Ashwaubenon drops hard-fought contest to Oshkosh North

ASHWAUBENON – The Ashwaubenon Jaguars football team couldn’t overcome four turnovers in a 34-21 nonconference loss to Oshkosh North on Aug. 22.

Three interceptions and a fumble spelled doom for the Jaguars (0-1 overall) in their season opener at Ashwaubenon High School.

“Oshkosh North is a good team – we beat them last year in a shootout,” Ashwaubenon Coach Brian Ryczkowski said. “We knew with the guys they had returning this season, they would be a good team. I thought our guys battled until the end. I wish it had been a bit closer to start the game.”

The Spartans (1-0) scored two minutes into the contest for a 7-0 lead and then scored again early in the second quarter to bump the margin to 14-0.

Ashwaubenon bounced back quickly on the ensuing possession when quarterback Sawyer Walton hit wide receiver Jaxson Beaumia on a 74-yard bomb on the first play of the drive.

Izzy Kwaterski’s point-after attempt cut the deficit in half at 14-7.

North scored on its next possession to bump the lead to 21-7 before the Jaguars found paydirt with less than 30 seconds showing on the first-half clock.

Walton hit tight end Koen Kryzanek from eight yards out to give Ashwaubenon the momentum heading into halftime.

With the Jaguars receiving the second-half kickoff and searching for a tying score, a fumble on a sack gave the ball back to the Spartans, who turned the turnover into a score halfway through the third quarter.

“We got into a second and long situation there,” Ryczkowski said of the sack-fumble. “Momentum shifts play a big part in high school football. We had the momentum going into halftime before North got it back.”

The Spartans bumped the lead to 34-14 early in the fourth quarter before Walton threw his third TD of the night and second of the game to Beaumia halfway through the quarter, making it 34-21.

Ashwaubenon looks to bounce back when it travels to Manitowoc Lincoln on Thursday, Aug. 28, in another nonconference game.

“I really like our group of guys,” Ryczkowski said. “Against Manitowoc, we have to play better and coach better to get a win. We’ve got a game under our belt, but we have a lot of things to work on.”