File photo by Dave Vissers. More photos at Dave Vissers Photography

KAUKAUNA — For the second year in a row, the Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts have advanced to the WIAA Division 2 semifinal game, this time with a 42-13 win over Cedarburg.

The victory set new marks for the Kaukauna football program. It was the first time Kaukauna had hosted a Level 3 game, it’s first Level 3 victory at home and the first team to reach 11 wins in a season.

Kaukauna will take on Waunakee next week in a Level 4 matchup with a trip to state on the line.

BRACKETS

As they have in many games this season, all three phases excelled–offense, defense and special teams.

A Conner Kincheloe 12-yard touchdown run and Osvaldo Soto Sanchez PAT put the Ghosts on the board first on their opening possession.

Cedarburg came back with a long drive of its own, however, to tie the score at 7.

But big plays for Kaukauna dominated the game from that point.

The first one was a 67-yard Finnley Doriot to Nolan Hall touchdown bomb to end the first quarter at 14-7.

To begin the second quarter, a John Neumann pick-6 ended the Bullsogs next drive and put Kaukauna up 21-7.

A second interception by the Ghosts, this one by Carson Van Dinter, ended Cedarburg’s subsequent drive.

The second half began with a wild series, resulting in two Kaukauna scores within the first three plays.

Danny Poor II opened the second half with a 95 yard TD kickoff return. That was followed by a Luke Tetzlaff pick-6 and the Ghosts found themselves up 35-7.

When the offense finally got on the field for its first series of the second half, a second Doriot to Hall TD catch pushed the score to 42-7 and forced a running clock for the remainder of the game.

Cedarburg was able to muster one more score late as the Ghosts guaranteed themselves at least one more game this season.



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By Dan Plutchak

Dan Plutchak, born and raised in Kaukauna, is cofounder of Kaukauna Community News.