DC Everest upsets Waunakee in the WIAA football playoffs

On one play, the top-seeded Warriors faced second-and-goal just a few feet from the end zone, but failed to cross the goal line. At the next opportunity, Waunakee returned the ball to near the Evergreens’ 30-yard line, but then failed to gain a first down.

The Warriors’ defense couldn’t consistently stop the seventh-seeded Evergreens. DC Everest scored a field goal with about three minutes left and tied the game on two possessions, ending Waunakee’s hopes of a comeback victory.

DC Everest beat Waunakee 31-21 to win the section championship and will face No. 2 seed Bay Port in the semifinals next week.

“I can see that they love playing with each other and as a unit they are really strong,” Waunakee wide receiver Kaden MacKenzie said of the Evergreens. “I think that’s why teams like this go further than expected, because they just enjoy playing with each other and are a good team.”

DC Everest prevailed thanks to its passing offense and strong defense. The Evergreens made enormous progress with long passes across the field. Waunakee’s defense couldn’t break through the offensive line to pressure quarterback Logan George, giving him plenty of room to make the throws he wanted.

George finished the game with 276 passing yards and a passing touchdown.

The Warriors initially did better defending against rushing plays, but the Evergreens wore them down as the game went on and were able to make plays on fourth downs to keep drives alive. DC Everest had 21 first downs compared to Waunakee’s 15.

The Warriors kept the game close in the second half, either tied with the Evergreens or trailing by a single touchdown most of the way, thanks to a game-winning play at the end of the first half.

Waunakee was down 14 points with three seconds left in the first half and the team needed a touchdown to stay in the game.

As the Evergreens came at him, quarterback Vance Johnson hurled the ball into the end zone, where MacKenzie deflected a defender to catch the ball and cut the deficit to one score.

“We repeat this almost every day in practice,” MacKenzie said. “I got off to a slow start, ran down there and Vance gained some time, so it was a really good game. He made it easy for me.”

Despite the heroics of Johnson and Mackenzie in that game, the comeback failed and Waunakee ended its season in the section championship game, a year after making it to the Division 2 state title game.