a 23-3 lead with 4:53 left in the 3rd quarter. The very next possession LB Mason Czekala would intercept the ball from Bernal and return it 30 yards for a touchdown. After the extra point was blocked the Mariners would have a 29-3 lead with 3:42 left in the 3rd quarter.

 

    The Mariners would go into clock kill mode in the 4th quarter. Santos Medina would polish off a solid game with a touchdown run making the score 36-3 with 4:07 left in the 4th quarter. The Slayers would have one last gasp of air as Bernal would find Fontanez for a 70 yard touchdown with 34 seconds left in the game. Safety Jacob Walesh would intercept the 2 point conversion making the score 36-9. The on side attempt was recovered by the Mariners allowing them to kneel on the ball bringing the clock to 0:00 and crowning the Manitowoc County Mariners the WSFL Champions and only the 3rd team in WSFL history to complete the perfect 12-0 season.

 

The Mariners were lead on offense by Marcos Alfaro Jr with a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown, Steve Strong lead the receivers with 2 receiving touchdowns, (One from Alfaro and one from Arndt) Santos Medina lead the running attack with a touchdown on 13 carries for 48 yards. On defense DE Richard Zachow lead the way with 3 sacks on an offense who hardly let their QB get touched during the season. Six year veteran defensive end Rico Flores added a sack of his own. CB Rodney Poe was thrust into the starting line up from offense to corner due to an illness to Tyddus Morrow and turned his opportunity into an interception while CB Kempton Freeman had 2 interceptions on the day. The MVP of the game was LB Mason Czekala with 2 ½ sacks, 1 interception returned for a touchdown and 1 batted ball.

 

   The Mariners would like to thank their fans, friends, family, and sponsors on a great year. Without all of you none of this would be possible.  Also the Mariners would like to thank the Alfaro family for everything they do for the team. They sacrifice a lot for this team to make sure we all are held to a higher level.

 

Manitowoc County Mariners, 12-0, 2015 WSFL CHAMPIONS!!!

 

- T.J Schouten, Mariners
Vice-President of Personnel
Defensive Coordinator