KAUKAUNA — The Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts football team advances to WIAA Level 2 next week after a 32-14 win Friday over Brookfield Central.
The Ghosts got off to a quick start which, it turns out, they needed as the game wore on.
Kaukauna scored first on a Nolan Hall 28-yard TD pass from Finnley Doriot. An Osvaldo Soto Sanchez PAT gave the Ghosts a quick 7-0 lead.
On its next possession, a well blocked 12-yard touchdown run from Aiden Reardon put the Ghosts up 14-0.
But the Lancers weren’t going down without a fight.
On its next possession, Central moved quickly to the Kaukauna 3, then scored on a fourth and 1.
After a Kaukauna three-and-out, the Lancers scored again to tie the game at 14 early in the second.
In the second half, a 26-yard touchdown run from Conner Kincheloe put the Ghosts back on top, but a failed two-point conversion kept the lead at 20-14.
A Doriot 29-yard keeper and a second failed two point conversion pushed the lead to 26-14.
Given that lead going into the fourth, Kaukauna’s defense turned up the heat and stymied the Lancers’ offense.
Back-to-back interceptions by John Newman helped keep the Ghosts offense on the field.
Reed Wittman, with Kaukauna’s fourth interception of the night, set up a Kincheloe touchdown on the next play to seal the win at 33-14.
The Ghosts face a familiar foe next week when they take on West De Pere, who shut out Menomonee Falls 27-0.
Kaukauna won their week 2 game 25-22, but a loss to West De Pere in last year’s state semifinal game will provide added incentive.
