11/15 football: Pirates fought until end

By JEFF BROWN

jbrown@lacrossetribune.com

When the De Soto High School football team fell behind Burlington Catholic Central 20-2 on Saturday, it would have been easy for Pirates coach Ev Wick to shed his shorts for pants, and his players to hang their heads.

Neither happened. Wick, displaying a toughness few would try, wore shorts on a bitterly cold day (game-time temp was in the low 30s). His players had that same toughness, although they couldn’t match Burlington Catholic Central’s overall talent in a 36-10 WIAA Division 7 semifinal loss.

“I told everyone if you have any doubt about it, you might as well leave now,” De Soto quarterback Shad Finley said. “I had confidence all the way out.

“That’s (fighting back) the story of our season. At one point we were 3-3. We could have closed the door and said screw it right there. We came together as one. We didn’t take no for an answer.”

OVERCONFIDENT? No way, said Caledonia’s players after it beat Moose Lake/Willow River 44-13 in an MSHSL Class AA state semifinal Friday.

Now, the Warriors (12-1) must wait nearly two weeks before playing Luverne (12-1) in a Nov. 28 state title game. Luverne beat Hawley 21-14 in its semifinal Saturday.

“We’re going to stay hungry and go for back-to-back,” Caledonia quarterback Casey Bauer said.

HOUSTON READY: The Hurricanes (13-0) will face Clinton/Graceville/Beardsley in the Class 9-Man state title game on Nov. 28.

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