Spartans Win AFC Championship, 27-6 over JYDs
The American Conference Championship game in the Ironman Football League pitted the one-seed Wauwatosa Spartans (8-2) versus the two-seed Waukesha City Junkyard Dogs (7-3). The Spartans had beaten the Shorewood Monarchs in the first round of the playoffs, 30-14, and the Junkyard Dogs sent home the Southern Lakes Blue Devils by a score of 20-10, setting up the one versus two match-up. Overcoming a slow start, the Spartans broke free in the second half and won 27-6 to advance to Iron Bowl XV.
After the Spartan defense shut down the Dogs’ opening series, the offense managed to drive down the field before stalling in the red zone. Eventually, kicker Paul Schroeder was able to connect from 20 yards out for a 3-0 lead. After several fruitless drives by both offenses, the Dogs struck back in the second quarter, when QB Seth Knapp found wide receiver Jonathon Reneau for a 25-yard touchdown pass and a 6-3 lead after a missed extra point. That ended the scoring in a quick first half, and the Dogs took a 6-3 lead into halftime.
But the second half was a different story as the Spartan offense got rolling. Early in the third, quarterback Tony Henner found wide receiver Greg Rebella for a 20-yard scoring strike and a 10-6 lead.
Later in the third, the combination of Henner to Rebella struck again for the Spartans. This time it was a 15-yard pass and catch for a touchdown and a 17-6 lead. The Junkyard Dogs struggled to move the ball in the second half and were repeatedly forced to punt. Early in the fourth, the Spartans were able to add more points, when kicker Paul Schroeder connected from 30 yards out for a 20-6 lead.
The defense then capped off the night’s scoring, when Spartan cornerback Nate Heard intercepted a Derrick Jones pass and returned it 60 yards for a score, and a 27-6 lead, which is how the game would end.
Henner finished 6-14 for 135 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Leading the receivers was Greg Rebella who had 4 catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Darius Harris added 3 catches for 40 yards. On the ground, duties were split as usual between running backs Bobby Windom and Cedric McFadden. Windom finished with 10 rushes for 65 yards and McFadden added 9 rushes for 40 yards.
The Spartan defense was its stingy self, holding the Dogs to three-and-outs, turnovers and punts all night long. Linebacker Jeremiah Fendrick had a fumble recovery and cornerback Nate Heard had an interception which he returned for a touchdown. The Spartan defensive front created constant pressure, with defensive ends Justin Morrow and Joe Flick each registering 1.5 sacks and multiple pressures, and linebackers Eric Zilisch and Darrell Jack each adding a sack.
The Spartans improve to 10-2 overall, and 9-2 in IFL play. The team advances to Iron Bowl XV to play the Madison Mustangs at Charles Hart Park at 7:00 p.m. on September 10th. The Mustangs finished another perfect season, and destroyed the Muskego Hitmen in the NFC Championship game, 35-0. The Mustangs (11-0) own the nation’s longest semi-pro winning streak at 48 games, and have won three-straight IFL titles. In the teams’ regular season matchup in week one, the Mustangs won 17-0.
