SENECA-WAUZEKA-STEUBEN - This time it was different. The Seneca-Wauzeka-Steuben football team had a point to make in New Lisbon last Friday night and they made it with 12-6 come-from-behind-win.

The fall-sports-in-spring season has been tough on the Blue-Golds, who were winless in the shortened season going into Friday night’s game.

However, this was their moment. They made it their moment through sheer determination.

New Lisbon scored first on a two-yard run in the first quarter by  Lucas Vercimak. The two-point conversion failed. New Lisbon led 6-0 and that was the score when the half ended.

Things got better for the Blue-Golds in the third quarter, when Evan Payne scored on a five-yard run. 

The two-point conversion failed, and the score was tied at 6-6.

The final score of the game came in the fourth quarter, when the Blue-Golds’ Brennan Wallin scored on a six-yard run. When the two-point conversion failed, it made the score SWS-12 New Lisbon-6 and that’s the way it ended.

For the game, the statistics showed the Blue Golds came to play in the last game of the spring season. SWS had 13 first downs to just nine for New Lisbon.

The Blue Golds also dominated the running game gaining 174 yards on 40 carries. New Lisbon gained 83 yards on 25 carries.

The Blue Golds led the way gaining 101 yards on 19 carries, while teammate Brennan Wallin gained 75 yards on 18 carries, and scored one of the team’s two touchdowns.

New Lisbon’s Vercimak ran for 63 yards on 11 carries and scored the team’s only touchdown. 

In passing, New Lisbon was 5-16 for 73 yards with one interception, the game’s only turnover. SWS quarterback Evan Payne was 5-13 for 57 yards, completing all of his passes to Brennan Wallin.

For the game, SWS was penalized six times for 60 yards and New Lisbon was penalized four times for 25 yards.

Blue Golds head coach Justin Goodrich was obviously pleased with result.

“We played with a lot of intensity in the second half,” Goodrich said later. “Our intensity led to some big plays and we were able to punch it in twice in the second half. It was a great team effort and I’m glad our five seniors finished their final game with a win.”

Hear, hear!