KAUKAUNA — The Ghosts were down early, but galloped back to defeat Neenah 34-21 in Kaukauna’s home opener to remain atop the Fox Valley Association conference standings.
Ryan Carrel passed for two touchdowns and ran for three more while Dylan Ford had four sacks to lead a balanced attack for Kaukauna.
Neenah received the opening kickoff and scored quickly on a four-play drive to take the early lead at 7-0.
Kaukauna responded with a long drive of their own, capped off by a 3-yard Ryan Carrel touchdown run. With a blocked point after attempt, the Ghosts trailed 7-6.
After back-to-back sacks by Dylan Ford and a blocked punt, the Ghosts took their first lead of the game with a Carrel touchdown pass to Anthony Reischel. The 2-point conversion was unsuccessful, but the Ghosts were up 12-7.
Later in the second, a dropped Neenah snap on a punt set the Ghosts deep in Neenah territory. A Carrel 3-yard run and successful 2-point conversion pass to Bennett Geitner pushed the lead to 20-7 at the half.
The Ghosts scored again in the third with a Grant Van Eyck 28-yard touchdown reception from Carrel. A Ryan Mayer PAT put the Ghosts up 27-7.
But Neenah had a comeback on its mind.
A fourth-down touchdown pass closed the Rockets’ deficit to 27-14.
But a Carrel keeper to open the fourth pushed the Ghosts lead to 34-14.
A late Neenah touchdown wasn’t enough as Kaukauna notched its second conference win.
2026 Kaukauna Football Schedule. Game time 7 p.m.
- August 20: at West Allis Hale; Kaukauna wins 41-7
- August 28: at Notre Dame Academy; Kaukauna loss, 35-28
- September 3: at Kimberly; Kaukauna wins 14-7
- September 9: vs. Neenah at Kaukauna High School; Kaukauna wins 34-21
- September 17: at Appleton North
- September 24: vs. Fond du Lac at Kaukauna High School
- October 1: at Hortonville
- October 8: vs. Oshkosh West at Kaukauna High School
- October 15: at. Appleton East
