KAUKAUNA — The Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts’ defense has been dominating all season.
On Thursday, the offense stepped up in a big way for a 37-16 win over Hortonville in the team’s Fox Valley Association conference opener at Bank of Kaukauna Stadium.
Kaukauna moves to 1-0 in the conference and 1-2 for the season, while Hortonville falls to 0-1, 0-3.
“Our defense has played amazingly well this year. They are the strength of our team,” Head Coach Matt Binsfeld told Zaleski Sports after the game. “Our kids are playing hard on defense and our offense is starting to match their level,”
So it was no surprise that defense was the highlight of a scoreless first quarter for the Ghosts, with a forced fumble by Mike Hill and later, a turnover on downs to set the tone.
The offense exploded to begin the second quarter with a 50-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Ryan Carrel to tight end Bennett Geitner.
The defense got the ball back for the Ghosts on the next series forcing a turnover on downs.
Back-to-back runs by Carrel set up a 5-yard Aiden Reardon TD run, and a Kavanaugh Weyenberg PAT put the Ghosts up 14-0.
After another stop, the Ghosts used a mix of pass and run to set up a 26-yard Reardon touchdown to push the lead to 21-0
After another forced turnover on downs, Kaukauna went to the hurryup with under two minutes left in the half.
The drive led to a 41-yard Weyenberg field goal to go into the half 24-0.
Hortonville showed some life in the third quarter, putting together a long touchdown drive and successful 2-point conversion to trim the Ghosts’ lead to 24-8.
On the next possession though, Laythan Hurst continued his stellar play on special teams, returning the ensuing kickoff to the 50, followed by a 25-yard Carrel run and the offense was back in business.
Carrel capped off the drive with a 15-yard run to push the Ghosts lead back up to 30-8 to end the third.
A Hurst interception ended a Hortonville drive to begin the fourth.
Running back Muhammed Jobe pushed the Ghosts lead to 37-8 on a 57-yard run and Ryan Mayer PAT.
Hortonville responded with a 47-yard TD reception with 3:53 left, along with a two-point conversion, and Hortonville was back to 37-16, but time eventually ran out for the Polar Bears.
The Ghosts travel to Neenah for their next game.
