DE PERE – One of the smallest football players on the field had one of the biggest impacts in West De Pere’s game vs. Kaukauna on Friday, Aug. 29.
Senior running back Ryan Lutz – all 5-foot-4, 170 pounds of him – helped lead the Phantoms to a 33-9 nonconference victory over the Ghosts at West De Pere High School.
Lutz rushed for two scores and caught another one through the air for the Phantoms, who improved to 2-0 on the young season.
“My coaches put me in a great position to have success,” Lutz said. “It’s my job to contribute to the team the best I can.”
With quarterback Patrick Greisen, a Division I commit to the University of South Dakota, throwing darts down the field and Lutz running the ball, West De Pere will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
“I think we can be great this season,” Lutz said. “If everything lines up, I think we’ll go far.”
After forcing a Kaukauna (0-2) punt to begin the game, the Phantoms were backed up at their own two-yard line.
On West De Pere’s first offensive play of the game, the Ghosts recorded a safety for a 2-0 lead.
With only two seconds showing on the first-quarter clock, Greisen hit Lutz on a swing pass for a 20-yard score.
After Maverick Lor’s extra point, the Phantoms led 7-2 – that’s how it stayed until halftime.
Halfway through the third quarter, Greisen connected with Judeah Kniskern on a 44-yard strike for a 14-2 lead after Lor’s extra point.
Converting on a third and 22 earlier in the drive, Kaukauna clawed to within 14-9 with a TD near the end of a third quarter to make it a game – temporarily.
Lutz scored his second TD of the night – this one from 34 yards out – with time winding down in the quarter for a 21-9 lead after the extra point.
In the fourth quarter, the Ghosts took a safety on a punt, Lor hit a 24-yard field goal and Lutz added a 38-yard scamper for his final score of the night.
“I was really proud of our defense,” West De Pere Coach Chris Greisen said. “We have lots to clean up on offense, but I was proud of the kids for pulling out the victory.”
The Phantoms host Green Bay Southwest (0-2) in their opening Fox River Classic Conference game of the season on Friday, Sept. 5.
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