Bluejays delight homecoming crowd with 48-0 win

In the last regular-season home game of the year, the Three Lakes-Phelps varsity football team joined homecoming week celebrations by defeating the Wolverines of Elcho-White Lake 48-0 in the Nest at Three Lakes High School. Bleachers were filled to capacity as the crowd cheered the home team on each of their six touchdown scores. The Bluejays improved their overall record to 5-3, which is currently third-best in the Northwoods-East Conference, and they will close the regular-season road schedule this Friday with a matchup against the first-place Northstars of Hurley High School.

Senior player Garrett Mandli led the Jays last week, scoring two of the six touchdowns on offense, and then by leading the defense with eight solo tackles, including two tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He was joined in the two-touchdown club by Sam Koshuta and Owen Liebscher. Not only did Koshuta hit Mandli for both of his TD receptions, but he also scored two times on his feet while leading the team with 84 total rushing yards. Koshuta completed 16 of 20 passes for 235 yards, and defensively added five tackles and two interceptions, including a one-handed scoop late in the game.

Meanwhile, on what would be a banner day for most players in the league, Liebscher quietly ran for 74 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He also caught eight passes for 106 yards, while contributing seven tackles and a tipped pass on defense. Liebscher, Mandli and fellow senior Zach Weavers each had solid games for what was likely their last football performance in front of a home crowd. Playoff seeding has not been announced yet, but it is unlikely that the team will play a postseason game in Three Lakes.

Pat George is the head coach for the Bluejays and spoke of his seniors at the end of the team’s third shutout of the season.

“Garrett had a great game on Friday, and it was nice to see him in the end zone on two different plays. He has put in the work all season, and we trust his ability to make key plays.”

The coach said that Liebscher is a statistical leader in multiple areas within the conference and has been the team’s leading weapon going back to last season, and is “just an exciting player to watch.” He added that Weavers has been “a defensive giant for the team, and was great in setting the edge in recent games.”

“The boys have been very consistent this season, including last Friday,” the coach noted, “where everybody seemed to be around the ball when it mattered. The Wolverines have a good team and are well coached. While the score was one-sided, overall, they are a very competitive team.”

Outside of the touchdown scores, the Bluejays also converted five of six 2-point conversion opportunities, led by Jack Westfall, who made two receptions in the end zone, while running for another two points. Koshuta scored twice on conversions, which collectively added 10 points to the home team. The Bluejays also earned a 2-point safety late in the game when the Wolverines misplayed a snap, resulting in a tackle by Weavers in the end zone.

Westfall came within two yards of another 100 yards of total production with six pass receptions for 72 yards, and six rushes for 26 yards. He also ranked second on the team with nine total tackles, while tacking on two pass deflections. Bentley Bills led the team in total tackles with 11 check marks on the score sheet, with Weavers adding seven total tackles; Peter Cruckson, Trygg Alsager, and Dylan McKissack collectively earning seven total tackles.

Cruckson and McKissack also made key interceptions which, according to the coach, were momentum breakers contributing to the win.

“Younger players such as Dylan, Trygg and Peter are the future of this program, and it was nice to see each of them have success on the field.”

The Bluejays will travel this Friday, October 9, to Hurley to face the first-place Northstars at 7:00 p.m. Hurley has an overall 7-2 record, which is only a 1.5-game advantage over the Jays, but their conference record is undefeated at 6-0, while the Bluejays currently sit at 3-3.