Cards Win Opener
by B.J. Royes
The optimistic Mayville varsity football team played host to the Ripon Tigers Friday night and came out on top by a score of 15-6.
The first quarter of the game saw the ball change hands several times as neither team could sustain a drive into the opponent's territory. Late in the same period, a Doug Hurst punt was received on the Ripon three yard line and run only to the five. After failing to get a first down, Ripon was forced to punt from their own four-yard-line. Taking advantage of the situation, Mayville applied pressure as the ball was snapped over the punter's head and out of the end zone. Jim Frane was credited with the safety and Mayville led 2-0.
Mayville took a 9-0 lead into halftime after Craig Walters connected with Jeff Feucht on a 17-yard touchdown pass. The PAT by Perrie Apfelbeck was good.
Ripon came out the second half ready to play and if not for four excellent defensive plays by Mayville, Ripon may well have won, as they dominated the second half. The first of the defensive plays was the opening kickoff of the second half. The Ripon player returning the kickoff broke straight up the middle and, had it not been for the touchdown saving tackle by kicker Perrie Apfelbeck, the lead may have quickly evaporated.
Later in the same quarter, Ripon recovered a Mayville fumble and scored on a one-yard plunge by sophomore quarterback Mark Gillen. The extra point attempt failed. 9-6, Mayville.
With about seven minutes remaining in the game, the Mayville defense held Ripon in check. With an atrocious goal line stand, Mayville on three consecutive plays prevented Ripon from taking the lead by holding them inside the one yard line.
With only 1:04 remaining in the game, John Preston sealed the victory with a 23-yard run around the right side for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
Leading the Cardinal offense were John Preston with 70 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and three receptions for 28 yards. Jeff Feucht had one catch for 17 yards. On defense, seniors Jerry Clark, Mike Kaiser and Jim Frane, and sophomore Randy Klopfer had excellent games.
Scoring
Mayville: Jim Frane safety
Mayville: Jeff Feucht, 17-yard Pass from Craig Walters. Apfelbeck kick.
Ripon: Mark Gillen, 2 yard run. Kick failed.
Mayville: John Preston, 23 yard run. PAT failed.
Individual Statistics
Rushing: May - Preston 16-70, Apfelbeck 12-16, Walters 2-6, Hurst 3-0; Rip - (not available);
Receiving: May - Preston 3-28, Feucht 1-17; Rip - (not available);
Passing: May - Walters 5-14-45, 1 TD, 1 int; Rip - Gillen (not available);
Punting: May - Hurst 5-154 (30.8 ave.);
Kicking: May - Apfelbeck 3-141 (47.1 ave.);
Defensive Points
Clark 26, Klopfer 25, Kaiser 20, Frane 17, Buschke 14, Pugh 13, Apfelbeck 13, Feucht 12, Soulati 8, Surita 8, Brummond 5, B. Collien 2, Dutzle 2, Dorst 2, Blair 1, Cundy 1;
