Fondy Loses in OT Plus a Thrilling Come From Behind Victory for WLA

In a Fox Valley Association clash between two teams struggling to find their footing in conference play, Fond du Lac came out firing Friday night, jumping to a 15–0 lead over Kaukauna behind backup quarterback Eli Michalkiewcz. Starting in place of the injured DeAndre Williamson, Michalkiewcz wasted no time asserting himself.

Kaukauna, however, clawed back into the game before halftime, narrowing the deficit to 15–13 thanks to a touchdown and a missed two-point conversion.

Fond du Lac extended its lead in the third quarter when Michalkiewcz connected on a 9-yard touchdown pass, making it 22–13. But Kaukauna responded with a surge of its own, eventually taking its first lead of the night at 26–22 late in the fourth quarter.

With 2:42 remaining, Fond du Lac mounted a dramatic 82-yard drive. Key plays included a clutch fourth-down completion from Michalkiewcz to Umentum, followed by another strike to Davis that set up a go-ahead touchdown run by Mason Henschel.

Two costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against Fond du Lac gave Kaukauna a short field with just under a minute to play. The Ghosts capitalized, drilling a 32-yard field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime.

In the extra period, Kaukauna scored on its first possession. Fond du Lac appeared poised to answer, but a fumble on what would have been a first-down run sealed the game.

Final score: Kaukauna 36, Fond du Lac 29.

Post Game Comments from Head Coach Sam Plucker

Another thrilling showdown unfolded in the area Friday night as inner-city rivals St. Mary’s Springs and Winnebago Lutheran Academy faced off in a hard-fought football battle. The game began as a defensive slugfest, with Springs building a 17–3 lead and appearing in control.

But WLA refused to back down.

Trailing late, the Vikings mounted a comeback and scored a crucial touchdown to pull within one point. Rather than settling for a tie, WLA made the bold decision to go for a two-point conversion—and it paid off. The successful attempt gave Winnebago Lutheran a dramatic 25–24 victory over state-ranked St. Mary’s Springs, sending shockwaves through the conference.

Friday Scoreboard

Lomira 40 Omro 0

Mayville 24 Campbellsport 0

Laconia 42 North Fond du Lac 12

Oakfield 71 Williams Bay 0