Orono destroyed Westonka 37-0 during the Homecoming football game on Friday, September 19th.
Westonka started the game with the ball and managed to make it to the 12 yard line before being unable to convert on 4th & 2. With a turnover on downs, Orono took the ball downfield, with #23 Rory Kvern ultimately punching it in on a 1-yard touchdown with 6:43 left in the first quarter. #42 Vincent Monaco missed the extra point.
The Spartans extended their lead in the second quarter. Kvern rushed for another 24-yard touchdown with 5:21 left in the second quarter (#15 Ben Staloch made the two-point conversion), and quarterback #13 Griffin Mauer added to Orono’s lead with an 11-yard rushing touchdown with 0:59 left in the second quarter (#9 Bennett Halverson made the two-point conversion).
Westonka’s only scoring attempt came with 13 seconds left in the second quarter, when #1 Leif Hagan missed a field goal, sending the ball wide left. Orono entered halftime leading 22-0.
Throughout the game, spectators and players endured the rain, which became quite harsh at times.
“The weather was really on and off, but I had a good time overall,” senior Evan Epley said.
Orono kept the touchdowns coming in the third quarter, with #24 Hudson Hirt scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 7:47 left in the third quarter (#15 Ben Staloch made the two-point conversion).
A weather delay at the beginning of the fourth quarter forced all players and spectators to evacuate the stadium. Although some students left, many stayed to cheer on the Spartans.
“The rain didn’t make me feel down,” junior Hayley Aseltine said. “I was still there to cheer on my school.”
The Whitehawks’ defense remained powerless to stop Orono in the fourth quarter, with #12 Finn Dyvik scoring a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 8:00 left in the quarter (Monaco made the PAT). The final score was 37-0.
Although the Whitehawks out-passed Orono 97 yards to 33, the Spartans dominated the ground game with 359 rushing yards to Westonka’s 89. Overall, Orono outgained Westonka with 392 to 189 total yards.
“I think we did pretty well,” #68 Ethan Ona said. “We beat the he[ck] out of Westonka.”
The Spartans (3-1) will be back in action on Friday, September 26th, when they take on Zimmerman on the road at 6:00 pm.
