KAUKAUNA — A pre-Halloween matchup between the Ghosts and the Phantoms turned into a thriller Friday night as Kaukauna outlasted West De Pere 13-7 to advance in the WIAA Division 2 playoffs.
It was another game where the defense carried the load, the offense did just what was needed and special teams contributed the winning margin.
Kaukauna went up 3-0 over West De Pere on an Osvaldo Soto Sanchez field goal in the second quarter, but that was the only scoring in the first half by either team.
The defense subbed liberally throughout the game and after forcing a three-and-out to open the second half, Kaukauna quickly moved the length of the field to score on a Finnley Doriot to Parker Schuh 15-yard TD pass.
That put the Ghosts up 10-0.
A decison by Head Coach Matt Binsfeld to go for a fourth and one on Kaukauna’s own 26 led to a drive ending in a Soto Sanchez field goal to push the lead to 13-0.
Then things began to look a little scary for the Ghosts.
A West De Pere score with 8:10 in the game cut Kaukauna’s lead to 13-7.
Then, with 1:46 left in the game, West De Pere advanced to the Kaukauna 7, but a fumble on a fourth-and-three gave the ball back to the Ghosts.
The Phantoms held, and with the ball on the 10 with three seconds to go, a likely touchdown pass fell incomplete to give Kaukauna its 13-7 win.
